Not The Final Word But An Introduction.

Cooke seems to take great joy in delivering the message in the songs he's written -- he comes alive!

With the exception of Mary, Mary Lou and his most popular hits, (i.e. Summertime, Only Sixteen, and Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha), the covers and work written by others are to the letter. Cooke doesn't add his signature touch. He carried the note perfectly, but as a fan, I look for Sam.

What is Sam? Well, words can't describe him. You just know it when you feel it, and if you don't feel it, perhaps it's a bottled version of Sam.

(Hint, you'll catch Sam on the HARLEM SQUARE. . and THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC CDs. Sadly, the last one is out of print.)

In essence, this anthology is not the final word but an introduction to those, who missed out. For the hungry fans, such as myself, a few rare tracks such as Loveable, Mary, Mary Lou, and I don't Want to Cry only teases the craze. Yet, these gems are a blessing for any fan of Cooke's music. This CD deserves an "A" just for putting a bonus track on the plate. Not just another song, but two versions of Wonderful World and the raw and slightly renamed WHAT A Wonderful World.

He follows those songs, with Happy in Love, which you will be, because you'll get a glimpse of how much this man loves what he does.

When you hear the often heard Wonderful World and the rarely heard What a Wonderful World -- back to back, you get a sense of fun. It's literally contagious. You just know, that Sam loved these jam sessions and spiking the arrangement.

Until, Sam Cooke gets the boxed set that he deserves, the connoiseurs of good taste will have to dig up little treasures like these.