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Sam's vocal "battles" with Paul Foster, the second lead, are just amazing. These discs stand up to repeated listenings, and deepen each time. Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers are as good as it gets, in mine humble opinion. While there may be too much for the casual listener (3-4 takes of certain songs), to an admirer of Cooke and gospel music in general, this is superlative collection.
But you should get it while the gettin is good. If good music is what you crave then this is it, Look no further. Tanlent today just don't compare with these oldies like sam cooke, aretha franklin, otis redding, staple singers, mahalia jackson etc.
Recommended to all with at least one ear and an open heart. This three-disk set of a young Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers gospel group -- mostly early-1950s recordings -- puts the spotlight on one of pop music's icons, but that praise neglects the glory of the group as an ensemble. It's magic comes forth in typically overworked and underappreciated classics like "Peace in the Valley" and "The Last Mile," and state-of-the-art recording detail and care makes these dozens of recordings enjoyable time after time after time.
Listen to the way that Sam instinctually fills in the pockets of the songs, with the rest of the Soul Stirrers providing a beautiful, consistent back-drop. But what's with Amazon's price changes.
Granted, $30 is pretty standard for a box set, but what I'm confused about is the price fluctuation. I have borrowed this collection from friends and libraries for so long that I finally decided to buy it for myself, but the price keeps jumping from the very reasonable $19.99, to the not so reasonable current price of $29.99.
This wonderful collection showcases the legendary Sam Cooke while he was in the process of discovering the style he would soon change pop music history with. Again, the real treats are in the details.
Why does that happen. The brilliance of the listening experience, in my opinion, happens in the details.
Even when Sam is not the lead vocalist, his ability to turn a phrase and ornament a melody is uncanny.
I would most definitely order again and again. I received my multiple cds in a timely manner, and they were all in terrific conditions.
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