Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story: The 1959-1965 Journey on Vinyl for the First Time
Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story 1959-1965″ is being made available on vinyl as a 4-LP set, releasing on May 10th via ABKCO. Originally released in 1994 as a 2-CD set, this collection encapsulates the groundbreaking legacy of SAR Records, a black-owned label co-founded by Cooke that championed some of the greatest soul, gospel, and blues artists of the era.
In a time when black-owned record labels were a rarity, Sam Cooke, music publisher J.W. Alexander, and S. Roy Crain (Cooke’s road manager) launched SAR Records in 1959, around the same time as Motown in Detroit. The label was instrumental in blending the sacred roots of gospel with the emerging soul and pop scenes of the secular world.
LPs 1 & 2: Focus on SAR’s gospel roots, featuring recordings by The Soul Stirrers and Johnnie Taylor.
LPs 3 & 4: Highlight the label’s crossover into soul and pop, including works by Billy Preston, The Valentinos (Bobby Womack’s group), and Sam Cooke himself.
Key Artists and Tracks
The Soul Stirrers: One of the most influential gospel groups, The Soul Stirrers transitioned seamlessly into the SAR Records era with Johnnie Taylor stepping in for Cooke after his departure for a solo career. Tracks like “Wade In The Water” and “Stand By Me Father” capture their powerful harmonies and spiritual fervor.
Johnnie Taylor: Best known for his 1968 Stax hit “Who’s Making Love,” Johnnie Taylor was a key figure at SAR, recording hits like “Keep On Loving You,” “Rome (Wasn’t Built In A Day),” and “You Can Run (But You Can’t Hide).”
The Valentinos (Bobby Womack): Before achieving R&B stardom, Bobby Womack and his brothers recorded for SAR as The Womack Brothers, later rebranded as The Valentinos. Their song “It’s All Over Now,” co-written by Bobby and Shirley Womack, became a UK #1 hit for The Rolling Stones.
Billy Preston: As a 16-year-old keyboard prodigy, Billy Preston recorded the instrumental “Greazee Part I & II” for SAR’s sub-label, Derby Records. This track, from 1963, predates his work with The Beatles by more than half a decade.
L.C. Cooke: Sam’s younger brother L.C. Cooke also recorded for SAR. His track “Put Me Down Easy,” written by Sam Cooke himself, gained renewed attention after featuring in Regina King’s film One Night in Miami… (2020).
Though Sam Cooke himself was never signed to SAR Records, his influence is undeniable. He was instrumental in coaching the artists and shaping the label’s creative direction. Cooke tirelessly worked with the vocalists to perfect their diction, and his coaching can be heard between takes throughout this collection. Furthermore, he obtained the rights to unreleased masters from his time at Keen Records, which are included in this box set, along with a demo version of his 1957 hit “You Send Me.”
The 4-LP box set includes comprehensive liner notes by music historian Peter Guralnick, who later wrote the definitive Sam Cooke biography, Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. Guralnick provides invaluable insights into SAR Records’ mission, which was to introduce the gospel techniques into the world of pop music.
“Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story 1959-1965” is a tribute to a visionary label that broke new ground in blending gospel and soul. Don’t miss out on this remarkable collection when it hits shelves on May 10th.
Phil Aston, Now Spinning Magazine
