GLOBALRPH MUSICATLASSam Cooke: Artist Essentials
Ten starting points for the easy phrasing, answering voices, dance rhythms and expansive ballad singing of the solo studio recordings.
Showing 10 of 10 selected recordings.This depth selects the first 10 recordings in the recommended sequence. Changing the order rearranges those same selections.
When only a year is established, chronological order within that year is approximate.
01list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1964 (year verified)
Original album: Ain't That Good News
Original full Ain't That Good News album recording, not the later single edition
MusicAtlas editorial note: Give the long vocal lines and orchestral swells time to develop; the measured pace makes the final rise more affecting.
Beyond the yearly listsRelease evidence and recording details
First released: 1964 (year verified)
The full studio recording first appeared on Ain't That Good News in 1964, before the December single. The contemporary single review identifies a 2:36 edition. This collection selects the original full album recording; the modern Atmos remix and later single edition are separate versions.
Recording: Original full Ain't That Good News album recording, not the later single edition
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original album: Ain't That Good News
Ain't That Good News - ABKCO original-album track list
The original album contains A Change Is Gonna Come, (Ain't That) Good News and Another Saturday Night. Its accompanying review explicitly distinguishes Another Saturday Night's earlier single. Modern SACD and reissue dates are not first-release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Classic Sam Cooke Albums - ABKCO original-release and version history
Identifies Ain't That Good News as an original 1964 studio album introducing A Change Is Gonna Come; the Copa album is a separate 1964 live recording, and the Dolby Atmos editions are new 2024 mixes. The prose's session-month statement is not used. Only the supported original album year is asserted. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
A Change Is Gonna Come - Songwriters Hall of Fame original single history
Separates the song's writing and recording from its December 1964 single release. Used with ABKCO's earlier 1964 original album and the contemporary RCA single review; no exact worldwide first day is claimed. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Cash Box, 9 January 1965 - Shake / A Change Is Gonna Come single review
PDF page 14 identifies the newly issued RCA Victor 8486 pairing and lists A Change Is Gonna Come at 2:36. Used to distinguish the later single edition from the selected full album recording; the review's 1965 issue date is not assigned as the recording's first year. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Shake / A Change Is Gonna Come single edition
1964 (year verified)
A Change Is Gonna Come - Songwriters Hall of Fame original single history
Separates the song's writing and recording from its December 1964 single release. Used with ABKCO's earlier 1964 original album and the contemporary RCA single review; no exact worldwide first day is claimed. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Cash Box, 9 January 1965 - Shake / A Change Is Gonna Come single review
PDF page 14 identifies the newly issued RCA Victor 8486 pairing and lists A Change Is Gonna Come at 2:36. Used to distinguish the later single edition from the selected full album recording; the review's 1965 issue date is not assigned as the recording's first year. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
02list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1957 (year verified)
Original single: You Send Me / Summertime
Original Keen studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The light phrasing and soft answering voices make a welcoming introduction to the early solo recordings.
Beyond the yearly listsRelease evidence and recording details
First released: 1957 (year verified)
ABKCO explicitly dates the original Keen single to 1957, before its appearance on the 1958 Sam Cooke album. The later album and remaster dates are not substituted.
Recording: Original Keen studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: You Send Me / Summertime
The Complete Keen Years - ABKCO original-release notes
Explicitly identifies You Send Me as Cooke's 1957 Keen debut, before its 1958 album. Identifies the original 1960 Wonderful World album and distinguishes original masters from stereo bonuses; also distinguishes Cooke's solo career from the Soul Stirrers. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
GRAMMY Hall of Fame - original Keen single identification
The (What A) Wonderful World entry identifies Sam Cooke, Keen, 1960 and single format. This is the original release annotation, not its 2014 induction year. Also identifies You Send Me as a 1957 Keen single; the unrelated Louis Armstrong song has a separate entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
03list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1960 (year verified)
Original single: Wonderful World / Along the Navajo Trail
Original Keen studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: Listen for the playful balance between the simple refrain and the small turns of the lead vocal.
Annual appearances: 1960
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1960 (year verified)
The Recording Academy identifies the original Keen single as a 1960 release, and ABKCO separately documents the original 1960 album. The session year and the 1980s reissue do not set this recording's release year.
Recording: Original Keen studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Wonderful World / Along the Navajo Trail
GRAMMY Hall of Fame - original Keen single identification
The (What A) Wonderful World entry identifies Sam Cooke, Keen, 1960 and single format. This is the original release annotation, not its 2014 induction year. Also identifies You Send Me as a 1957 Keen single; the unrelated Louis Armstrong song has a separate entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
The Complete Keen Years - ABKCO original-release notes
Explicitly identifies You Send Me as Cooke's 1957 Keen debut, before its 1958 album. Identifies the original 1960 Wonderful World album and distinguishes original masters from stereo bonuses; also distinguishes Cooke's solo career from the Soul Stirrers. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
04list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1962 (year verified)
Original single: Having a Party / Bring It On Home to Me
Original RCA Victor 8036 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The answering vocal makes the plea feel shared; follow the exchange as the arrangement gathers strength.
Annual appearances: 1962
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1962 (year verified)
The contemporary review documents the original studio pairing as a new 1962 single. Later concert performances are separate recordings and do not replace this master.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 8036 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Having a Party / Bring It On Home to Me
Cash Box, 19 May 1962 - Having a Party / Bring It On Home to Me review
PDF page 10 reviews Cooke's new RCA Victor 8036 pairing, Having a Party / Bring It On Home to Me. This identifies the original 1962 studio recording rather than the subsequent live performances. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
05list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1961 (year verified)
Original single: Cupid / Farewell, My Darling
Original RCA Victor 7883 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The gently swaying accompaniment gives the vocal's direct appeal a playful ease.
