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100's Of Free Demos & Chord Sheets
The Best Of Sam Cooke
On The Acoustic
Welcome to The Best Of Sam Cooke acoustic guitar covers page where you'll find free Sam Cooke guitar chords and lyrics in a free pdf download, as well as some free acoustic guitar demos on several classic songs.
I've also added some of the Sam Cooke album covers to this page so you know where the songs originated.
Jump links to quickly access the sections.
The Best Of Sam Cooke
Demos, Chords, Lyrics & Tutorials
1. A Change Is Gonna Come
Sam Cooke released this song 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.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a down up down up down down ... down up down up down down and repeat will work best here
- Picking = No
- Chords = G, Am, C, B7, Em, Daug, A7, D7
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2. Bring It On Home To Me
Low Rawls was one of the singers 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.
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = you can play this one several ways - use a down down down up down up ... or down up down up down up and repeat or a combo of the two
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, G, A, A#, D7
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3. Chain Gang
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.
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4. I'll Come Running Back To You
This song 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.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = play a root up down up or a root up down up bass up down up ... I changed the chorus and added some walking bass
- Picking = No
- Chords = G, Adim, Am7, D7, B7, C, A, D7, Gb
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5. Twistin' The Night Away
Sam Cooke wrote this song 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.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd Fret
- Rhythm = a root up down up root up down up will work but I'm using a walking bass with this one as you'll see
- Picking = No
- Chords = G, Em, C, D, D7
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6. Wonderful World
Sam Cooke released this song 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 lysic sheet below.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = play a root down up down up root up down up pattern for the most part
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, Em, C, D, D7, A
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7. You Send Me
Singer Sam Cooke back in 1957 and was a huge commercial success for his as the 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.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root up down up down root up down up down and in the chorus you can play down down up down and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Daug, G, Em, Am, D7, C, F
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Thanks for stopping by The best Of Sam Cooke acoustic guitar covers page and I hope the info here was useful in helping you learn how to play of these Sam Cooke hits on the guitar.
If you liked this Sam Cooke page you might also link ... (click images)
Sam Cooke Documentary
Motown Rhythm And Blues