The Soul Stirrers "Jesus, Wash Away My Troubles" c/w "Touch The Hem Of His Garment," Specialty SP-896-45 (rel. 6/1956)
Before he became one of the most iconic pop and soul performers of his day, Sam Cooke was the lead voice and songwriter for The Soul Stirrers, a group formed in 1926 in Texas. Over the first two decades of their existence, the group revolutionized the sound of Black gospel music; their innovations were so widespread that they define the gospel sound. The group's members broke away from the more stiff, reverent vibe of their forefathers and brought life and verve into their performances.
Sam Cooke joined the group in 1950, just as they began to record for Specialty Records in Los Angeles. Cooke's lead vocals, songwriting and arranging gave the group new life, and their Specialty singles sold well and were much-loved. (It's nigh-impossible to find clean copies of the original pressings. They all look like the labels in today's marquee.)
Thus, you'll hear some crunkle and thump in today's two sides, but they add a certain atmosphere to these stellar performances. They also highlight what a fantastic vocalist young Sam Cooke was in 1956, when these sides were recorded.
Sam Cooke joined the group in 1950, just as they began to record for Specialty Records in Los Angeles. Cooke's lead vocals, songwriting and arranging gave the group new life, and their Specialty singles sold well and were much-loved. (It's nigh-impossible to find clean copies of the original pressings. They all look like the labels in today's marquee.)
Thus, you'll hear some crunkle and thump in today's two sides, but they add a certain atmosphere to these stellar performances. They also highlight what a fantastic vocalist young Sam Cooke was in 1956, when these sides were recorded.
"Jesus, Wash Away My Troubles" is a pastiche of various gospel and blues lyrics, married to a gorgeous and distinctive melody. Cooke's performance is riveting; just the right ratio of the smooth and the rough. He's the star of the show; I'm sure this handsome, charismatic young man attracted a younger audience to the Stirrers' live performances. The Soul Stirrers sides are Sam Cooke's Elvis-at-Sun-Records equivalent; a major musical voice whose style and approach continue to influence musicians in its first flush of prominence.
This blurry artifact from Billboard gets the group's name wrong(s) but acknowledges the worth of the two performances we hear today.
"Touch the Hem of His Garment" recounts a Biblical narrative in which a long-suffering woman is cured of her troublesome affliction by an encounter with Jesus Christ. To a livelier rhythm, Cooke retells this story in another superb performance. The other Soul Stirrers are more present on this side, which demonstrates the link of gospel and soul music. Only secular lyrics separate the two styles; the melodies and performances are otherwise alike.
Sam Cooke went secular in 1957; this upset his gospel-loving fans, but the world at large benefitted from his music and The Soul Stirrers material remained in print. Bluesman Johnnie Taylor assumed Cooke's role in the Stirrers, which helped them remain popular for a spell. Taylor would go secular ere long, and the group continued into the 1990s. They remain well-regarded as innovators in gospel music; those innovations in turn influenced secular song and continue to do so.
Tomorrow: roving vocalist David Hill poses as Billy the Kid on a pair of Elvis-tastic items for the Kapp Records label in 1958. A record beloved by record collectors, I have discovered.
Thanks, Frank! Really good--especially love the first performance. Try THAT, A.I.!!
ReplyDeleteI never thought much about how doo-wop might have come from a gospel sound but "Jesus, Wash..." could be slow-waltz doo-wop song. The thread is there in my ears anyway. Love the ecstatic growl Cooke delivers on "Touch The Hem..." What a voice he had. Googled him—didn't realize he died such a horrific death at only 33.
ReplyDeletePeter Guralnik's Cooke biography "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" is an excellent and very detailed exploration of Cooke's life, work, and death. Over the years I'd heard and read lots of supposed accounts of the details of Cooke's death but most were inconsistent with what actually happened. A sad and sordid end for a great talent and innovator.
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