... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Soul legend Sam Cooke left our planet all too soon – but during his short time in the business, and during the height of his fame, he managed to start his own record company too – a really groundbreaking imprint that issued some great singles of his own, and helped to showcase a small group of well-chosen artists that Cooke really got behind! The date range here is a bit longer than the actual recording history of SAR – as Sam died in 1964, and was overseeing most of the artistic and creative direction of the label – along with help from partner JW Alexander – and the material here showcases both sides of Cooke's legacy, both secular and spiritual – with a focus on some great soul singers and groups, and a bit of gospel music too. The collection is nicely tight – not as wide-ranging as bigger label compilations, in part because of the elite group of artists who recorded for SAR – which makes for a sharp lineup of tracks, from artists who include Johnnie Taylor, The Valentinos, The Womack Brothers, Soul Stirrers, The Simms Twins, Billy Preston, Johnnie Morisette, RH Harris & His Gospel Paraders, and Sam Cooke himself! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the definitive Sam Cooke recordings of the 60s – never issued at the time, but one of the crucial sides that's provided a later look at his brilliance from the time. The session was recorded at the same vintage as Sam Cooke At The Copa – another live record that was issued during the 60s, and which some claim caused the repression of this one, a much livelier, harder, and soulful session, recorded way uptown, at the Harlem Square Club. The Sam you hear here is a much harder soul artist than the one at the Copa – working his way through some great versions of tracks that include "Cupid", "Chain Gang", "Feel It", "Bring It On Home To Me", and "Nothing Can Change This Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic live album – one of the first in soul music, and a beautiful set of smooth soul tunes from Sam Cooke! Sam's singing at the high-end nitespot The Copacabana – and like many live sets performed there, this one's tailored a bit to the classy crowd at the show – but that doesn't stop him from using his voice to perfection, sweetly crafting beautiful lines on a batch of standards given the soul treatment, plus a few of Sam's own hits. And sure, it's easy to criticize this album after the release of the Live At The Harlem Square album in the mid 80s – which was recorded a year earlier, but rejected by RCA in favor of this album's crossover potential – but keep in mind that for most folks who didn't grow up with the hindsight of reissues, this album was all they had, and it still had quite an impact in the soul market. Titles include "The Best Things In Life Are Free", "Try A Little Tenderness", "If I Had A Hammer", "Twistin The Night Away", "You Send Me", and "This Little Light Of Mine". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic – not just from Sam Cooke, but in the genre of "best of" records too! The set's overflowing with classic singles from the legendary soul singers – almost the perfect record to start with if you've ever wanted to sample Sam's genius – that amazing voice, intimate sense of presentation, and undeniably mature, masculine sound that forever changed the face of soul music! Every track's a winner – and titles include "Only Sixteen", "You Send Me", "Cupid", "Chain Gang", "Having A Party", "Twistin The Night Away", "Wonderful World", "Summertime", "Everybody Loves To Cha Cha", "For Sentimental Reasons", "Sad Mood", and "Bring It On Home To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of unusual early 60s tracks – including "Little Girl Blue", "Far Away Places", "Bali Hai", "Trouble In Mind", "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "Since I Met You Baby", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", and "Jamaica Farewell". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive collection of work by the great Sam Cooke – featuring 30 tunes in all, and spanning the range of his full career – from his early roots in gospel music, to the incredibly powerful soul tunes he cut shortly before his untimely death. The set's got most everything you'd ever want to hear if you're looking for an overview of Sam's work – with titles that include "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Another Saturday Night", "Good Times", "Having A Party", "Sugar Dumpling", "Ain't That Good News", "Nothing Can Change This Love", "Little Red Rooster", "I'll Come Running Back To You", "What A Wonderful World", "Cupid", "Chain Gang", "Summertime", and "Only Sixteen". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A 2LP set that brings together earlier Sam Cooke titles for RCA – some remastered and made into stereo titles, others just cleaned up a bit. There's a total of 20 tracks in all – with hits like "Twistin The Night Away", "You Send Me", "Chain Gang", "Having A Party", "Another Saturday Night", and "Cupid" – plus lesser-known numbers like "Feel It", "Little Red Rooster", and "Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha". LP, Vinyl record album

