''Ain't That Good News'' is the eleventh and final studio album by the American R&B and

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

singer-songwriter

Sam Cooke Samuel Cooke (; January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was an American singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distin ...

. It was released in February 1964 through

RCA Victor Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic ...

.Hugo, Luigi (2003), p. 1. Recording sessions for the album took place at RCA Victor's Music Center of the World Studio in February and December 1963 and January 1964. The cover photo was taken by American photographer

Wallace Seawell Wallace Seawell (September 16, 1916 – May 29, 2007) was an American photographer best known for his portraits of Hollywood stars such as Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn and George Burns. Seawell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1916 and studied phot ...

. ''Ain't That Good News'' was the final studio album to be issued during Cooke's lifetime, before his death at the age of 33. With the exception of "

Another Saturday Night "Another Saturday Night" is a 1963 hit single by Sam Cooke from the album '' Ain't That Good News''. The song was written by Cooke while touring in England when staying in a hotel where no female guests were allowed. It reached No. 10 on the ' ...

", which had been released as a single early in the previous year, ''Ain't That Good News'' comprised the first material that Cooke had recorded in the six months following the drowning death of his 18-month-old son Vincent.Johnstone (1999), p. 74. The first album that Cooke recorded and released under his new contract with RCA, ''Ain't That Good News'' reached No. 34 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Albums chart. The album contains "

A Change Is Gonna Come "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. It initially appeared on Cooke's album '' Ain't That Good News'', released mid-February 1964 by RCA Victor; a slightly edited version of the recording was released as a s ...

", one of Cooke's best-known songs. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, the song came to exemplify the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. The song has gained in popularity and critical acclaim in the decades since its release. Five of the tracks on ''Ain't That Good News'' were released as

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

. ''Ain't That Good News'' was

reissue In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions. Reasons for reissue New audio formats Reco ...

d in

hybrid CD A hybrid disc is a disc, such as CD-ROM or Blu-ray, which contains multiple types of data which can be used differently on different devices. These include CD-ROM music albums containing video files viewable on a personal computer, or feature film ...

Super Audio CD Super Audio CD (SACD) is an optical disc format for audio storage introduced in 1999. It was developed jointly by Sony and Philips Electronics and intended to be the successor to the compact disc (CD) format. The SACD format allows multiple a ...

format by

ABKCO Records ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. (Allen & Betty Klein Company) is an American independent record label, music publisher, and film and video production company. It owns and/or administers the rights to music by Sam Cooke, the Rolling Stones, the Animal ...

in June 2003 with full music and session credits.

Music

A record that featured one side of harder soul numbers and another of mellower ballads, much like R&B musician

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

' ''

Modern Sounds ''Modern Sounds'' is the debut album by trumpeter and bandleader Shorty Rogers, featuring performances recorded in late 1951 and originally released in 1952 as a 10-inch LP on the Capitol label.Edwards, D., Eyries, P. and Callahan, MCapitol Alb ...

'' records, ''Ain't That Good News'' reflects Cooke's greater freedom in choosing material and sidemen. Therefore, it offered much pent-up emotional and musical expression, which was unique in the Cooke's output. Musically, ''Ain't That Good News'' features two sides of different stylistic approaches by Sam Cooke. According to record producers

Luigi Creatore Luigi Federico Creatore (December 21, 1921 – December 13, 2015) was an American songwriter and record producer. Creatore was born in New York City in 1921, the son of noted Italian-born bandleader and composer Giuseppe Creatore. After serving ...

and

Hugo Peretti Hugo E. Peretti (December 6, 1916 – May 1, 1986) was an American songwriter, trumpeter, and record producer. Born in New York City to an Italian American family, Peretti began his music career as a teenager, playing the trumpet in the Bor ...

, the first side of the album is "strong and rockin'," while the second side, "ballads....deep and soulful." They went on to write of the album: Side one features the nostalgic "

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (actor), Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was televis ...

", written by Cooke, and "

", which he wrote when staying in a hotel room where no female guests were allowed during a tour of the United Kingdom The rolling chorus of "Meet Me at Mary's Place" was also written by Cooke about a

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

promoter in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

where gospel groups often stayed. The country-style "

Tennessee Waltz "Tennessee Waltz" is a popular country music song with lyrics by Redd Stewart and music by Pee Wee King written in 1946 and first released in January 1948. The song became a multimillion seller via a 1950 recording – as "The Tennessee Waltz" ...

" is given new life here, while the

title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-t ...

, done out of the gospel tradition, would be his greatest hit until the central number on this album.Allik (2003), pp. 2–3. "

", with its soaring gospel sound and powerful first-person language, was written in response to Dylan's protest anthem "

Blowin' in the Wind "Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962. It was released as a single and included on his album '' The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' in 1963. It has been described as a protest song and poses a series of rhetorical questions about ...

