In 1963, Sam Cooke, the true inventor and King of Soul, recorded the album Night Beat, which was bluesier and moodier than anything we had heard from Cooke before. However, thanks to his transcendent voice, listening to this album never makes us sad. Melancholy and nostalgia may come to mind, but Sam Cooke’s music has an uplifting quality that has never been surpassed.
Night Beat is an album that takes a slow approach to the music, but is never lazy. It is laid-back without losing its keen sensibilities. His other musicians frame Sam Cooke delicately, barely needing any accompaniment on “Lost and Lookin’” and “Trouble Blues”, while adding some honest grittiness to “Little Red Rooster” and “I Lost Everything”. If Sam Cooke had lived longer, we might have had more music of this rare quality. As it stands, we must make do with the treasures he left behind.
Night Beat is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on green coloured vinyl.
Tracks:
SIDE A:
1. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
2. Lost And Lookin'
3. Mean Old World
4. Please Don't Drive Me Away
5. I Lost Everything
6. Get Yourself Another FoolSIDE B:
1. Little Red Rooster
2. Laughin' And Clownin'
3. Trouble Blues
4. You Gotta Move
5. Fool's Paradise
6. Shake, Rattle And Roll