Good news galore from the great Sam Cooke – maybe THE album in which he fully shows off his unique contribution to soul music in the 60s – that mix of raw and sweet, easygoing and progressive – a mode that had a huge impact at the time, and went onto become a strong influence for years to come! Key proof of this approach is the landmark track "A Change is Gonna Come" – a slyly righteous track that became a huge Civil Rights anthem and has continued to have social power for many years. And even the more mundane titles have a fresh approach too – like the hit "Another Saturday Night", and a host of other gems that include "Home", "No Second Time", "The Riddle Song", "Good Times", "Meet Me At Mary's Place", and "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the earliest work ever done by the young Sam Cooke – served up here in a really special package! LP1 features early gospel recordings with The Soul Stirrers – a group that featured Cooke in the lead before he went solo – with titles that include "Mean Old World", "Touch The Hem Of His Garment", "Any Day Now", "Peace In The Valley", "Were You There", and "Jesus Gave Me Water". LP2 features the famous Shrine Auditorium Concert by the group from 1955 – with the cuts "I Have A Friend Above All Others", "Be With Jesus", and "Nearer To Thee". LP3 features early demo tracks by Sam – titles that include "Lovable", "I Don't Want To Cry", "Forever", "Happy In Love", "That's All I Need To Know", and "I Need You Now". LP, Vinyl record album

Collection of Sam Cooke's wonderful soul for RCA, compiled just after his untimely death. The set's divided into more uptempo numbers on the first side, and Sam's great ballads on the flip, all with his rich voice ringing clearly on top. Features "Shake", "Yeah Man", 'Win Your Love For Me", "It's Got The Whole World Shakin", "A Change Is Gonna Come", "I'm Just A Country Boy" and "Ease My Troublin Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure one from Sam Cooke – with titles that include "Almost In Your Arms", "Tammy", "Summertime", "No One", "You Were Made For Me", "Wonderful World", and "Talk Of The Town". LP, Vinyl record album

Released shortly after Sam's death, this is a beautiful batch of ballad tracks to remember how sweet his voice was. The production's a bit pop, but Sam's singing is as heavenly as ever. Titles include "When A Boy Falls In Love", "Try A Little Love", "Bridge Of Tears", "Almost In Your Arms", "You Send Me", and "I Fall In Love Every Day". LP, Vinyl record album

The Supremes pay tribute to their fallen hero, Sam Cooke, with a nice set of tracks that includes "You Send Me", "Havin' A Party", "Wonderful World", "Nothing Can Change This Love", and "Cupid". LP, Vinyl record album

The Supremes pay tribute to their fallen hero, Sam Cooke, with a nice set of tracks that includes "You Send Me", "Havin' A Party", "Wonderful World", "Nothing Can Change This Love", and "Cupid". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the earliest albums on Motown – and the only one ever cut by Eddie Holland! Eddie's best known as a producer, arranger, and songwriter – part of the holy Holland-Dozier-Holland trinity – but back in his early days, he was a soulful tenor, with a sound and style that was a bit like Jackie Wilson or Sam Cooke – high in range, but full of depth in feeling too – with a quality that makes this rare album a real treasure! The set's got a great early Motown feel all the way through – that perfect bridge between R&B and soul, but nice and tight, too – really moving forward through the strength of Holland's musical vision. Eddie produced along with William Stevenson – and titles include "Take A Chance On Me", "If Cleopatra Took A Chance", "Last Night I Had A Vision", "What About Me", and "Jamie", which was a relatively big single. LP, Vinyl record album

The Supremes take on the classy Copa nightclub – and really bring down the house with a stunning mix of warmth, charm, and soul! The record's perhaps one of the "livest" of Motown live albums from the time – done in a spread-out style that features a lot more songs than some of their other live records, really giving the full scope of the show at the club. Plus, there's lots of crowd noise, bits of speaking from the girls, and an overall approach that's fluid and natural – very much a concert on record! Titles include "The Boy From Ipanema", "Put On A Happy Face", "I Am Woman", "Baby Love", "Sam Cooke Medley", "Queen Of The House", and "Back In My Arms Again". LP, Vinyl record album

