Everyone who has read my blogs knows that the song that I love, A Change Gone Come by Sam Cooke will always be with me. I have done some more research and found out some interesting tidbits about the inception of the song and the artist. So here goes.
Early Review:
Palmer, Robert. “The Pop Life: [Review].” Rev.of A Change Gone Come, By Sam Cooke. New York Times [New York, N.Y.] 29 Jan 1986. Proquest. DCCC Library, Lexington, N.C. 16 Apr. 2009
Robert Palmer’s review of A Change Gone Come, contends that Cooke returns full circle to his gospel roots, to a song concerned with the civil rights movement. It is a song of faith and determination. Cooke's work from the early 50's until the time of his death in the early 60's was unequal for sheer musicality.Palmer says, “This is music that will live as long as Americans dream of freedom.”
About the Music:
Cave, Damien. “Greatest Soul Song Ever.” Rolling Stone 24 June 2004: 94 Research Library. ProQuest. DCCC, Lexington, N.C. 16Apr. 2009
This article was quite eye opening. Cave talks about the departure of the type of music usually heard from Cooke. Most of Cooke’s singles were sweet love ballads and dance numbers. This song was earth shattering and the social implications of the song were clear. The inspiration for A Change Gone Come, came from a folk singer named Bob Dylan. After hearing Dylan’s "Blowing in the Wind"(1963), a song about racism in America, and its treatment of the plight of black Americans and other politically oppressed minorities. Cooke was so inspired by the song he felt like he had to come up with something that would give people something to think about. After a concert in Durham, N.C. speaking with sit in demonstrators, Cooke went to his tour bus and wrote the first draft of A Change Gone Come.
Something about Today:
Blakely, Derrick. “Legendary Sam Cooke Song Proves Visionary” http:www.cbs2chicago.com
This article explores the connection between Sam Cooke and the 44th President. Like President Obama in politics, Sam Cooke was a trailblazer in music. He was one of the first black artist to take control of his musical career. He founded both a record label and publishing company as an extension of his career as a singer and songwriter. On election night, President elect paid homage to Cooke. “It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, change has come to America.” Both these men have a strong social conscience. A Change Gone Come was the theme of the 2008 presidential campaign. Like the song, Barack Obama gave people and not just African Americans hope, he put forth the idea of change for all Americans. As a result, he became the 44th President of the United States.
What Now?
I have run across several books about the life of Sam Cooke. I am sure they go into details about what this man was truly about. I also would like to find out more about death. Details of his death have never been fully investigated or was not done properly. He was shot to death in 1964, 11 days before A Change Gone Come was released. This song gives us a hint at the direction Cooke might have taken had he lived.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
ReneHall/A Change Gone Come
Few people have ever heard of Rene Hall. The only ones who really know him are fans of doo wop music of the 1950’s and 1960’s, or what was called Chitlin’ Circuit music, or what I like call brown liquor music. Most of it is not in the lyrics of the songs but the instrumental part that gets the blood pumping. His first recording was as a banjo player with Joseph Robichaux in New Orleans in 1933. He began traveling around the country as a musician and arranger with orchestras from Earl Hines, to the big band orchestras of Ernie Fields. (https://www.amazines.com/Rene_Hall_related.html)
The song, A Change Gone Come may have been a hit with just the empowering words and a piano. However, what makes it a song that has stood the test of time is the musical arrangement by Rene Hall. Hall is not just an arranger he played a jazz guitar, a banjo and was a vocalist. He did session work and has had his own groups in the 50‘s and 60’s. Hall has played and arranged music for some of the biggest names of Motown, such as the Impressions and Marvin Gaye. He was the featured guitarist on “La Bamba” by Richie Valens.
If it had not been for his arrangement on “A Change Gone Come”, it may not have become the classic that it is. Hall wrote the arrangement as if he was composing a big movie score, with symphonic overture for strings, kettledrum and French horn, each in separate movements. The French horn is what so dramatic and gives the song that mournful sound. The orchestral arrangement matches the dignity of the words to song. You have to listen to the song to hear the way that the words blend so perfect with the arrangement. Sit back and listen the way that the orchestration of the music takes over. It is like a good glass of wine it is just smooth.
