The first time I heard this song was a startling experience. It is one of the most powerful songs I have ever encountered. It has a slow, quiet urgency. It is said that this song inspired Bob Dylan to write The Times They Are a-Changing.
Sam Cooke’s life was tragically short but he managed to released so much great music. From his early gospel days with The Soul Stirrers to when he threw off the shackels of less enlightened times and began to release tracks like this he blazed a trail for all that great soul music that was to follow.
A little trivia that may only interest an anorak such as myself but apparently Sam Cooke was the inspiration for Marvin Gaye to add the “e” to the end of his surname.
/RjK