20 tracks over 2 records – Gene Vincent, Sam Cooke, Peggy Lee, Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Johnny Otis, Cilla Black, Nelson Riddle, Beau Brummels, Gene Chandler, Billy Bland, Bobby Freeman, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

A soaring set from Leon Bridges – a full length second album that's every bit as classic as his debut, but in a completely different way! Where Coming Home was maybe Leon's answer to the generation of Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke, Good Thing is more of a nod to the era of Maxwell and D'Angelo – but, as before, coming across with a vibe that's completely Bridges' own – this ebullient, bubblingly soulful quality that's completely sublime – and which has Leon's voice fitting perfectly with the mellow grooving beats, keyboards, and guitar. The singer's voice is maybe even better than before – sure to win over an even new wave of ears – and titles include "If It Feels Good Then It Must Be", "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand", "Bad Bad News", "Shy", "Beyond", "Forgive You", "Lions", "You Don't Know", and "Georgia To Texas". LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely mellow album from blue-eyed soul veteran James Hunter – still done with the same deep soul currents as his other Daptone records, but slowed down a peg and with a nice focus on ballads and love songs! There's a moody, late nite vibe going on at some of the best moments – almost in the territory of early 60s uptown soul by singers like Jerry Butler or Clyde McPhatter during his Mercury Records years – but given a different spin with the leaner instrumentation of the group – who get the best sort of Daptone treatment in the studio, with a raw edge that really makes Hunter sound great! All tracks are originals, penned with almost a Sam Cooke sort of vibe – and titles include "I Don't Wanna Be Without You", "Something's Calling", "It Was Gonna Be You", "This Is Where We Came In", "He's Your Could've Been", "Mm Hmm", "Heartbreak", and "Who's Fooling Who". LP, Vinyl record album

Features "Twisting The Night Away" by Sam Cooke, "Tossin And Turnin" by Bobby Lewis, "Shout" by Lloyd Williams and more. LP, Vinyl record album

3 album set packed with tracks by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Otis Redding, Booker T, Ike & Tina Turner, and so much more. LP, Vinyl record album

A pastoral cover hides the greatness within – a set that's maybe one of the most soulful ever recorded by the great Laurel Aitken – who also produced and penned all the tunes too! There's a warm soul vibe to the record that's almost more Sam Cooke than some of the earlier material that Aitken had recorded – and very different than the ska work of his later years too – this sunny glow that has the midtempo cuts sparkling nicely, and with energy that mixes American soul with just the right amount of Caribbean flavor. Titles include "Baby Let Me Take You Home", "Evil Woman", "You Don't Have To Hide", "Think It Over", "Sitting By The Window", and "Baby I Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

An album with a very classic look on the cover – and an equally classic sound to match – one that takes us back to some of the hippest, coolest work by early 60s singers like Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye! Both artists are a good comparison here, as Leon Bridges is unabashedly in the same territory – cool, classy, yet undeniably soulful – at this level that never has to overstate itself, or try too hard to reach for facile funky parts, or any kind of party-moving sort of vibe. Leon's vocals are wonderful – clearly born to sing music this great – and the backings are a nice change from the usual retro soul modes, and instead have this deep soul vibe that's perfectly captured in a Texas small studio setting. Titles include "Better Man", "Brown Skin Girl", "Lisa Sawyer", "Pull Away", "Flower", and "Twistin & Groovin". LP, Vinyl record album

Chuck Jackson may be Mr Everything in the title – but there's one thing he does especially well on this classic 60s album – deliver a rock-solid sort of heartbreaking soul – the sort that few others could touch at the time! Jackson often doesn't get his due in the history books these days – but records like these were landmark moments of pride, power, and open male emotion – of the sort that went onto inform generations of soul music to come – and help future artists find their way, guided by the emotional frankness of Jackson's approach! Backings are carefully balanced – tight, but never too polished to overwhelm Chuck's vocals – which soar out with a raw power that blows away Sam Cooke or some of Jackson's other contemporaries. Titles include "D-5", "I Need You", "Human", "I'm Your Man", "Tears Of Joy", and "Somebody New". LP, Vinyl record album

