how you doing out there?

in the studio recording his pop songs was Sam Cooke nice and polite, but on stage he turns into a rough rnb singer full of male sensuality.

Live at the Harlem Square illustrates the dramatic transformation more clearly than any other albums, like its roots in the Gospel are, but here a line is definitely drawn between sacred and secular music.

1963 Cooke already a successful black singer. He also had the record company SAR (a new recording contract guaranteed him total artistic freedom and had another live album (Live at the Copa-also great) in the top thirty.

Live at the Harlem Square Club was when occurring in a working men's club in the ghetto of Miami recorded and has long been considered one of the best live albums ever. Ironically, it was 22 years unpublished.

The location promises welding, the audience mostly black, is at your feet Cooke, from the first note to the final chord away. it is sung loudly when prompted, applauded enthusiastically. rarely have the artist and audience such fun.

the lively charisma makes this posthumous document unique works under Cooke. a completely informal singer is here accompanied by the pulsating rhythms of the band vigorously with the saxophone virtuoso King Curtis, whose game seems goosebumps producing.

the great guitarist Cliff white plays subtly brilliant, although he did not solos dominant or highlighting uncomfortable he think the whole wheel in the running with its relevant guitar work ...

the exciting versions of soul classics sparkle just so therefore, even in the original schmaltzy numbers get a groove which has no equal.

I have to highlight the number "Twistin the night away", you will get them nowhere better to hear, and the hammer on number
"Bring it on home to me".

at the latter for number Cooke begins with a small love story, before he and the band in ecstasy explode and ignite a firework of 7 minutes. afterwards you have to breath touched his thoughts.
without scruples, this is in my eyes the best soul number ever.

the sound seems a bit revamped, the unique flair of this presentation is beautifully captured that sound small defects act never disturbing you anyway focuses rather on the hypnotic vocals of Cooke.

Conclusion: an incredible disc, the entertainer Cooke triumphed across the board, he teem with self-confidence, and provides a Walti quietly passionate show off the unparalleled to this day. even a James Brown can not hold a candle here. a classic which you have to have very simple.