Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964

Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964
Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964
Compilation album by Sam Cooke
Released	June 17, 2003
Recorded	March 1, 1951 – November 16, 1964; Various recording locations
Genre	Rhythm and blues; soul;
Length	79:08
Label	ABKCO
Producer	Sam Cooke; Hugo & Luigi; René Hall; Al Schmitt; Art Rupe; Lou Adler; Bumps Blackwell;
Sam Cooke chronology

Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 is a compilation album by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released posthumously on June 17, 2003, by ABKCO Records. The disc covers Cooke's entire career, from his early 1950s beginnings with the Soul Stirrers to the posthumous 1964 single "Shake". The collection includes most of the singer's hit singles, including "You Send Me", "Wonderful World", "Chain Gang", "Cupid", "Twistin' the Night Away", "Bring It On Home to Me", "Another Saturday Night", "Little Red Rooster", "Ain't That Good News", "Good Times", and what is often regarded as Cooke’s magnum opus, "A Change Is Gonna Come".

The compilation is generally considered the most complete and comprehensive collection of Cooke's work. It has been included on various "best-of" lists by music publications, including Rolling Stone and Time.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
BBC Music	Favorable^[2]

Biographer Peter Guralnick, author of Cooke's biography Dream Boogie and the liner notes for the disc, writes: "For an overview of Sam's career, from his gospel beginnings through 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' nothing can compare to Portrait of a Legend which serves as a guide to Sam at his very best."^[3] The BBC's Alwyn Turner writes, "With perfect sound quality, and with sleeve-notes by Peter Guralnick, this is the best single-volume introduction to his work available."^[2] Bruce Eder of AllMusic considered it an improvement on the 1986 compilation The Man and His Music in terms of running time and audio quality; he did, however, lament the lack of inclusion of "'That's Heaven to Me' and 'Soothe Me', arguably one of Cooke's most important songs."^[1]

It is Cooke's highest placing position on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time, at number 107,^[4] maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list,^[5] dropping to number 307 in a 2020 revised list.^[6] In 2010, Time included the compilation on their list of the All-TIME 100 Albums, covering "the 100 greatest and most influential musical compilations since 1954." In the article, Alan Light writes, "The 31 tracks on Portrait of a Legend impressively capture Cooke’s range on a single disc […] Many artists are called "legends," but Sam Cooke truly earned this title."^[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Sam Cooke, except where noted

No.	Title	Writer	Length
1.	"Touch the Hem of His Garment"		2:01
2.	"Lovable"	Cooke Tony Harris	2:24
3.	"You Send Me"		2:43
4.	"Only Sixteen"		2:02
5.	"(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"	Derek Watson William Best	2:38
6.	"Just for You"		2:19
7.	"Win Your Love for Me"	L.C. Cook	2:46
8.	"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha"		2:45
9.	"I'll Come Running Back to You"	William "Bill" Cook	2:13
10.	"You Were Made for Me"		2:53
11.	"Sad Mood"		2:39
12.	"Cupid"		2:36
13.	"(What a) Wonderful World"	Cooke Lou Adler Herb Alpert	2:05
14.	"Chain Gang"	Cooke Charles Cook Jr.	2:34
15.	"Summertime"	George Gershwin Ira Gershwin DuBose Heyward	2:20
16.	"Little Red Rooster"	Willie Dixon	2:52
17.	"Bring It On Home to Me"		2:42
18.	"Nothing Can Change This Love"		2:37
19.	"Sugar Dumpling"		2:43
20.	"(Ain't That) Good News"		2:28
21.	"Meet Me at Mary's Place"		2:41
22.	"Twistin' the Night Away"		2:41
23.	"Shake"		2:50
24.	"Tennessee Waltz"	Pee Wee King Redd Stewart	3:09
25.	"Another Saturday Night"		2:40
26.	"Good Times"		2:27
27.	"Having a Party"		2:35
28.	"That's Where It's At"	Cooke J. W. Alexander	2:35
29.	"A Change Is Gonna Come"		3:11
30.	"Jesus Gave Me Water"	Lucie Campbell	2:29
Total length:			79:08

There is an additional track containing a segment of an interview by Magnificent Montague from 1963 in which Sam Cooke hums a few bars.

