Personnel: Sam Cooke (vocals); Rene Hall (conductor); Clif White, Barney Kessell (guitar); Raymond Johnson (piano); Billy Preston (organ); Edward Hall
(bass, drums); Clifford Hills (bass); Hal Blaine (drums).
Producers: Hugo & Luigi.
Reissue producer: Paul Williams.
Recorded in February 1963. Includes liner notes by Michael Hill.
Digitally remastered by Bill Lacey (Digital Sound & Picture, New York, New York).
Personnel include: Sam Cooke (vocals).
Liner Note Author: Peter Guralnick.
Sam Cooke is best known as the man who integrated R&B, gospel, and pop, amid expansive arrangements typified by big string sections and a maximalist production approach. It may be a surprise for casual Cooke listeners, then, to encounter the Sam Cooke of NIGHT BEAT. There's nary an orchestra to be found here; Cooke is backed by a small combo in a spare, tasteful manner. The overall musical feeling is also far removed from Cooke's poppier efforts, leaning strongly toward the jazzy blues end of the spectrum (as brilliantly accentuated by, among others, a very young Billy Preston on organ). Hearing the despair in Cooke's voice on "Lost and Lookin'" and the downhearted "Mean Old World," one is instantly made aware that the man who sang "Wonderful World" and "Cupid" was capable of far more than mere ditties (however striking and memorable said ditties may have been). NIGHT BEAT finds Cooke reaching deeper into himself than he did on any other album, expanding our notion of his depth and capabilities.