Stellar early work from The Ovations – a sweet soul harmony group with a real love for Sam Cooke! "I Believe" is a nicely stepping number, swaying along with a summer night feel. "Qualifications" is a bit more of a rocker – jauntily vamping, but still with that sweet Sam Cooke style on the vocals! 7-inch, Vinyl record

With selections by Jive Five, Teen Queens, Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, Frankie Avalon, Dion & The Belmonts, The Passions, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of 50s singles from Specialty Records! Features Pentagons, Jerry Byrne, Sam Cooke, Roy Milton, Dukes, Rene Hall, Lloyd Price, Wynona Carr, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

The bugged sci fi maestro MF Doom's mid 00s masterpiece – and a straight up tie with Madvilliany for the championship title of best Doom-related LP since his immortal debut! As you'd guess from the title, this album has a running theme with food, each title funnier than the last, but stays fresh throughout the 15 tracks thanks to tight production, masterfully spliced samples, and a verbal flow that's cooked and spiced to some kind of freakish perfection. The great "Hoe Cakes" single gets served early in set, and it sets the tone for a truly strong album. "Boss like King Koopa. . .". Includes "Beef Rap", "Potholderz" with Count Bass D, "One Beer" produced by Madlib, "Poo Poo Platter", "Fillet-O-Rapper", "Gumbo", "Fig Leaf Bi Carbonate", "Kon Queso" produced by PNS, "Vomitspit", "Kookies" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent early album by organ player Billy Larkin, and his first version of the Delegates, which included drummer Mel Brown. As an added bonus, the great tenor player Clifford Scott joins them on most of the tracks here, and the recording is one of his best sessions away from Bill Dogget. The tracks are short, hard, and very in-the-pocket – like the tracks on the group's Pigmy album, which is also from the same time. This is the kind of stuff that was played to death over and over on south side jukeboxes in the 60's. Check out cuts like "Sticky Wicket", "Transfusion", and "The Cooker", and it's easy to see why! LP, Vinyl record album

One of THE spoken word classics of the 70s funk years – an amazing album based around the poetry of Camille Yarbrough – set to some amazing funky backings! The sound here is incredibly righteous – almost a more sophisticated version of Betty Davis – done with a stark, spare groove that makes the bass bits and drums really come out in the mix! Camille's got a heck of a lot of personal vision, and really works the album together as a whole – making for a set that's far more than just "poetry plus music" – and instead an audio tapestry with an incredibly deep sound! Includes a heavy rap on the streets that culminates in the great "Little Sally the Super Sex Star" – plus the classic "Take Yo Praise", which was sampled famously by Fatboy Slim – and the cuts "Can I Get A Witness" and "All Hid". LP, Vinyl record album

A raw cooker from the Chicago scene of the 70s – the best kind of gritty electric blues that was being recorded by the indie labels, even at a time when other bigger companies were trying to turn it into cliche! Eddie Campbell is great here – with raw vocals that captivate instantly, which are then followed by some really nice guitar solos too – lean, and with a quality that's both bold and fragile on the strings at the same time. The group also features a young Carey Bell on harmonica – getting plenty of solos in too – plus piano from Lafayette Leake and bass from Lurrie Bell, on titles that include "She's Nineteen Years Old", "Weary Blues", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "Smokin Potatoes", "King Of The Jungle", "We Both Must Cry", and "The Red Rooster". LP, Vinyl record album

Fierce funky grooves from the legendary Nico Gomez – a set cooked up in Europe, but heavy with influences from the other side of the Atlantic – from Havana all the way up to New York! There's definitely a Latin groove to the record – one that's similar to other Gomez productions – but there's also lots of heavy funk at the bottom – with basslines that drive most numbers along boldly, really raw percussion played with a nice sense of spontaneity, and these super-tight keyboards and guitars that you might find in American funk! The mix of modes is very much in the best spirit of contemporary groups like Chakachas or Lafayette Afro Rock Band – and titles include "Caballo Negro", "Lupita", "Baila Chibiquiban", "Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!", "One Note Samba", "Cuba Libre", and "El Condor Pasa". LP, Vinyl record album

