Sam Cooke

INCLUDES 2 BONUS TRACKS

The underrated and long unavailable LP, I Thank God, was originally released by the Keen label in 1960. It features spirituals and some of Sam Cooke’s finest gospel tunes with guest artists The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (credited as The Original Blind Boys), and the female singing group The Gospel Harmonettes. Cooke would periodically return to gospel throughout his career, always with outstanding results.

In addition to the original album, this Vinyl Lovers collector’s edition includes 2 bonus tracks, consisting of gospel tunes recorded by Sam Cooke during the same period: the American negro spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “Farther Along” (the latter performed with The Soul Stirrers). These are superb tunes from one of the pioneers and most important singers of gospel-soul music.

PERSONNEL:

SIDE 1 (1 & 4) / SIDE 2 (tracks 1 & 4):
Sam Cooke (lead vocals), Cliff White (guitar), Red Callender (bass), Earl Palmer (drums).
Backing vocals are unknown. Recorded in California, March 2 & 3, 1959.

SIDE 1 (2 & 6) / SIDE 2 (3 & 6):
The Original Blind Boys, probably featuring Clarence Fountain, Johnny Fields, Ollice Thomas, George Scott, and J. T. Hutton. Probably recorded in 1958.

SIDE 1 (3 & 5) / SIDE 2 (2 & 5):
The Gospel Harmonettes, probably featuring Dorothy Love Coates (lead vocals), Vera Kalb (soprano vocals), Mildred Miller Howard (mezzo-soprano vocals), Willie Mae Newberry Garth (alto vocals), Odessa Edwards (contralto vocals), and Herbert “Pee Wee” Pickard (piano). Recorded between 1956 and 1958.

SIDE 1 (7): Sam Cooke (lead vocals), Cliff White (guitar), Milt Hinton (bass), Hank Jones (piano), Hugo Peretti (organ). Drums, percussion and backing vocals are unknown.
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Sammy Love. Recorded at RCA Studios, New York, 1960.

SIDE 2 (7): Sam Cooke (lead vocals), Paul Foster (second lead vocals), Senior Ray Crain (first tenor vocals), Thomas L. Bruster & R.B. Robinson (baritone vocals), Jesse J. Farley (bass vocals).
Unknown organ, piano and drums. Recorded at Master Recorders, Hollywood, California, February 2, 1956.

SIDE 1

01. I THANK GOD .................................. SAM COOKE
02. YOU GOT TO MOVE .............................. THE ORIGINAL BLIND BOYS
03. JERICHO WALLS ................................ THE GOSPEL HARMONETTES
04. THAT’S HEAVEN TO ME .......................... SAM COOKE
05. LOVE LIFTED ME ............................... THE GOSPEL HARMONETTES
06. COMING UP THROUGH THE YEARS THE ORIGINAL BLIND BOYS
07. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT (*) ................. SAM COOKE

SIDE 2

01. STEAL AWAY ................................... SAM COOKE
02. TRUST AND OBEY ............................... THE GOSPEL HARMONETTES
03. THIS FRIEND JESUS ............................ THE ORIGINAL BLIND BOYS
04. DEEP RIVER ................................... SAM COOKE
05. GOD’S GOODNESS ............................... THE GOSPEL HARMONETTES
06. OH, LORD FIX IT .............................. THE ORIGINAL BLIND BOYS
07. FARTHER ALONG (*) ............................ SAM COOKE & THE SOUL STIRRERS

(*) BONUS TRACKS