Q (1/03, p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Cooke was one of soul music's first and most inspirational voices..."
Uncut (2/03, p.94) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Prime gospel, many of these tracks are classics....This is an historic anthology..."
Living Blues (5/03, p.89) - "...Listening to him forge a style here, it's hard not to conclude that all his work clearly represents one long, luscious continuum in American music..."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/03, p.73) - Ranked #6 in Mojo's "Best Box Sets & Compilations of 2002"
Mojo (Publisher) (1/03, p.104) - "...The three CDs here work on every level. Ordered chronologically, the tracks form a picture of the evolution of American gospel music in the '50s; shadow the growth of the civil rights movement; and tell the story of Cooke's artistic growth..."
Personnel includes: Sam Cooke (vocals); R.B. Robinson, Paul Foster, Senior Roy Crain, Thomas L. Bruster, Jesse J. Farley.
Includes liner notes by Daniel Wolff.
THE COMPLETE SPECIALTY RECORDINGS was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Awards for Best Album Notes and for Best Historical Album.