Fierce funky grooves from the legendary Nico Gomez – a set cooked up in Europe, but heavy with influences from the other side of the Atlantic – from Havana all the way up to New York! There's definitely a Latin groove to the record – one that's similar to other Gomez productions – but there's also lots of heavy funk at the bottom – with basslines that drive most numbers along boldly, really raw percussion played with a nice sense of spontaneity, and these super-tight keyboards and guitars that you might find in American funk! The mix of modes is very much in the best spirit of contemporary groups like Chakachas or Lafayette Afro Rock Band – and titles include "Caballo Negro", "Lupita", "Baila Chibiquiban", "Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!", "One Note Samba", "Cuba Libre", and "El Condor Pasa". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut of U-Roy, and an album that paves the way for countless wonderful sounds to come! The album's an early one in the toasting approach – and has U-Roy calling out the tunes in this echoey style that's wonderful – somehow more urgent than reggae records of just a few years before, and almost dismantling the tunes as he works alongside them! Rhythms are cooked up by Duke Reid – and the album's the stuff that put both him, and the role of the DJ in reggae firmly on the map! Titles include "Your Ace From Space", "On The Beach", "Version Galore", "True Confession", "Tide Is High", "Things You Love", "The Same Song", "Happy Go Lucky Girl", "Rock Away", "Wear You To The Ball", "Don't Stay Away", and "Hot Pop". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of rare grooves from the Italian scene – including plenty of cookers from those years when the Italians were just about the only one keeping the disco sound going! The work predates the big wave of Italo House to come, but has a vibe that's equally lively, and a nicely warmed-up take on some of the colder Euro club modes from up north. Titles include "Dinamite" by Patrick Samson, "Discoteca" by Gabriella Fava, "Vagabondo Non Sono" by Spataneri Sebastiano Aria, "Chi Sei" by Gloria Piedimonte, "Lasciati Amare" by Nuccio Di Vico, "Peggio Per Te" by Momo Yang, "Un Amore Anonimo" by Patrizia Caselli, and "Il Primo Appuntamento" by Franco Camassa. LP, Vinyl record album

A real cooker from Georgie Auld's years on Mercury – a record that comes across with some "hi fi" dynamics, but which also features a strongly swinging group overall! Auld's playing here with Frank Rosolino, Ray Linn, and Maynard Ferguson – and the mode's a bit like some of Ferguson's albums for Mercury in the same stretch – shorter tracks but with strongly voiced solos, especially on Auld's saxophone – which hangs nicely here between two eras of jazz in its phrasing. Titles include "In The Land Of Hi Fi", "Dinah", "Tippin In", "I May Be Wrong", "Swingin In The Moore Park", and "For You". LP, Vinyl record album

George Benson's first LP for Columbia – a hard, heavy, soul jazz slammer that bears no resemblance to his overproduced work of the 70s! The album's a real cooker – recorded hot on the heels of Benson's classic work on Prestige with the Jack McDuff group, and sounding a lot like McDuff's hard wailing organ jazz of the same time. George is working with a group that features a young Lonnie Smith on organ, plus Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Ronnie Cuber on sax, and Charlie Persip on drums – all tightly coming together, and jamming hard on the album's short cooking tracks. Tracks include "Clockwise", "Jaguar", "Hello Birdie", and "Bullfight". LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic album from Prince – recorded in 2010, and unreleased at the time – but clearly one of the greatest things he gave us in the final decade of his life! This isn't uncooked demo material, or under-thought studio tracks – and instead, the whole thing is a fully-formed record with a message that really comes through in the title – more political Prince than usual, with an eye for our nation that rivals Sign O The Times! It may be that back when Prince recorded the set, the time wasn't right for the message – but these tracks definitely hit home now – and are often delivered in this sinister slow funk mode that really fits the lyrics – almost as if Prince were trying to give the world his version of a righteous 70s album on Curtom Records. Titles include "Running Game", "Born 2 Die", "Welcome 2 America", "Check The Record", "Hot Summer", "Stand Up & B Strong", "Same Page Different Book", and "One Day We Will All B Free". LP, Vinyl record album