The SAR Records Story [Slipcase]

Performer: Various Artists/Sam Cooke
Engineer: Dave Hassinger; Dino Lappas; Eddie Brackett; Bob Kidder; Frankford Wayne; Jim Malloy; Rick Essig; Steve Rosenthal; Wally Heider; Bill Putnam; Bones Howe
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Compilation producers: Jody H. Klein, Gregg Geller, Iris Keitel, Lenne Allik. Includes liner notes by Bobby Womack, Leroy Crume, and Peter Guralnick All tracks have been digitally remastered. SAM COOKE'S SAR RECORDS STORY was nominated for a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes. Compilation producers: Jody H. Klein, Gregg Geller, Iris Keitel, Lenne Allik. Recorded between 1959 & 1965. Includes liner notes by Bobby Womack, Leroy Crume, and Peter Guralnick All tracks have been digitally remastered. SAM COOKE'S SAR RECORDS STORY was nominated for a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes. Personnel: Sam Cooke (vocals, background vocals); Curtis Womack, Jimmie Outler, Johnnie Taylor, Paul Foster (vocals); Harold R. Battiste, Jr. (guitar, saxophone, piano); Rene Hall (guitar, piano, organ); Thomas J. Tedesco, George Rembert, Howard Roberts , John Duke, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Leroy Crume, Tommy Tedesco , Bobby Womack, Clifton White, Cecil Womack (guitar); Syd Orchestra Sharp (strings); Melvin Lastie (saxophone, trombone, piano); Jewell L. Grant, Edgar Redmond, Alvin "Red" Tyler (saxophone); Lonnie Bolden, John Anderson (trumpet); Chauncey Locke, Larry Lofton, Joseph R. Gibbons, John Ewing (trombone); Billy Preston (piano, organ); Raymond Johnson (piano); Floyd Morris (organ); Harper Cosby (upright bass, bass guitar); James E. Bond, Clifford Hils, Johnny Pate (upright bass); Linwood Mitchell (6-string bass); Ed Greene, John Boudreaux (drums, percussion); Earl Palmer , Charlie Blackwell, Phil Thomas (drums); Gene Estes (percussion); James W. Alexander, J.J. Farley, Linda Carr, Lou Rawls, Patrice Holloway, Roy Crain, SR. (background vocals). Liner Note Authors: Barbara Cooke; William Claxton; Peter Guralnick; Clifton White. Recording information: Bell Sound, NY (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); Capitol Recording, Hollywood, CA (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); Keen Reco (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); Keen Recording, Los Angeles, CA (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); R.C.A. Victor Recording, Hollywood, CA (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); Specialty Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); United Recording, Hollywood, CA (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); Universal Recording, Chicago, IL (08/23/1957-12/07/1964); Western Recording, Hollywoood (08/23/1957-12/07/1964). Editor: Teri Landi. Illustrator: Angelo Tillery. Photographers: Michael Ochs; Frank Driggs; Clifford White; Gilles Petard; Robert Pruter; L.C. Cook; Barbara Cooke; William Claxton. Unknown Contributor Role: Johnnie Morisette. Arrangers: R.H. Harris; Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story is a double-disc set presenting material recorded for the legendary soul singer's own SAR label from 1959-1965, much of it produced by Cooke himself and including a few of his rough, unreleased demos. The first disc covers the label's religious side, with a multitude of cuts from Cooke's former group the Soul Stirrers (now with Jimmie Outler on lead vocals), plus a generous helping of songs by R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders and the Womack Brothers. The second disc covers essentially the same gospel-derived soul territory but with a secular bent, featuring future stars Bobby Womack (with the Valentinos), Billy Preston, and Johnnie Taylor, plus L.C. Cooke, Johnnie Morisette, the Simms Twins, and Mel Carter. All in all, it's an excellent look at a lesser-known portion of Cooke's career, and there's some great, underappreciated music to boot. ~ Steve Huey

Rolling Stone (12/1/94, p.121) - 5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a generous compilation....lovingly remastered....[It] must be counted among the most important archival projects of the CD era. This is history that sings and soars, history with a heart full of gold..." Rolling Stone (12/1/94, p.121) - 5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a generous compilation....lovingly remastered....[It] must be counted among the most important archival projects of the CD era. This is history that sings and soars, history with a heart full of gold..." Q (12/94, p.172) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...The arrangements are nimble, the songs lovely, the harmonies finger-clicking and the sole drawback is that almost everyone sounds like Sam Cooke..." Q (12/94, p.172) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...The arrangements are nimble, the songs lovely, the harmonies finger-clicking and the sole drawback is that almost everyone sounds like Sam Cooke..." Vibe (2/95, p.93) - "...Sacred/profane ambiguity...animates this 56-song cycle of black artistry, which travels from the apex of '50s gospel...to the commercial expertise of '60s R&B....Cooke's own vocals and production taste convey a mellifluous genius that is still a pop measuring rod..." Vibe (2/95, p.93) - "...Sacred/profane ambiguity...animates this 56-song cycle of black artistry, which travels from the apex of '50s gospel...to the commercial expertise of '60s R&B....Cooke's own vocals and production taste convey a mellifluous genius that is still a pop measuring rod..."

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