Hi, Sam Tompkins

The Best of Sam Cooke, NOT2CD386, This new compilation comprises CD1 a selection of 26 songs including all the hits associated with Sam Cooke. The period covered is 1957 (5); 1958 (4); 1959 (8) & 1960 (9) tracks with a total running time of approx 66 minutes. The recordings are from the Keen Records and RCA label. CD2 has for the first time on CD the RCA albums "Swing Low" with orchestra under Sammy Lowe and has 3 of Sam Cooke's compositions included plus his debut album "Cooke's Tour" with orchestra under Glenn Osser and both albums date from 1960…

Born in New York City, I spent most of my adolescent years in a suburb of Detroit. When the Beatles hit the scene in the early 60s, my chums and I took turns emulating the Fab Four with the help of vinyl recordings and broom stick instruments. This was truly an exciting time. It wasn't long before I saved up and bought myself a solid-body electric guitar adn a cheap amp, teamed up with some chums and started my first rock band…

When you talk about Blues drumming you have to talk about Sam Lay the man who put the beat behind the Blues, truly a living legend. He worked with Howlin' Wolf, with whom he played both live and on countless hit records. He was with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and while with Butterfield backed Bob Dylan on his first electric gigs, including the infamous 1965 Newport Folk Festival. He also played drums on the Dylan's "Highway 61".

Although Chess didn't bother to anthologize these sides into album form until the early '60s, this marvelous collection actually dates from 1953. Broonzy and Sam are both in great form here, sharing the vocals throughout and recalling their earlier days as Bluebird label and session mates. The sound is fleshed out by the addition of guitarist Lee Cooper (who at times almost sounds a bit too modern for the genre being explored here, throwing in what can only be described as Chuck Berry licks) and Big Crawford on upright bass.