" and became one of

popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

's most well-known message songs, as well as Sam Cooke's signature recording. Following the centerpiece are orchestrated ballads and standards that are arranged by conductor

René Hall René Joseph Hall (September 26, 1912 – February 11, 1988) was an American guitarist and arranger. He was among the most important behind-the-scenes figures in early rock and roll, but his career spanned the period from the late 1920s to the ...

. Cooke gives the

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Beilin; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born American composer and songwriter. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Berlin received numerous honors including an Acade ...

tune, "Sittin' in the Sun", a powerful reading as he does with "Home". Ending on a somber and emotional note, the album closes with Sam Cooke's rendition of the traditional Appalachian ballad " The Riddle Song". According to string section leader Sid Sharp, Sam Cooke started to cry at the line "I gave my love a baby with no crying", which was reminiscent of the loss of Cooke's infant child, Vincent.

Track listing

All songs written by Sam Cooke, except where noted. ;Side one # " Ain't That Good News" – 2:30 # "Meet Me at Mary's Place" – 2:44 # "

" – 2:28 # "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" (Sam Cooke, Beverly Prudhomme, Betty Prudhomme) – 2:34 # "

" – 2:42 # "

" (

Pee Wee King Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski (February 18, 1914 – March 7, 2000), known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "Tennessee Waltz". Pee Wee King is credited with ...

Redd Stewart Henry Ellis Stewart (May 27, 1923 – August 4, 2003), better known as Redd Stewart, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist who co-wrote " Tennessee Waltz" with Pee Wee King in 1948. Biography He was born in Ashlan ...

) – 3:12 ;Side two #

" – 3:13 # "Falling in Love" (

Harold Battiste Harold Raymond Battiste Jr. (October 28, 1931 – June 19, 2015) was an American music composer, arranger, performer, and teacher. A native of, and later community leader in, New Orleans, he is best known for his work as an arranger on record ...

) – 2:45 # "

Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...

" (Jeff Clarkson, Harry Clarkson,

Peter van Steeden Peter van Steeden (April 4, 1904, Amsterdam – January 3, 1990, New Canaan, Connecticut) was a composer. His best-known composition, "Home (When Shadows Fall)", has been performed by many musicians, including Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Paul ...

) – 2:32 # "Sittin' in the Sun" (

) – 3:18 # "No Second Time" (Clifton White) – 3:03 # " The Riddle Song" (Traditional) – 2:30

Chart history

Album

Singles

* Between late 1963 and late 1964, ''Billboard'' did not publish an R&B singles chart.

Personnel

* Guitar: Norman Bartold, LeRoy Crume,

Barney Kessel Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups as well as a "first call" gu ...

John Pisano John Pisano (February 6, 1931 – May 2, 2024) was an American jazz guitarist. Biography John Pisano was born in Staten Island, New York, on February 6, 1931. Pisano worked with Herb Alpert, Billy Bean, Chico Hamilton, Peggy Lee, and Joe Pass. ...

Allan Reuss Allan Reuss (June 15, 1915 – June 4, 1988) was an American jazz guitarist. Biography Reuss was born New York City, he began playing professionally as a banjoist at age 12. He learned guitar from George Van Eps. In the middle of the 1930s, Reu ...

Howard Roberts Howard Mancel Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician. Early life Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Damon and Vesta Roberts, and began playing guitar at the age of 8 — a ...

, Clifton White * Bass: Peter Badie, Buddy Clark, Clifford Hils,

Ray Pohlman Merlyn Ray Pohlman (July 22, 1930 – November 1, 1990) was an American session musician and arranger who played both upright bass and bass guitar, and also did sessions as a guitarist. He is credited with being the first electric bass player in ...

, Eddie Tilman * Banjo: Joseph Gibbons *Piano:

, Ray Johnson,

Lincoln Mayorga Lincoln Mayorga (March 28, 1937 – July 3, 2023) was an American pianist, arranger, conductor and composer who worked in rock and roll, pop, jazz and classical music. Life and career Pop music in the 1950s and 1960s Mayorga was born in Los An ...

* Drums:

Hal Blaine Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky; February 5, 1929 – March 11, 2019) was an American drummer and session musician, thought to be among the most recorded studio drummers in the music industry, claiming over 35,000 sessions and 6,000 singles. ...

John Boudreaux John Mortimer Boudreaux, Jr. (December 10, 1936, New Roads, Louisiana – January 14, 2017, Los Angeles) was an American drummer who was active in jazz, soul, and rhythm & blues idioms. Early years Boudreaux moved to New Orleans at age ten or ...

