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Sam Cooke — A Change is Gonna Come
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Toke
(Bournemouth UK)
Posted: Mar 11, 2013 - 13:47
 
 atthetone wrote:
black soul, motown....call it what you will. sweet it is, sweet it is..
 

well said ... its just a beautiful song sung from the soul and heart.

atthetone
Posted: Jan 07, 2013 - 21:00
 
black soul, motown....call it what you will. sweet it is, sweet it is..

cc_rider
(Austin Texas. Y'all.)
Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 11:52
 
Not sure how accurate this story is, but I thought I heard an interview about the writing of this song. Supposedly he wrote it in the car on the way to a gig: they needed another song for their set list and wanted something gospel-sounding but not TOO gospel-sounding. I don't know if there's really such a thing as divine inspiration, but this song would be pretty good proof.

Edit: Wiki set me straight. Written in his tour bus after visiting with demonstrators. Doesn't change the quality of the song though.

ziakut
(Slightly North of Obvlivion)
Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 11:50
 
Seamless and true.

gypsyman
(just passing through....)
Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 11:50
 
Its all just gospel to me.

neuticle
(fog fog fog)
Posted: Oct 05, 2012 - 17:23
 
  This is in my top 5 of all time. It might just be number 1

neuticle
(fog fog fog)
Posted: Oct 05, 2012 - 17:22
 
 ottovonb wrote:
Some voices - very few - are so utterly amazing it almost doesn't matter what they sing, it's stunning. That's Sam. Fortunately he sang plenty of great songs. But his voice is so extraordinary it's actually difficult to assess the song itself. What an amazing gift to be able to bring joy to so many people so long after you've passed from this earth.
 
Right on...

ottovonb
Posted: Aug 03, 2012 - 17:09
 
Some voices - very few - are so utterly amazing it almost doesn't matter what they sing, it's stunning. That's Sam. Fortunately he sang plenty of great songs. But his voice is so extraordinary it's actually difficult to assess the song itself. What an amazing gift to be able to bring joy to so many people so long after you've passed from this earth.

zitherica
(Rijeka, Croatia)
Posted: Jul 03, 2012 - 06:29
 
perfect.

lily34
(lexvegas)
Posted: Jul 03, 2012 - 06:28
 
 gosvimmink wrote:
sam cooke is perfection
 
yes.

gosvimmink
Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 09:56
 
sam cooke is perfection

gjr
(boston, ma)
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 17:22
 
i think it's truly difficult to comprehend or figure out exactly what a huge and profound influence he, otis redding and smokey robinson were on the early '60's music scene in america.  the beatles, of course, were obliterating everything north, east, south and west at the very same time but those three did what they did best....black american soul, the very root of rock n' roll.  perhaps, if i may be so bold as to add, saving the american pop music at the same time.  there was, in fact, no real american answer for the beatles.  they sprang from the roots of the fifties (buddy holly, little richard, everly bros. etc) but those three were all american originals.  
viva sam  otis and smokey

dingleberry
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 - 16:23
 
And a second believe it or not, Joshua Ledett does magic with this on American Idol

WonderLizard
(2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise)
Posted: Feb 27, 2012 - 06:28
 
Oh, Lord, what a voice.

cc_rider
(Austin Texas. Y'all.)
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 - 13:32
 
10, 10, 10, 10. I should go back and change all my other 10s to 9s. It just doesn't get any better.

Believe it or not, Terence Trent d'Arby did a wonderful cover of this for a PBS (?) special called 'The Promised Land'. Nothing can top Sam Cooke of course, but that version is very, very good.

godspeed
(maui)
Posted: Jan 26, 2012 - 13:30
 
So smooth and sweet, brother bring it! {#Mrgreen}

MJMJ
Posted: Jan 01, 2012 - 11:21
 
Hmm, this song does not appear to be on this album

sheetsy
(Jefferson State)
Posted: Dec 25, 2011 - 19:27
 
aaahhhhhhhhh......life is good; thank you RP!!! 

amoreena
(west whatnot)
Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 11:40
 
Next time you are at a wedding, ask the band to play anything from Sam Cooke.  You'll get an admiring glance from the band and the dance floor will be packed in seconds.  Never fails.  People know the music, but not the Man's name.  Amazing music.


Cynaera
(In a hammock under my own vine and fig tree.)
Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 11:39
 
His voice gives me chills - so pure and true. I love this song.

SinisterDexter
Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 11:39
 

Wow. This song just gave me chills. I can't remember the last time that happened.



yofitofu
(Santa Barbara, CA)
Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 11:38
 
Seems like a song about Khadaffi - "I was born in a little tent.....a change is gonna come"?

Ndugu
Posted: Mar 18, 2009 - 12:37
 
This is a great example of an artist taking control of his career. Cooke heard Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind," and wanted to make that kind of statement. Not many guys can do this, but he wrote A Change Is Gonna Come and made a drastic shift away from the lighter songs he was doing to that point.


Delboy77
(Vienna, Austria)
Posted: Jul 05, 2007 - 04:29
 
i must admit that the first rendition of this song
i got to hear, and wholeheartedly fell in love with was the baby huey cover version of this track,

it would be great to hear it...although it clocks at some 9 minutes ;)
graemea
Posted: Jun 18, 2007 - 00:52
 
Could be sacrlege to say, but I was reading an interview with Steve Perry of Journey, and he cites Sam Cooke as a favourite. And then I listened to Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'and heard it right away. Sam's influence even spread into 1970s AOR! Who would have thunk it?

