Sam Cooke : Portrait of a Legend, 1951-1964
Genre: Soul/Gospel	Dates: 1951-1964

Cooke had it all: beauty, vision, ambition, money (after awhile), connections, style, sophistication, the hearts of both the saints and the sinners—and the most gorgeous, pliable voice in all of soul music. On this, the best of one zillion Cooke hits collections (most of which are out of print-for reasons likely found in the tale of his untimely demise), you can see, hear, and feel it all. Of the many classics here, the deepest is "A Change is Gonna Come," which seems to encapsulate the whole of the Civil Rights movement as well as provide Cooke's epitaph (he was shot to death shortly before its release). To hear a song as posthumously tragic, you'd have to go back to Hank Williams' "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" (he didn't). See also Peter Guralnick's chronicle of Southern soul, Sweet Soul Music (found in the print collection of the American Roots Music Collection).

Playlist:
1. Touch The Hem Of His Garment
2. Lovable
3. You Send Me
4. Only Sixteen
5. For Sentimental Reasons, (I Love You)
6. Just For You
7. Win Your Love For Me
8. Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha
9. I'll Come Running Back To You
10. You Were Made For Me
11. Sad Mood
12. Cupid
13. Wonderful World, (What A)
14. Chain Gang
15. Summertime
16. Little Red Rooster
17. Bring It On Home To Me
18. Nothing Can Change This Love
19. Sugar Dumpling
20. Good News, (Ain't That)
21. Meet Me At Mary's Place
22. Twistin' The Night Away
23. Shake
24. Tennessee Waltz
25. Another Saturday Night
26. Good Times
27. Having A Party
28. That's Where It's At
29. Change Is Gonna Come, A
30. Jesus Gave Me Water
31. (untitled) - (hidden track)