Hits of the 50's
Releases
Tracklisting:
Sale: For those interested I can make a copy of this CD, E-mail me for more information
Liner Notes
When
rock hit the Fiftes, a lot of sensitive citizens corked their ears, crawled into
their woofers and occasionally sent messages to the outside world demanding,
“Where is the new good music – and where are the good young singers?” Well, this
album gives the answer, for the music was there all the time. Out of the Fifties
we have chosen a dozen ballads, including Unchained Melody, Too Young and
The Song from Moulin Rouge, to prove that along with The Chicken
Scratch and other record-hop pops there were new songs, beautiful by any
standard. And the answer to the second part of the question is Sam Cooke, a
young man who has developed his own style and sensitivities.
Sam is of the new generation of singers and he generates
excitement by going to the heart of a song with simplicity and directness. He
has one characteristic that no one can truly imitate or describe. It happens so
unexpectedly and it’s over so quickly that you don’t quite know what’s happened,
although the effect is lovely and subtle. Listen for it.
This is the second RCA Victor album we have made with Sam and so a few words are in order. He is tall and slender, with looks that remind you at once of Belafonte and Poitier. Although he is only twenty-five, his vocal training began many years ago in gospel choirs and he was a gospel singer when approached to record popular music. At the moment his father, the Reverend Charles Cooke, counseled, “God doesn’t tell you what to sing but He gave you this talent and you serve Him by using it.”
And Sam serves well and conscientiously. At recording sessions he works hard and is always ready for “another take,” although we may stay with it through the early hours of the morning.
So what’s new in music – what’s cooking these days? It’s Sam.
Hugo & Luigi