Sam Cooke

INCLUDES FREE MP3 ALBUM DOWNLOAD Plus 2 BONUS TRACKS

This quintessential LP edition includes one of Sam Cooke’s most difficult to find albums: Cooke’s Tour, originally released in April 1960 and long unavailable on vinyl. It marks the singer’s debut long play release on the RCA-Victor label – after many years with Keen (based out of L.A.). It shows the pop direction that RCA wanted Sam to go in his musical career. Cooke doesn’t disappoint as he is heard in top form throughout the album. Like its title suggests, this is a concept album of songs about various parts of the world, including the West Indies, the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, and Mexico, to name a few.

PERSONNEL:

SAM COOKE. lead vocals, plus:

Unidentified orchestra, probably featuring: Cliff White (g), Red Callender (b), Ernie Hayes (p), David Francis (d), Hinda Barnet, Alfred Brown, Max Cahn, Fred Fradkin, Archie Levin, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Ben Miller (violin).
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

Recorded by Ray Hall at RCA Studio-A, New York, January-February 1960.

(*) Bonus tracks:
probably Cliff White (g), Red Callender (b), unknown drummer,
possibly Ronald Selico. Unknown backing vocals.

Recorded in California, March 1959.

SIDE 1

01 FAR AWAY PLACES
02 UNDER PARIS SKIES
03 SOUTH OF THE BORDER (DOWN MEXICO WAY)
04 BALI HA’I
05 THE COFFEE SONG (THEY’VE GOT AN AWFUL LOT OF COFFEE IN BRAZIL)
06 ARRIVEDERCI, ROMA (GOODBYE TO ROME)
07 EE-YI-EE-YI-OH (*)

SIDE 2

01 LONDON BY NIGHT
02 JAMAICA FAREWELL
03 GALWAY BAY
04 SWEET LEILANI
05 THE JAPANESE FAREWELL SONG
06 THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
07 MARY, MARY LOU (*)

(*) BONUS TRACKS