Sam Cooke's "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME"

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Just listening to Ruby Andrew's version on her GENUINE RUBY lp and thought I'd look into the song some :


A Change Is Gonna Come

From Wikipedia

--- "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a 1965 single by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, written and first recorded in 1963 and released under the RCA Victor label shortly after his death in late 1964. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, the song became one of his first blatantly political songs, and came to exemplify the sixties Civil Rights Movement. The song has gained in popularity and critical acclaim in the decades since its release.

Cooke was greatly moved upon hearing Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" in 1963 and was reportedly in awe that such a poignant song about racism in America could come from someone who was white. While on tour in May 1963, and after speaking with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina following a concert, Cooke returned to his tour bus and wrote the first draft of what would become "A Change Is Gonna Come."

In a sense, "A Change Is Gonna Come" is an answer to Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," as well as a song of hope for the Civil Rights Movement. The hypothetical questions posed by Dylan, most obvious being "how many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free?", were answered by an implied "Fewer than you think." Though Cooke recognized "it's been a long/a long time coming," the song states that change is inevitable. A similar sentiment was echoed by Dylan in "The Times They Are a-Changin'," written and released after "A Change Is Gonna Come."

The song, very much a departure for Cooke, reflected two major incidents in his life. The first was the death of Cooke's eighteen-month-old son, Vincent, who died of an accidental drowning in June of that year. The second major incident came on October 8, 1963, when Cooke found himself the target of racism. Cooke and his band tried to register at a "whites only" motel in Shreveport, Louisiana and were summarily arrested for disturbing the peace. Both incidents are represented in the weary tone and lyrics of the piece, especially the final verse: "there have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long/but now I think I'm able to carry on/It's been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come."

According to author Peter Guralnick's biography of Cooke, "Dream Boogie," Cooke gave arranger Rene Hall free rein on song's musical arrangement. Hall came up with a dramatic orchestral backing highlighted by a mournful French horn . For his vocal, Cooke reached back to his gospel roots to sing the song with an intensity and passion never heard before on his pop recordings.


The song made its first appearance on Ain't That Good News, the last album to be released within Cooke's lifetime.







Sam Cooke's original:



Otis Redding :



Al Green:



Luther Vandross:



Patti Labelle :




up and comer 16 year old Raul Quijano



YouTube - Raul Quinjano A Change Is Gonna Come




There's a surprise ending to Ruby Andrew's version that fans of this song and of disco might find most interesting ......



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[remicks]

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too bad these videos don't last long....


check 'em out while you can !

SUPREMES

AMERICAN IDOL
.... most emotional moment of the season .....



TINA TURNER /ROBERT CRAY



BOBBY WOMACK



PRINCE BUSTER ---reggae




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a change is gonna come