Annual appearances: 1961
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1961 (year verified)
The original RCA single is reviewed as Cooke's new release in May 1961. The verified first-release year is retained without treating the magazine's cover date as the release day.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 7883 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Cupid / Farewell, My Darling
Cash Box, 27 May 1961 - Cupid original single review
PDF page 8 reviews Cooke's new RCA Victor 7883 single, Cupid / Farewell, My Darling, and identifies the orchestral and choral backing. Supports the original 1961 studio single, not a later concert recording. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
06list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1960 (year verified)
Original single: Chain Gang / I Fall in Love Every Day
Original RCA Victor 7783 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The repeated response and steady pulse frame a vocal that stays fluid over the insistent pattern.
Annual appearances: 1960
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1960 (year verified)
The new RCA Victor single is documented in the contemporary August 1960 review. This is the original studio performance, not a later live reprise.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 7783 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Chain Gang / I Fall in Love Every Day
Cash Box, 6 August 1960 - Chain Gang original single review
PDF page 8 reviews the new Sam Cooke RCA Victor 7783 pairing, Chain Gang / I Fall in Love Every Day. This contemporary new-record review supports original studio-single release in 1960; no chart or issue day is substituted as the exact release date. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
07list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1962 (year verified)
Original single: Twistin' the Night Away / One More Time
Original RCA Victor 7983 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The brisk rhythm and quick vocal details make this a natural point to turn up the energy.
Annual appearances: 1962
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1962 (year verified)
The original studio single is reviewed as a new release in January 1962. The separate Copa concert recording belongs to 1964 and is not selected.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 7983 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Twistin' the Night Away / One More Time
Cash Box, 20 January 1962 - Twistin' the Night Away single review
PDF page 8 reviews the new RCA Victor 7983 pairing, Twistin' the Night Away / One More Time. Supports the original 1962 studio single before later album and concert editions. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Classic Sam Cooke Albums - ABKCO original-release and version history
Identifies Ain't That Good News as an original 1964 studio album introducing A Change Is Gonna Come; the Copa album is a separate 1964 live recording, and the Dolby Atmos editions are new 2024 mixes. The prose's session-month statement is not used. Only the supported original album year is asserted. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
08list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1963 (year verified)
Original single: Another Saturday Night / Love Will Find a Way
Original RCA Victor 8164 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The buoyant accompaniment keeps the rueful vocal light, making the small melodic shifts easy to enjoy.
Annual appearances: 1963
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1963 (year verified)
The original single was released in 1963, before the 1964 Ain't That Good News album. The album year does not replace the earlier recording release.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 8164 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Another Saturday Night / Love Will Find a Way
Cash Box, 13 April 1963 - Another Saturday Night review
PDF page 8 reviews the new RCA Victor 8164 pairing, Another Saturday Night / Love Will Find a Way. The original 1963 single precedes its inclusion on Ain't That Good News in 1964. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Ain't That Good News - ABKCO original-album track list
The original album contains A Change Is Gonna Come, (Ain't That) Good News and Another Saturday Night. Its accompanying review explicitly distinguishes Another Saturday Night's earlier single. Modern SACD and reissue dates are not first-release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
09list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1962 (year verified)
Original single: Nothing Can Change This Love / Somebody Have Mercy
Original RCA Victor 8088 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: A patient ballad that draws attention to the warmth and flexibility of the voice at a slower pace.
Beyond the yearly listsRelease evidence and recording details
First released: 1962 (year verified)
The original studio single is documented as a new release in September 1962. The single, not a subsequent album or live performance, supplies the first-release year.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 8088 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Nothing Can Change This Love / Somebody Have Mercy
Cash Box, 22 September 1962 - Nothing Can Change This Love review
PDF page 14 reviews the new RCA Victor 8088 pairing, Nothing Can Change This Love / Somebody Have Mercy. The single establishes 1962 release independently of later albums and concert versions. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
10list
orderSam Cooke
First released: 1964 (year verified)
Original single: Good News / Basin Street Blues
Original RCA Victor 8299 studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: Finish with the springy rhythm and open, celebratory vocal, a bright companion to the opening selection.
Annual appearances: 1964
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1964 (year verified)
The original single was already reviewed in January 1964, before the Ain't That Good News album. The contemporary single uses Good News, the title retained by the annual catalog; it is the same selected solo recording.
Recording: Original RCA Victor 8299 studio recording
Credit: Sam Cooke
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Good News / Basin Street Blues
Cash Box, 25 January 1964 - Good News original single review
PDF page 8 reviews Cooke's new RCA Victor 8299 pairing under the title Good News, with Basin Street Blues. Supports the original 1964 single and the shorter title retained by the annual catalog. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Ain't That Good News - ABKCO original-album track list
The original album contains A Change Is Gonna Come, (Ain't That) Good News and Another Saturday Night. Its accompanying review explicitly distinguishes Another Saturday Night's earlier single. Modern SACD and reissue dates are not first-release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Classic Sam Cooke Albums - ABKCO original-release and version history
Identifies Ain't That Good News as an original 1964 studio album introducing A Change Is Gonna Come; the Copa album is a separate 1964 live recording, and the Dolby Atmos editions are new 2024 mixes. The prose's session-month statement is not used. Only the supported original album year is asserted. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
ALL 66 ANNUAL COLLECTIONS1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.
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