Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story

2 CD import box set with booklet

All in excellent condition

Album Review by Steve Huey, AllMusic.com:

Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story is a double-disc set presenting material recorded for the legendary soul singer’s own SAR label from 1959-1965, much of it produced by Cooke himself and including a few of his rough, unreleased demos. The first disc covers the label’s religious side, with a multitude of cuts from Cooke’s former group the Soul Stirrers (now with Jimmie Outler on lead vocals), plus a generous helping of songs by R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders and the Womack Brothers. The second disc covers essentially the same gospel-derived soul territory but with a secular bent, featuring future stars Bobby Womack (with the Valentinos), Billy Preston, and Johnnie Taylor, plus L.C. Cooke, Johnnie Morisette, the Simms Twins, and Mel Carter. All in all, it’s an excellent look at a lesser-known portion of Cooke’s career, and there’s some great, underappreciated music to boot.

Track Listing

1. "Wade In The Water" - The Soul Stirrers

2. "I'm A Pilgrim" - The Soul Stirrers

3. "Praying Ground" - The Soul Stirrers

4. "Somebody" - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders

5. "Sometimes" - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders

6. "Amazing Grace" - The Soul Stirrers

7. "Pass Me Not" - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders

8. "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep" - The Soul Stirrers

9. "Since I Met The Savior" - The Soul Stirrers

10. "God Is Standing By" - The Soul Stirrers

11. "Lead Me To Cavalry (Rehearsal)" - Sam Cooke, S.R. Crain & The Soul Stirrers

12. "Listen To The Angels Sing" - The Soul Stirrers

13. "Don't Leave Me Alone" - The Soul Stirrers

14. "Stand By Me Father" - The Soul Stirrers

15. "Jesus Be A Fence Around Me" - The Soul Stirrers

16. "Lead Me Jesus" - The Soul Stirrers

17. "Free At Last" - The Soul Stirrers

18. "Looking Back" - The Soul Stirrers

19. "Born Again" - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders

20. "Wait On Jesus" - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders

21. "Time Brings About A Change" - The Soul Stirrers

22. "Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone" - The Soul Stirrers

23. "Yield Not To Temptation" - The Womack Brothers

24. "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" - The Womack Brothers

25. "Somewhere There's A God" - The Womack Brothers

26. "That's Heaven To Me" - Sam Cooke

Disc 2

1. "You Send Me (Demo)" - Sam Cooke2. "Just For You" - Sam Cooke

3. "Somewhere There's A Girl" - Sam Cooke

4. "You Were Made For Me" - Sam Cooke

5. "When A Boy Falls In Love" - Mel Carter

6. "Soothe Me" - The Simms Twins

7. "That's Where It's At" - The Simms Twins

8. "Everybody Wants To Fall In Love" - The Valentinos

9. "Keep On Loving You" - Johnnie Taylor

10. "I'll Always Be In Love With You" - Johnnie Taylor

11. "Baby, We've Got Love" - Johnnie Taylor

12. "Baby, Lot's Of Luck" - The Valentinos

13. "Put Me Down Easy" - L.C. Cooke

14. "Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day)" - Johnnie Taylor

15. "Greazee Part I & II" - Billy Preston

16. "I Gopher You" - The Simms Twins

17. "You're Always On My Mind" - Johnny Morisette

18. "I Need Lots Of Love" - Johnnie Taylor

19. "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong" - Johnnie Morisette

20. "Black Night" - Johnnie Morisette

21. "Damper" - Johnnie Morisette

22. "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)" - Johnnie Taylor

23. "Meet Me At The Twisting Place" - Johnnie Morisette

24. "Good, Good Loving" - The Simms Twins

25. "The Wobble" - L.C. Cooke

26. "Lookin' For A Love" - The Valentinos

27. "I've Got Love For You" - The Valentins

28. "I've Got A Girl" - The Valentinos

29. "Tired Of Living In The Country" - The Valentinos

30. "It's All Over Now" - The Valentinos