1001 Albums Summary

Live at the Harlem Square Club is widely considered one of the greatest live albums of all time, and with Sam Cooke’s unfiltered nature and raw energy, for good reason. It displays his ability not only as a musician, but also a performer. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout. Though I did find that on some tracks like It’s Alright/I Love You, Cooke’s entertaining of the crowd got in the way of the performance. However, as the track continues, he unleashes his full vocal ability. Cooke puts on a brilliant show, and on this recording, he’s absolutely on fire. His voice is gritty, passionate, and dynamic, conveying emotion like few others can. He elegantly plays off the crowd’s energy, combining dialogue with singing. His band provides aggressive, rhythm-focused backing, adding to the intensity and rawness, creating an undeniable ‘60s authenticity. While I feel Live at the Harlem Square Club is to be taken in as a whole experience, tracks like Cupid, Twistin’ the Night Away, and Somebody Have Mercy are perfect for any setting due to their unique, unrefined liveliness and less focus on crowd interaction. The low-quality production of this record creates a special feeling, almost like you were there yourself. 8/10

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This album is extremely fun. The first half is a bit too repetitive for my taste, but the second is excellent. 6.5/10

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A very dated, yet endearing listen. The Kinks continuously strike me as a stereotypical British band. If you think of British pop, it’s them. Just listen to Holiday in Waikiki or rainy day in June.