The time had come for Sam Cooke to put out his first live record. The date and venue were chosen - January 12, 1963, at the Harlem Square Club in Miami. When the old timer dinosaur record executives heard the recording they found it too loud and raw. They shelved it and it sat hidden away in the archives for over 20 years. Luckily for all of humanity, the recording was unearthed in 1985 by a wise record executive named Gregg Geller and heard for what it was. The record was quickly released and is now considered one of the greatest live records of all time. Loud and raw are exactly what makes this record so great. Rarely does a live album succeed at putting you right in the audience like this recording does. Close your eyes and you’re there. Instead of just recording the instruments they captured the whole room. It’s so tangible that I sometimes have to remind myself that I wasn’t at this show. It all peaks when Sam leads the audience in singing “For Sentimental Reasons”. God I wish I was there!
—Will Pratt - Tandem
Curator: Tandem Coffee Roasters
La Folie : Antigua, Guatemala
Sam Cooke : One Night Stand, Live at the Harlem Club
