Sam Cooke: Night Beat / One Night Stand (2013)

Two of the Best Cooke Albums

music albums

Sam Cooke: Night Beat / One Night Stand

Both of these albums were released long after Cooke's death in late 1964, and each one is a revelation. "Night Beat" is a collection of simply arranged classic songs, including Mean Old World, a gospel number Cooke originally sang with the Soul Stirrers before going solo. Every tune on this album has a loose, late night feel to it which makes it stand in stark contrast to the heavily orchestrated sessions that were the norm toward the end of his career. It is Cooke at his most introspective self.

"One Night Stand" is almost the polar opposite of Cooke's "At the Copa" live album that was released during his lifetime, and in many ways it shows just how Cooke interpreted his tunes in front of a "club" audience. With King Curtis leading the band along with guitarist Cliff White, Cooke's music director, the band tears into a set of great tunes with Cooke playing to the audience. The only regret about this album is that it clocks in at a very short 38 minutes. You will be left wanting more live Cooke.