The year is 1963. Sam Cooke is at the height of his fame and is playing a gig in Miami, in the still partially segregated South. The recordings of this gig were released as the Live at the Harlem Square Club 1963 album on RCA in 1985, and are among the most vivid and intimate live recordings imaginable.
From the moment the record sets in, you can practically see and feel the place. The crowd shuffling and mumbling, clapping in anticipation, the master of ceremony pulling a handkerchief out of his zoot suit to wipe a single sweat drop off his forehead before introducing the star of the show, Mr. Soul. “How ‘bout it for Sam Cooke, ladies and gentlemen?” As the applause erupts and Mr. Soul steps on to the stage, a young lady in a flying dress rushes past you to the front row. Sam gives her more than just a fleeting look as he mutters his introductory words. “Tonight we want you to don’t fight it, we gonna feel it tonight, y’understand?[sic]” The band kicks off a lively rendition of “Feel It (Don’t Fight It)” and every foot in the room begins to move.
Sam’s intonation is much more affected than on his studio LPs, as he is clearly enjoying the atmosphere himself. Songs like “Chain Gang” and “Cupid” are spiced up with spirited adlibs, and whenever Sam needs a breather, the crowd is right there to sing his words for him. Sometimes the band drops the pace – but never the energy. Perhaps the strongest moment can be heard towards the end of the set on “Bring It On Home”, which starts with more than two minutes worth of a call-and-response intro between the singer and his band and then launches into a heart-wrenching piece of unadulterated soul music. Live at the Harlem Square Club is probably the closest you will ever be to experiencing this kind of music. You can be right there in the middle of it. Havin’ a party, twistin’ the night away.