You have more than likely heard Rene Hall’s music and not knew it. Listen to Bitter Wind or Slipping and Sliding. If you ever watched and Annette Funcello and Frankie Avalon beach movie you have heard his music. Some people will never be as passionate as I am about this song and arrangement. It has so much empowerment for me. Thanks to Rene Hall’s arrangement, it makes me look at music differently.
https://www.amazines.com/Rene_Hall_related.html
http://www.last.fm/music/Sam+Cooke
http://www.rhapsody.com/rene-hall
http://www.last.fm/music/Ritchie+Valens/_/La+Bamba
The song, A Change Gone Come may have been a hit with just the empowering words and a piano. However, what makes it a song that has stood the test of time is the musical arrangement by Rene Hall. Hall is not just an arranger he played a jazz guitar, a banjo and was a vocalist. He did session work and has had his own groups in the 50‘s and 60’s. Hall has played and arranged music for some of the biggest names of Motown, such as the Impressions and Marvin Gaye. He was the featured guitarist on “La Bamba” by Richie Valens.
If it had not been for his arrangement on “A Change Gone Come”, it may not have become the classic that it is. Hall wrote the arrangement as if he was composing a big movie score, with symphonic overture for strings, kettledrum and French horn, each in separate movements. The French horn is what so dramatic and gives the song that mournful sound. The orchestral arrangement matches the dignity of the words to song. You have to listen to the song to hear the way that the words blend so perfect with the arrangement. Sit back and listen the way that the orchestration of the music takes over. It is like a good glass of wine it is just smooth.
You have more than likely heard Rene Hall’s music and not knew it. Listen to Bitter Wind or Slipping and Sliding. If you ever watched and Annette Funcello and Frankie Avalon beach movie you have heard his music. Some people will never be as passionate as I am about this song and arrangement. It has so much empowerment for me. Thanks to Rene Hall’s arrangement, it makes me look at music differently.
https://www.amazines.com/Rene_Hall_related.html
http://www.last.fm/music/Sam+Cooke
http://www.rhapsody.com/rene-hall
http://www.last.fm/music/Ritchie+Valens/_/La+Bamba
Monday, March 23, 2009
Good Writing
Good writing has a purpose, creativity, organization, and a clear point. The writing should flow, be original and keep your audience interested. It should also have correct punctuation, spelling and proper grammar. There should be a focal point and know the subject you are writing about. There should also be revising and final editing, to pull out your best ideas. This is what I consider good writing to be.
As far as my own writing, this is a learning process. My organization skills are improving. My writing is original, because they are my thoughts. I do not think I will be a published writer however, it will help me in all the writing I do. My biggest problem is with using correct punctuation and proper grammar. I tend to have too many run on sentences and fragments in my writing. I intend to improve these things as I learn more about writing.
I enjoy reading the writings of Maya Angelou. It does not matter if it is her poetry or one of her books. They are always interesting and grab you in the first paragraph
As you begin to read her poems, you get the feel of exactly what she is writing. It makes you visualize. Here are a few lines from one of her poems, Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Her writing has a purpose, it is organized and it is clear and to the point. It flows and you flow with it.
The things about her books are they do not follow what is considered by most correct and proper grammar. The grammar never comes into play some much visualization. Nevertheless, the writing is so good that her style is not compromised.
http://www.africawithin.com/bios/maya/still_i_rise.htm
As far as my own writing, this is a learning process. My organization skills are improving. My writing is original, because they are my thoughts. I do not think I will be a published writer however, it will help me in all the writing I do. My biggest problem is with using correct punctuation and proper grammar. I tend to have too many run on sentences and fragments in my writing. I intend to improve these things as I learn more about writing.
I enjoy reading the writings of Maya Angelou. It does not matter if it is her poetry or one of her books. They are always interesting and grab you in the first paragraph
As you begin to read her poems, you get the feel of exactly what she is writing. It makes you visualize. Here are a few lines from one of her poems, Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Her writing has a purpose, it is organized and it is clear and to the point. It flows and you flow with it.
The things about her books are they do not follow what is considered by most correct and proper grammar. The grammar never comes into play some much visualization. Nevertheless, the writing is so good that her style is not compromised.
http://www.africawithin.com/bios/maya/still_i_rise.htm
Monday, March 9, 2009
Yesterday, Today and Forever cont. Part 3
The song that I love, A Change Gone Come by Sam Cooke has many memories for me. The most special being, that my dad, John Frank Scott, introduced it to me.
Though this song has come to mean more to me than just a song many of the feelings it invokes from me is because of my dad. He always taught me to be aware of the things going on in the world that would affect the way I lived my life.
Like most daughter’s my dad meant the world to me. Even though I was the oldest I was daddy’s little girl. He was always my greatest hero and champion. He raised all seven of us to be strong individuals.
