The Best Of Sam Cooke
On The Acoustic

A Change Is Gonna Come was released by Sam Cooke as a B-side to the song Shake in Jan 1964 but was not released as a single until two weeks after Cooke was fatally shot in Dec 1964. He wrote the song referencing an event where he and his bandmates were turned away from a hotel due to the colour of their skin. 

This song can be found on the "Ain't That Good News" album.

For rhythm here I play a down up down up down down and repeat pattern in standard tuning with no lead in this one. For chords you'll need a G, Am, C, B7, Em, Daug, A7 and a D7.

Bring It On Home To Me featured Low Rawls on this song recorded in 1962 from an old retake on a number called I Want To Go Home by Charles Brown a few years earlier in 1959. The song reached #2 on the R& B chart and #13 on the Hot 100 charts.

Artists who covered the song over the years include, Sonny & Cher, John Lennon and Otis Redding just to name a few. This one is on "The Best Of Sam Cooke" album.

I use a drop D tuning for this number and a capo on the 2nd fret. Rhythm wise you can play this one several ways by using a down down down up down up pattern or a down up down up down up and repeat or a combo of the two. Some lead her as you move through the chords of D, G, A, A# and a D7.

Chain Gang is a single from Sam Cooke from the 1961 album Swing Low.

This song peaked at #2 in the US and #9 in the UK.

This one played in standard tuning with a root down up root up down up pattern with the four chords G, Em, C and a D. No lead work required here.

I'll Come Running Back To You hails from 1957 and was written by Sam Cooke. The song reached #1 on the R&B charts and #18 on Billboard. This song quickly followed on the heels of You Send Me which was a #1 hit just a few weeks prior.

The song was never part of any album from Sam Cooke, just a single.

I play it in standard tuning without any lead work playing a root up down up or a root up down up bass up down up rhythm pattern and I changed the chorus and added some walking bass. The chords her are G, Adim, Am7, D7, B7, C, A, D7 and a Gb but no lead work.

Twistin The Night Away was written by Sam Cooke  and released is as a single back in 1962. It was a #1 on the R&B charts and hit #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It can be found on the 1962 album "Twistin The Night Away" and became one of those Sam Cooke top songs.

I use a capo 2nd fret in this number in standard tuning playing a root up down up root up down up rhythm pattern but I'm using a walking bass with this one. No lead and play the chords G, Em, C, D and D7.

Wonderful World was released in the Spring of 1960 and it peaked at #2 in the US but hit #1 in The Netherlands.

This is another single release that never ended up on a Sam Cooke album. Download the free Sam Cooke Wonderful World lyrics sheet below.

Some lead in this song in standard tuning with the chords G, Em, C, D, D7 and an A. For the most part you'll play a root down up down up root up down up rhythm pattern.

You Send Me was a huge commercial success for Sam Cooke back in 1957 as this song went to #1 on both Billboard and R&B charts. He wrote the both the music and lyrics. Cooke gave the writing credits to his younger brother LC Cook who spelled his name without the e on the end so Sam would not have to give away profits to the publisher.

The singing group The Manhattans released a version in 1985 and had a hit, but only Sam was able to get the song to #1. Teresa Brewer, The Four Seasons, Van Morrison, Steve Miller and several other artists have recorded this number. 

Play this one in standard tuning with a root up down up down root up down up down rhythm pattern and in the chorus you can play a down down up down and repeat pattern. Some lead required with the chords Daug, G, Em, Am, D7, C and an F.