Greatest Hits (CD - 1998)

Producers include: Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore.

Compilation producer: Paul Williams.

Recorded between 1957 & 1964.

Includes liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo.

Liner Note Author: Joseph F. Laredo.

Recording information: ??/1957-02/1963.

Photographer: Herb Snitzer.

Unknown Contributor Role: Paul Williams .

Arranger: Sam Cooke.

Although it isn't as sublime as the definitive The Man and His Music, Greatest Hits still does a good job of rounding up the majority of Sam Cooke's biggest pop hits. Ironically, it doesn't have enough gospel or R&B cuts, skipping over such essentials as "Touch the Hem of His Garment," "Ain't That Good News," and "A Change Is Gonna Come" in favor of such pop hits as "Sugar Dumpling." However, it has just enough songs that aren't on The Man and His Music to make it worth exploring for fans who haven't been able to hear some of this material before, since some of these songs had been out of print for years. Nevertheless, the curious and the novice should be aware that this is not a good introduction to Sam Cooke, because it doesn't provide a full portrait of his career and it overlooks too many necessary songs. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Although it isn't as sublime as the definitive The Man and His Music, Greatest Hits still does a good job of rounding up the majority of Sam Cooke's biggest pop hits. Ironically, it doesn't have enough gospel or R&B cuts, skipping over such essentials as "Touch the Hem of His Garment," "Ain't That Good News," and "A Change Is Gonna Come" in favor of such pop hits as "Sugar Dumpling." However, it has just enough songs that aren't on The Man and His Music to make it worth exploring for fans who haven't been able to hear some of this material before, since some of these songs have been out of print for years. Nevertheless, it's targeted for the curious and the novice, and even with its omissions, Greatest Hits does provide a reasonably effective overview of his pop career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Sam Cooke was essential to early soul music, a fact perhaps never more apparent than on "Bring It on Home to Me." With Lou Rawls harmonizing, Cooke paints a portrait of desire and heartache that wears the cloak of secular R&B but draws its weighty feel from gospel. This near-perfect introduction to Cooke's short but prolific career also features gems like "You Send Me" and "Cupid," irresistible trifles "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" and "Twistin' the Night Away," and all-time Sam Cooke classics like "Wonderful World." GREATEST HITS comes close to superseding all previous Cooke compilations, with superlative remastering, an informative booklet, and excellent graphics. minimize