The Best of Sam Cooke
1962 greatest hits album by Sam Cooke
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The Best of Sam Cooke is the second greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. Produced by Hugo & Luigi, the album was released in 1962 in the United States by RCA Victor. The compilation contains most of Sam Cooke's most well-known hits from 1957 to 1962.
| The Best of Sam Cooke | ||||
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| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | 1962 | |||
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, dance, soul | |||
| Length | 31:50 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | Hugo & Luigi | |||
| Sam Cooke chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Best of Sam Cooke | ||||
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Critical reception
AllMusic critic Ron Wynn gave The Best of Sam Cooke three-and-a-half out of five stars and called it "an above-average greatest hits collection, although no sampler could fully convey Sam Cooke's genius."[4] In Blender, Robert Christgau was more critical, giving it one star and recommending listeners overlook the album in favor of the 30-song compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.[5]
Track listing
Side one
- "You Send Me" – 2:45
- "Only Sixteen" – 2:02
- "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" – 2:42
- "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" – 2:38
- "Wonderful World" – 2:06
- "Summertime" – 2:21
Side two
- "Chain Gang" – 2:35
- "Cupid" – 2:37
- "Twistin' the Night Away" – 2:43
- "Sad Mood" – 2:38
- "Having a Party" – 2:36
- "Bring It On Home to Me" – 2:44
Personnel
Reissues
In 1979, RCA reissued the album in its mid-priced "Pure Gold" album series with revised catalog number ANL1-3466. The album was reissued again in 1981 in the RCA budget-priced "Best-Buy" series, catalog number changed to AYL1-3863. RCA first reissued the album on compact disc in 1988; this reissue included an alternate version of "Summertime" as a bonus track. The album was reissued again on CD in 2005, with three bonus tracks. In 2018, Sony/RCA reissued the album in its original vinyl format as part of the RCA Legacy Recordings series.