Jesus Will Lead Me to That Promised Land (take 1 - alternate)
Jesus Will Lead Me to That Promised Land [incomplete] (take 2 - alternate)
Jesus Will Lead Me to That Promised Land
Just Another Day
Let Me Go Home (take 1 - alternate)
Let Me Go Home
Jesus Paid the Debt
Jesus Paid the Debt (take 2 - alternate)
How Far Am I from Canaan?
How Far Am I from Canaan? [incomplete] (take 1 - alternate)
How Far Am I from Canaan? (take 3 - alternate)
Someday Somewhere
Someday Somewhere
Track Listings (30) - Disc #2
End of My Journey
He'll Welcome Me
He's My Friend Until the End
He's My Friend Until the End (take 2 - alternate)
I Have a Friend Above All Others
Come and Go to That Land
Come and Go to That Land (take 1 - alternate)
Come and Go to That Land (take 3 - alternate)
I'd Give Up All My Sins and Serve the Lord
I'm So Happy in the Service of the Lord
All Right Now
All Right Now (take 2 - alternate)
All Right Now (take 4 - alternate)
He'll Make a Way 2:36
He'll Make a Way (take 2 - alternate)
Jesus, I'll Never Forget
Jesus, I'll Never Forget (take 5 - alternate)
Any Day Now
Any Day Now (take 6 alternate)
One More River
Nearer to Thee
I'm So Glad (Trouble Don't Last Always)
Be with Me Jesus
He's My Guide (take 4 - alternate)
He's My Guide [incomplete] (take 12 - alternate)
He's My Guide (take 13)
Pilgrim of Sorrow
Pray [incomplete]
The Last Mile of the Way [incomplete] (take 1 - alternate)
The Last Mile of the Way (take 2A - alternate)
Track Listings (25) - Disc #3
The Last Mile of the Way
He's So Wonderful
Touch the Hem of His Garment
Jesus, Wash Away My Troubles
Farther Along
Must Jesus Bear This Cross Alone?
Pilgrim of Sorrow
Happy in Love
I Need You Now
I'll Come Running Back to You
Lovable
I Don't Want to Cry
That's All I Need to Know
Forever
Lord Remember Me
That's Heaven to Me (take 1 - alternate)
That's Heaven to Me
Were You There? [false starts] (takes 1-4)
Were You There? (take 5 - alternate)
Were You There?
Mean Old World (take 3 - alternate)
Mean Old World
I Have a Friend Above All Others
Be with Me Jesus
Nearer to Thee
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: COOKE,SAM
Title: COMPLETE SPECIALTY RECORDINGS OF SAM COOKE WITH TH
Street Release Date: 10/22/2002
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: COOKE,SAM
Title: COMPLETE SPECIALTY RECORDINGS OF SAM COOKE WITH TH
Street Release Date: 10/22/2002
CD Reviews
Remarkable collection
aliled | Shawnee, Kansas United States | 04/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fascinating document. Presented in chronological order (aside from a few live songs tacked on to the end), it charts the growth not just of Sam Cooke as an artist, but the slow birth of secularized soul from 50's gospel roots. All the recordings sound great, and credit most be given to the folks at Specialty for preserving the masters - outtakes included - with such obvious care. The earliest material here, from 1951, would probably be considered "pop gospel" for the time. It flows nicely, isn't much for histrionics and makes for smooth listening. If you didn't know better, it might take you a song or two before it becomes obvious that it's Sam Cooke singing, and not just some guy who maybe sounds like him. But by 1953, Cooke's vocal style is impossible to mistake; he dominates the songs, and when Paul Foster pops up now and then, the contrast between his "blacker" gospel voice and Cooke's velvet tone is amazing - and it's not that Foster isn't amazing too, by the way. By the third disc, the line between gospel and pop has become utterly blurred - a song like "I'll Come Running Back To You" has as good a claim to be the first "soul" song as any. It's obviously gospel-influenced, and the lyrics are ambiguous enough that you could make a claim for it being a gospel tune, but . . . something, somehow has changed. Aside from historical importance, it's a riveting song and possibly Cooke's single best performance.The attractions of this box are its completeness, great sound and nice packaging. If you're inclined to by anything of Cooke's beyond a simple greatest hits collection, I'd urge you to buy this package - there isn't really one single-disc distillation of this material that covers all the bases covered here, so by the time you buy the two or three that might, you'd pay about as much as you would for this. There are only a few rare packages that convey so beautifully an important aspect of important American music, whether it's the Nuggets box or the Anthology Of American Folk Music. This is clearly in the league; any music fan with expansive tastes should own it."
The Birth of Soul
William E Donoghue | Healdsburg CA USA | 12/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the heart of soul singing. There is not a bad or boring track on this CD Box Set. Sam Cooke was the inspiration for nearly every soul singer you will ever hear. If you think you know his work from You Send Me and his pop work, you are in for a surprise. These are some of the finest recording he ever made and they all pre-date You Send Me. The Soul Stirrers had been around for decades when Sam joined them and this is the finest example of their work. Sam fairly floats like a jazz singer over their meaty chords. Yet this is not jazz, this is gospel and you will cherish every word."
Close Your Eyes And Listen
SCooke UK | Liverpool UK | 05/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To the voice that kills all others from Elvis to Sinatra.
In my honest opinion Sam Cookes gospel recordings leave his secular work far far behind. From the first to last track this is a lesson in musical history.
Thr last 3 songs taken from the shrine concert live will dispel any doubts that Sam Cooke was only a smooth singer . Man he proves here that he can shout better than Otis, Al Green, or Wilson Pickett.
At last he seems to be getting the dues he so rightly deserves , but don't take my word for it . Buy this set and listen without prejudice. If you are not truly amazed then you shouldn't be listening to Sam Cooke , maybe Liberace would be more your cup of tea"
The Sam Cooke gospel anthology
B. Bullard | Gurnee, IL | 08/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a lifelong fan of Sam Cooke, I have looked for a way to enjoy all of the great music that he created in his brief gospel career without purchasing a number of CDs. This collection has allowed me to accomplish that. This set showcases the vast talent of these men and from time to time, gives a peek behind the curtain of the finished recordings.
My only criticism of the collection is that several secular songs (certainly not the best of those that Sam Cooke recorded) are tossed into the middle of one of the disks, throwing off the feel and flow."
Completists please note...
Mr. David J. Wichmann | Woking, Surrey England | 03/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is not quite the complete Sam Cooke at Specialty -- it does not include the tantalising bonus track on the "2 Sides" album.Having said that, it does include the best work done by the greatest soul/gospel singer bar none. So I am not complaining.(The producer of these recordings and founder of Specialty Records, Mr Art Rupe, is never given enough credit for his wonderful work. And for keeping the tapes from the original sessions for future generations to enjoy. Respect due.)"