My dad passed away eleven years ago, after never fully recovering from a stroke. He was the kind of man who when he talked you listened. Even if you did not agree, you listened. He had a presence about him, and he was not a large man. He was by certain standards a little man, standing five foot five and weighing at his heaviest one hundred forty pounds.
After his stroke, there was not a lot of talking. You could put on some old R & B music and you could see a change come over him. He would try to sing or hum along with the music that had given him so much joy. The thing was, even before his stroke he could not sing his way out of a rain barrel. He loved music and even played a mean guitar but the man could not hold a tune.
With everything else, that this song means to me it will always remind me of what a great father he was. I often wonder what he would think about the other artists who have remakes of this song. I know some of them he heard because they were some of his favorite’s artist. However, knowing my dad some he would just raise hell about the way some did not sing something right.
If no one ever listened to the song I love, it would not matter. I will always love the song because of my hero, my daddy.
Though this song has come to mean more to me than just a song many of the feelings it invokes from me is because of my dad. He always taught me to be aware of the things going on in the world that would affect the way I lived my life.
Like most daughter’s my dad meant the world to me. Even though I was the oldest I was daddy’s little girl. He was always my greatest hero and champion. He raised all seven of us to be strong individuals.
My dad passed away eleven years ago, after never fully recovering from a stroke. He was the kind of man who when he talked you listened. Even if you did not agree, you listened. He had a presence about him, and he was not a large man. He was by certain standards a little man, standing five foot five and weighing at his heaviest one hundred forty pounds.
After his stroke, there was not a lot of talking. You could put on some old R & B music and you could see a change come over him. He would try to sing or hum along with the music that had given him so much joy. The thing was, even before his stroke he could not sing his way out of a rain barrel. He loved music and even played a mean guitar but the man could not hold a tune.
With everything else, that this song means to me it will always remind me of what a great father he was. I often wonder what he would think about the other artists who have remakes of this song. I know some of them he heard because they were some of his favorite’s artist. However, knowing my dad some he would just raise hell about the way some did not sing something right.
If no one ever listened to the song I love, it would not matter. I will always love the song because of my hero, my daddy.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Yesterday, Today and Forever cont.
On the song I love, finding postive reviews and defending my last post was the easy part. I explained how moving the song was for me. This song evokes a metamorphic response in me.
At the end of last year, Cooke was named one of the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone with a review written by Van Morrison. Morrison said if a singer is not singing from his soul, I do not even want to listen to it. Cooke reached down deep with pure soul. He could sing anything and make it work.
Morrison has also covered this song. A Change Gone Come is a song that is written to allow you to go wherever you can with it.
I could find no negative feedback on this song even with so many different artists recording it. I am going to attempt to do a contrast between Sam Cooke and Gavin DeGrew.
The song was recorded in two different periods. Cooke’s original recording (1963) is in a slower tone and is more mellow and somber. You can hear the strong emotions, the hurt, and the sorrow can be felt. DeGrew’s (2004) tone is harsh and for me slightly forced. I hear a strong voice however; I cannot feel the same emotional turmoil.
Overall, both songs contain a similar theme and both contrast in the texture, style and tempo. Though I concede that De Grew’s rendition is beautifully done, I still maintain that Cooke’s will stand the test of time. For example, it has been listen too for 45 years.
Though some may object to this comparison, I can only say both songs hold on to the optimism. The song is important to me because as long as change aches for resolution and people have the tenacity within them this song will stand.
http://www.imeem.com/gavindegraw/music/igvASv0P/gavin_degraw_change_is_gonna_come/
Graff, Gerald& Birkenstein. They Say I Say,2006
Morrison, Van. Rev. of a Change Gone Come by Sam Cooke.
Rolling Stone, Rollingstone. Com Feb.17, 2009
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/4
At the end of last year, Cooke was named one of the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone with a review written by Van Morrison. Morrison said if a singer is not singing from his soul, I do not even want to listen to it. Cooke reached down deep with pure soul. He could sing anything and make it work.
Morrison has also covered this song. A Change Gone Come is a song that is written to allow you to go wherever you can with it.
I could find no negative feedback on this song even with so many different artists recording it. I am going to attempt to do a contrast between Sam Cooke and Gavin DeGrew.
The song was recorded in two different periods. Cooke’s original recording (1963) is in a slower tone and is more mellow and somber. You can hear the strong emotions, the hurt, and the sorrow can be felt. DeGrew’s (2004) tone is harsh and for me slightly forced. I hear a strong voice however; I cannot feel the same emotional turmoil.