ThePoose wrote:


And how about Marvin, Otis and Rev. Al?

Sad that legal wrangling kept this recording from being released to all humanity until the latest millennium. Credit Bob's Blowin' in the Wind for Sam's inspiration to write this.

drife
(Golden, CO)
Posted: May 17, 2007 - 16:46
 
What an amazing piece of music. One of the few that has rightly earned a rating of 10.
Frater_Kork
(Uppsala, Sweden)
Posted: Apr 16, 2007 - 04:22
 
damn...
9 -> 10
Hinkamp
(Planet Utah)
Posted: Mar 31, 2007 - 11:11
 
damn, damn sad ... a change has not come.
DoofusGeezer
(Pilvimaa)
Posted: Feb 28, 2007 - 05:51
 
siloco wrote:
A true classic.

Terence Trent D'arby did a great version in the nineties, which is well worth checking out...



The only other version that starts to come close to this is the Neville Brothers. I saw a version filmed at the Montreal Jazz Festival that was absolutely riveting. Aaron Neville's delivery was an amazing mixture of menace and hope.
pannaramma
(Away)
Posted: Feb 28, 2007 - 05:49
 
Whoa. The goosebumps I got the minute this came on tells me my rating must go up from a 9 to a 10.
ThePoose
Posted: Feb 28, 2007 - 05:48
 
drtjdel wrote:
Now I know where Robert Cray gets his vocal phrasing.


And how about Marvin, Otis and Rev. Al?

Sad that legal wrangling kept this recording from being released to all humanity until the latest millennium. Credit Bob's Blowin' in the Wind for Sam's inspiration to write this.
cutterjudd
(smackdabinthemiddle)
Posted: Feb 12, 2007 - 15:39
 
There are a few people in my mind that define "soul" and Sam Cooke is one of them. And may I say he is on top of that list.
dawnejazz
(on a road...up the hill...into an abyss)
Posted: Feb 12, 2007 - 15:36
 
WOW.....worth a million goosebumps!


lostintokyo
(Japon)
Posted: Feb 12, 2007 - 15:34
 
this song brings tears to the eyes...beautiful.

the whole cd is worth purchasing.
jadewahoo
(...for when spiritual protection really matters.)
Posted: Jan 14, 2007 - 09:44
 






drife
(Golden, CO)
Posted: Jan 14, 2007 - 09:42
 
This is a masterpiece.
QualityPie
(Rose City Til I Die)
Posted: Dec 01, 2006 - 17:36
 
I highly recommend the recent compilation, "Portrait Of A Legend".
Knockout sound. Insanely good track selection.
And the skin-prickling closing hidden track from some interview,
wherein the interviewer asks Sam to describe, in about 8 bars,
"what Soul means to you."
Sam hums a quick, perfect melody (more like 6 bars),
and the interviewer says:

"Sam Cooke's yours; he'll never grow old."
strick
(Syracuse- your sympathy accepted...)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 12:13
 
Taylor Hicks used this as his audition song- Did a nice version for the 20 seconds he was given... What a great song!
siandbeth
(Santa Cruz California)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 11:48
 
The BEST version I've ever heard of this song is from Aretha Franklin, play it! play it!
Hinkamp
(Planet Utah)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 11:47
 
you should follow this with a moment of silence because anything else sort of spoils the mood. "Porcupine Trees"!?!
Walrus_Gumbo
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 11:47
 
Phantomrider wrote:
WOW! Is there a better voice out there? Nat King Cole? maybe.


Amen to that! His vocal on "Cupid" is one of the greatest ever recorded. The voice of an angel indeed!!!
jadewahoo
(In the golden glow of Life)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 11:45
 
I'm crying.
siloco
(Tampa, FLA)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 11:42
 
A true classic.

Terence Trent D'arby did a great version in the nineties, which is well worth checking out...
appst89
(North Wilkesboro, NC)
Posted: Nov 02, 2006 - 11:42
 

ThirdRail_33
(Beautiful Bonita Springs, FL - Paradise)
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 13:03
 
Truly moving. A wonderfully great song. Thanks so much.
AlienRelic
(east of Eden)
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 13:02
 
cattgirl813 wrote:
One of the few works of art in any format that can bring a tear to my eye. An absolutely beautiful song.

This song stops me cold in my tracks and makes me listen to every note. 10
drtjdel
(Saratoga, CA)
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 13:00
 
Now I know where Robert Cray gets his vocal phrasing.
junebaby65
(Cleveland, OH)
Posted: Sep 19, 2006 - 13:00
 
Gee, I wonder who influenced one Rod Stewart?(whom I do enjoy as well)
Steven_G
Posted: Aug 21, 2006 - 07:57
 
Phantomrider wrote:
WOW! Is there a better voice out there? Nat King Cole? maybe.
Yup... Sam Cooke is one of the best!
lophrequa
(the very edge of the land)
Posted: Aug 21, 2006 - 07:56
 
goosepimply