Sam Cooke - The Complete Solo Singles As & Bs 1957-62 (2016)

Sam Cooke is widely recognised as the pioneer of soul music, creating the crossover between R&B and pop during the late ‘50s and hugely influential as both a performer and songwriter. He had a smooth and highly distinctive vocal style, with an effortless and faultless delivery that not only made him a massive influence but helped pave the way for other soul artists who emerged during the ‘60s and ‘70s. This great-value 58-track 2-CD collection comprises the A & B sides of all his solo singles, from the time he left The Soul Stirrers in 1957 through to 1962, just two years before his tragic and still unexplained death in a shooting incident in 1964. Those singles, released on the Specialty, Keen, RCA and SAR labels, naturally include all his chart successes during the period, including the landmark hits “You Send Me”, “Only Sixteen”, “Wonderful World”, “Chain Gang” and “Twistin’ The Night Away”. It includes a substantial booklet with full discographical and chart information and a detailed narrative of his career and recordings. It’s a great showcase for his unique talent, and provides an ideal way to get the very best of Sam Cooke’s recordings in one collection.