Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964

Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964

James Brown once said that, if he had even half Sam Cooke’s voice, he wouldn’t have to dance. Hear what Brown meant on “You Send Me,” as Cooke sings with such sweet, smooth yearning that the object of his affections would surely melt after the first line. You can hear his gospel roots in the emotion-charged vocals all through this collection, while the light-footed joy of “Cupid,” borne aloft on plush strings and horns, perfectly illustrates how he added a buoyant pop sound to soul music.

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