, Edward Hall,

Earl Palmer Earl Cyril Palmer (October 25, 1924 – September 19, 2008) was an American drummer. Considered one of the inventors of rock and roll, he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Palmer was one of the most prolific studio musicians of al ...

* Percussion: Linwood Mitchell,

Emil Richards Emil Richards (born Emilio Joseph Radocchia; September 2, 1932 – December 13, 2019) was an American vibraphonist and percussionist. Biography Musician Richards began playing the xylophone aged six. In High School, he performed with the ...

*Saxophone: Jewell Grant, William Green,

Plas Johnson Plas John Johnson Jr. () (born July 21, 1931) is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most widely known as the tenor saxophone soloist on Henry Mancini’s " The Pink Panther Theme". He also performs on alto and bar ...

, Edgar Redmond, Red Tyler * French horn: William Hinshaw * Violin & viola:

Israel Baker Israel Baker (February 11, 1919 – December 25, 2011) was an American violinist and concertmaster. Through a long and varied career, he played with many of the greatest figures in the worlds of classical music, jazz and pop. He appeared on hund ...

, Robert Barene, Arnold Belnick, John DeVoogdt, Harry Hyams,
William Kurasch, Irving Lipschultz, Leonard Malarsky, Alexander Neiman, Jack Pepper, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp,
Darrell Terwilliger, Tibor Zeli *Cello: Jesse Ehrlich, Emmet Sargeant *Trumpet:

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * John Anderson (jazz trumpeter) (1921–1974), American musician * Jon Anderson (John Roy Anderson, born 1944), lead singer of the British band Yes * John Anderson (producer) (1948–2024 ...

Melvin Lastie Melvin Clarke Lastie, Sr. (November 18, 1930 – December 4, 1972) was an American R&B trumpeter, flugelhornist, and cornetist. He also played jazz and was a session musician on many soul and rock records of the 1960s. Lastie was born in New O ...

*Trombone:

Milt Bernhart Milt Bernhart (May 25, 1926 – January 22, 2004) was a West Coast jazz trombonist who worked with Stan Kenton, Frank Sinatra, and others. He supplied the solo in the middle of Sinatra's 1956 recording of ''I've Got You Under My Skin'' conducted b ...

Harry Betts Harry Betts (September 15, 1922 – July 13, 2012) was an American jazz trombonist. Background Born in New York and raised in Fresno, California, he was active as a jazz trombonist and played with Stan Kenton's orchestra in the 1950s. He can be h ...

, Louis Blackburn, Streamline Ewing, John Halliburton, Ernest Tack, David Wells *Backing Vocals:

Jimmy Bryant Ivy John Bryant Jr. (March 5, 1925 – September 22, 1980), known as Jimmy Bryant, was an American country music guitarist. He is best known for his collaborations with steel guitarist Speedy West and his session work. Biography Bryant w ...

, Gwenn Johnson, Carol Lombard,

The Soul Stirrers The Soul Stirrers were an American gospel music group, whose career spans over eighty years. The group was a pioneer in the development of the quartet style of gospel, and a major influence on Soul, R&B, Doo-wop, and Southern soul, some of th ...

, Robert Tebow,

George Tipton George Aliceson Tipton (January 23, 1932 – February 12, 2016) was an American composer, musical arranger, and conductor, who is well known for his work in television and for his collaborations with singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. Among ...

Jackie Ward Jackie Ward (born Jacqueline McDonnell, 1941), better known as Robin Ward, is an American singer, regarded as a "one-hit wonder" of 1963 million-selling song "Wonderful Summer". However, using her real name she was highly accomplished and s ...

Release history

An official reissue of ''Ain't That Good News'' came nearly forty years after its initial 1964 release on LP format. The reissued compact disc of the album featured Super-Audio and Hybrid format, also known as Super High Material, which enhanced audio quality through the use of polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by

JVC JVC (short for Japan Victor Company) is a Japanese brand owned by JVCKenwood. Founded in 1927 as the Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan and later as , the company was best known for introducing Japan's first televisions and for developin ...

and

Universal Music Japan , often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in Japan regarding music distribution. The company is responsible ...

and discovered through the joint companies' research of

LCD A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers to display information. Liquid crystals do not em ...

display manufacturing, these CDs featured improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of the data by the CD player laser head. The reissues were fully compatible with standard CD players, and are listed below:Sam Cooke Ain't That Good News Japan SHM CD
eil.com. Retrieved on October 12, 2008.

Notes

References

* *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ain't That Good News (Album) 1964 albums Sam Cooke albums RCA Victor albums Albums produced by Hugo & Luigi Albums arranged by René Hall Albums conducted by René Hall