Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers - Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers

While Sam Cooke certainly made beautiful music in the pop realm, his greatest sides were those made with the Soul Stirrers. When Cooke joined the group in 1950 at the age of 19, he'd already spent 4 years singing with the Highway Q.C.'s. The Soul Stirrers lead singer, R.H. Harris, who quit just before Cooke's arrival, had spent almost 25 years molding the group into gospel stardom through an innovative use of two lead singers matched with utmost energy and sophistication. Cooke initially sang in a style similar to Harris's, but soon took off into his own unearthly realm, writing spine-tingling songs like "Nearer to Thee," "Mean Old World," and the brilliant "Touch the Hem of His Garment," then singing them in his soaring, inimitable style with perfect control of phrasing and enunciation. This is an awesome collection, a record to listen to many, many times--to grow old with. Save it for those days when you need absolute proof that true grace does exist. --Mike McGonigal Amazon.com essential recording

Makes me cry it's so good

WOW! Listening to Sam with the Soul Stirrers really made me appreciate just how great he really was. If you love Sam Cooke (and you should), then you should listen to this. If you love Gospel music, you need this. May 2, 2008

Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers

Probablely the best gospel group of the fifties and sixties. I love this CD. May 6, 2007

Best gospel CD

Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirres is one of most inspiring and heartfilling experiences of all times. It really touch my soul,a cd of real downhome gospel music.I'll gladly give it 5 stars being the best. August 26, 2006

Buy This Album!

you do not need to be religious or a gospel fan to enjoy this great music. this is not the commercial pop/blues of sam cooke's later solo career, which is still good music. this is his roots, and in my opinion his greatest work by far. May 27, 2006

The Gospel Roots of Sam Cooke

You don't get a deserved reputation for singing with passion, fire, and energy as Sam Cooke did without having some proving ground, some mode of training for developing talent that, once discovered, catapulted him to the forefront of the emerging American R&B music scene. No matter what kind of song Sam would sing later, whether "Chain Gang," "You Send Me," or "Cupid," the raw, unbridled strength of his vocals had their beginnings first in church, and then recording and touring with the Soul Stirrers, one of the top gospel groups of the time.

Sam Cooke joined when he was only 19 years old, but he quickly became the co-lead singer, following the group's long-standing format of having two co-lead vocalists. But after a while, Sam's voice so overshadowed the others that the group eventually became known as Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers.

This collection of some of the Soul Stirrers' greatest hits with Cooke as a vocalist features some of his best recorded gospel performances. Songs like "Be With me Jesus," "I'm so Glad Trouble Don't Last Always," "That's Heaven To Me," and the classic, timeless "Touch The Hem of His Garment" brim over with the richness and power that was Sam Cooke's voice. Another great talent lost too soon, but also another talent that we were fortunate to have for at least a little while.

If you love Sam Cooke or traditional gospel music, this CD is a must for your collection. May 19, 2006

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