Side One 1. You Send Me 2. The Lonesome Road 3. Tammy 4. Ol' Man River 5. Moonlight In Vermont 6. Canadian Sunset 7. I'll Come Running Back To You 8. Forever
Side Two 1. Summertime 2. Around The World 3. Ain't Misbehavin' 4. The Bells Of St. Mary's 5. So Long 6. Danny Boy 7. That Lucky Old Sun 8. Desire Me
Long before he became known as the King of Soul, Sam Cooke made an unforgettable debut with Songs By Sam Cooke. Released in 1958 and backed by the superb Bumps Blackwell Orchestra, this landmark album introduced the effortless vocal style, warmth and sophistication that would make Cooke one of the most influential singers of the twentieth century.
Best known for the million-selling classic You Send Me, the album also finds Cooke moving effortlessly between romantic ballads, Broadway favourites and timeless standards. Beautiful performances of Tammy, Ol' Man River, Moonlight In Vermont, Summertime, Ain't Misbehavin' and That Lucky Old Sun reveal a singer whose natural warmth and flawless phrasing could make every song feel as though it had been written especially for him.
Songs By Sam Cooke isn't simply remembered because it introduced a legendary voice. It established the qualities that would define Sam Cooke's entire career: effortless elegance, emotional honesty and the rare ability to bridge Rhythm & Blues, Gospel and traditional Pop without ever sounding forced. More than sixty years later, it remains one of the finest debut albums of the Rock 'n' Roll era.
An essential record for lovers of Soul, Rhythm & Blues and classic vocal music, Songs By Sam Cooke captures a remarkable artist right at the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