Overall, both songs contain a similar theme and both contrast in the texture, style and tempo. Though I concede that De Grew’s rendition is beautifully done, I still maintain that Cooke’s will stand the test of time. For example, it has been listen too for 45 years.
Though some may object to this comparison, I can only say both songs hold on to the optimism. The song is important to me because as long as change aches for resolution and people have the tenacity within them this song will stand.
http://www.imeem.com/gavindegraw/music/igvASv0P/gavin_degraw_change_is_gonna_come/
Graff, Gerald& Birkenstein. They Say I Say,2006
Morrison, Van. Rev. of a Change Gone Come by Sam Cooke.
Rolling Stone, Rollingstone. Com Feb.17, 2009
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/4
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Yesterday, Today and Forever
I do not remember a time when there was not music in my home it just seems to always be there. We children were called into the living room to listen to some new records my dad had bought. This was the time of Vinyl records. We kids looked at each other thinking to ourselves oh lord here we go again, we could be outside playing. My dad did this every few weeks. We would have to listen to some long story about the artist, how this song was for dancing, or we needed to learn this song for church. This song was recorded in 1964, A Change Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
This haunting, painful, soulful voice like something I had never heard before came out of the record player; we all sat there not a sound coming from anybody listening to Sam Cooke singing A Change Gone Come. I know my daddy played that four or five times straight. Nobody realized at the time but my daddy was crying. Nobody understood why. It must have been something really bad to make my daddy cry.
So later when we (my sisters) asked my momma why did that song make daddy cry. She explained to us about the message the song had. Of course being young children, we did not really understand. At the time, I had no knowledge of the struggles African Americans were going through. This song became popular during the Civil Rights Movement. However, the song has stayed with me all these years.
As an adult, this song still brings tears to my eyes and joy to my soul. It gives me the type of joy makes me look forward to another day, another challenge or whatever the world has to offer. My tears are not from sadness but from somewhere in my soul. It hits the heart where there are no limitations; it discretely, yet directly addresses the ills of today’s society.
Sam Cooke today would be impressed by the various artist that have recorded this song. I feel men give the better rendition. I do not know if it has to do with the struggles men go through or just something they feel. Do not misunderstand there are woman who blow this song out of the water. Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Lauryn Hill and Tina Turner, each makes it her own. As far as the men go, there is a lot but my favorites are of course the original Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross, James Taylor, Al Green, Bob Dylan, and Seal. Three Dog Night has even done it and it is amazingly wonderful. All these voices touch me deep inside.
Here are a few different renditions of the song. Enjoy
http://www.imeem.com/marie12/music/SS9Qap4K/sam_cooke_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.imeem.com/people/J5sJ5zP/music/5sXMUU8s/tina_turner_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.imeem.com/t44j21h/music/YRQggk1x/three_dog_night_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1y82c_luther-vandross-a-change-gonna-come_music
This haunting, painful, soulful voice like something I had never heard before came out of the record player; we all sat there not a sound coming from anybody listening to Sam Cooke singing A Change Gone Come. I know my daddy played that four or five times straight. Nobody realized at the time but my daddy was crying. Nobody understood why. It must have been something really bad to make my daddy cry.
So later when we (my sisters) asked my momma why did that song make daddy cry. She explained to us about the message the song had. Of course being young children, we did not really understand. At the time, I had no knowledge of the struggles African Americans were going through. This song became popular during the Civil Rights Movement. However, the song has stayed with me all these years.
As an adult, this song still brings tears to my eyes and joy to my soul. It gives me the type of joy makes me look forward to another day, another challenge or whatever the world has to offer. My tears are not from sadness but from somewhere in my soul. It hits the heart where there are no limitations; it discretely, yet directly addresses the ills of today’s society.
Sam Cooke today would be impressed by the various artist that have recorded this song. I feel men give the better rendition. I do not know if it has to do with the struggles men go through or just something they feel. Do not misunderstand there are woman who blow this song out of the water. Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Lauryn Hill and Tina Turner, each makes it her own. As far as the men go, there is a lot but my favorites are of course the original Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross, James Taylor, Al Green, Bob Dylan, and Seal. Three Dog Night has even done it and it is amazingly wonderful. All these voices touch me deep inside.
Here are a few different renditions of the song. Enjoy
http://www.imeem.com/marie12/music/SS9Qap4K/sam_cooke_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.imeem.com/people/J5sJ5zP/music/5sXMUU8s/tina_turner_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.imeem.com/t44j21h/music/YRQggk1x/three_dog_night_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1y82c_luther-vandross-a-change-gonna-come_music
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