Customer Rating:  
Summary: Live at Harlem Square is greater
Comment: I once owned Live at Harlem Square, but it was stolen out of my car a few years ago. I saw this was available for download, so I gave it a go. This is okay and everything, but the energy Cooke and his band has at Harlem Square it literally ten times what they've got on this album. As soon as I got done listening to this, I put the order in to have Harlem Square mailed to my house.
Customer Rating:
Summary: GET YOUR FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE COPA
Comment: This is by far the greatest live "cabaret" set and believe me I have them all including Jackie Wilson,Darin,Deano and Sammy D to name but some.It even surpasses anything by ol blue eyes himself.
Cooke ignites, after Sammy Davis Jr's introduction into a stomping vegas style version of "best things in life are free" and the show takes off. he has a way of injecting beautiful life into what could be seen as old and hackneyed material. Sam sings Frankie and Johnny,Bill Bailey and If I had a Hammer and makes his the definitive versions.You really feel you are in a front row seat in this legendary club back in 1964.What a shame Sam would not live to see out the year.He was gunned down months later at a Hollywood motel. He lives on in performances such as this and "Live at the Harlem Square Club" which is every bit as good as this but rawer and more "gutbucket,down home" in style. ESSENTIAL
Customer Rating:
Summary: 2 sides of Sam but 1 FABULOUS guy
Comment: Listen to "Copa" and "Harlem Square" back-to-back and you'll hear a difference but no phoniness. Sam Cooke was the best. With his talent, charm and good looks, who knows what he would have contributed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Folk-ish Sam Cooke
Comment: An amazing record and one that is interesting from a historical perspective;
the prograam was tailored obviously for the trendy tastes of the day, which would have been the mainstream, folk craze as embodied not only by Dylan (blowin in the wind is covered) but also Mitch Miller (a hootenany joke is made during If I had a Hammer) and his prime time sing alongs.
Sam is the master truly. Great spirit and effortless sounding singing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sam Swings, but for a Soulful Treat, get the Harlem Night Club Recording
Comment: Sam Cooke at the Copa is an incredible recording and showcases Sam's beautiful voice like nothing else. It is a must have for any Sam Cooke fan. That said, I would still recommend the Live at Harlem recording. The Copa recording, as someone else has mentioned, was for a primarily white audience. While listening you get the sense that Sam is holding back. Despite the near "soulless" recording, Sam's ability to croon puts this recording with the likes of Frank Sinatra's Live at the Sands. The band is incredible, the arrangements are timeless and tasteful, and Sam is money! Sam Cooke at the Copa compared to Live at Harlem is like a white church sing-a-long versus a beautiful, spriritual Black gospel choir.
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