Personnel

All credits adapted from the disc's liner notes.^[8]

Sam Cooke – vocals, producer
Michael Gochanour – analog to digital transfers
Rick Essig – analog to digital transfers
Teri Landi – analog to digital transfers
Ben Bailes – assistant engineer
Matt Boynton – assistant engineer
Tom Camuso – assistant engineer
Jimmie Haskell – arrangement, conducting
René Hall – arrangement, conducting, guitar, producer
Alisa Coleman-Ritz – art direction
Iris W. Keitel – art direction
April Hobbs – art production coordinator
Seth Adkins – art production coordinator
Laura Walton – audio production coordinator
Alicia Adams – backing vocals
Betty Baker – backing vocals
Betty Jane Barker – backing vocals
Carol Lee Lombard – backing vocals
Charles Parlato – backing vocals
Doreen Tryden – backing vocals
Jack Halloran – backing vocals
Jackie Ward – backing vocals
James Bryant – backing vocals
J.J. Farley – backing vocals
Jimmie Outler – backing vocals
Lee Gotch – backing vocals
Loulie Jean Norman – backing vocals
Lou Rawls – backing vocals
Paul Foster – backing vocals
R.B. Robinson – backing vocals
Ralph Brewster – backing vocals
Richard Gibbs – backing vocals
Robert Tebold – backing vocals
Sally Stevens Castle – backing vocals
S.R. Crain – backing vocals
Sue Allen – backing vocals
Thomas D. Kenny – backing vocals
Thomas L. Bruster – backing vocals
Adolphus Alsbrook – bass guitar
Chuck Badie – bass guitar
Clifford Hils – bass guitar
Eddie Tilman – bass guitar
Frank Fields – bass guitar
Harper Cosby – bass guitar
James Bond – bass guitar
Milton Hinton – bass guitar
Ray Pohlman – bass guitar
Red Callender – bass guitar
Ted Brinson – bass guitar
Jack Costanza – bongos
Armand Kaproff – cello
Cecil Figelski – cello
Emmet Sargeant – cello
Frederick Seykora – cello
Jesse Ehrlich – cello

Joseph Coppin – cello
Leanne Allik – conception
Glen Osser – conductor
Sammy Lowe – conductor
Angelo Tillery – cover illustration
Hiroyuki Komuro – DSD assistant
Gus Skinas – DSD
Charles Blackwell – drums
David Francis – drums
Earl Palmer – drums
John Boudreaux – drums
June Gardner – drums
Ronald Selico – drums
Edward Hall – drums, percussion
Frank Capp – drums, percussion
Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
Julius Wechter – drums, percussion
Al Schmitt – engineer
Dave Hassinger – engineer
Dick Bogart – engineer
Dino Lapis – engineer
Barney Kessel – guitar
Bob King – guitar
Bobby Womack – guitar
Clifton White – guitar
Edgar Blanchard – guitar
George Barnes (musician) – guitar
Everett Barksdale – guitar
Glen Campbell – guitar
Howard Roberts – guitar
John Pisano – guitar
LeRoy Crume – guitar
Norman Bartold – guitar
Tommy Tedesco – guitar
Ulysses Livingston – guitar
William Pitman – guitar
Joseph Gibbons – guitar, banjo
William Hinshaw – French horn
Peter J. Howard – legal
Peter Guralnick – liner notes
Hillary Putnam – manufacturing
Kenneth Silinsky – manufacturing
Emil Radocchia – marimba, timpani, percussion
Bob Ludwig – mastering
Billy Preston – organ
Jess Rand – photography
Edward Beal – piano
Ernest Freeman – piano
Ernie Hayes – piano
Harold Battiste – piano
Raymond Johnson – piano
Russell Bridges – piano
Warren Myles – piano
Al Schmitt – producer
Art Rupe – producer
Hugo & Luigi – producer

Lou Adler – producer
Bumps Blackwell – producer
Jody H. Klein – reissue producer
Teri Landi – reissue producer
Joe Parker – sales
Red Tyler – saxophone
Edgar Redmond – saxophone
Jewell Grant – saxophone
John Kelsom – saxophone
Plas Johnson – saxophone
William Green – saxophone
Maria Papazahariou – session research
Steve Rosenthal – sound restoration
David Wells – trombone
John Ewing – trombone
Louis Blackburn – trombone
Anthony Terran – trumpet
John Anderson – trumpet
Melvin Lastie – trumpet
Stuart Williamson – trumpet
Lawrence Bunker – vibraphone
Allan Harshman – viola
Alexander Neiman – viola
Harry Hyams – viola
Irving Weinper – viola
Samuel Boghossian – viola
Wilbert Nuttycombe – viola
Ambrose Russo – violin
Alfred Brown – violin
Archie Levin – violin
Arnold Belnick – violin
Ben Miller – violin
Charles Libove – violin
Darrel Terwilliger – violin
David Nadien – violin
Elliot Fisher – violin
Fred Fradkin – violin
Gareth Nuttycombe – violin
Harold Dickterow – violin
Harry Lookofsky – violin
Hinda Barnet – violin
Irving Lipschultz – violin
Isadore Roman – violin
Israel Baker – violin
John DeVoogdt – violin
Joseph Saxon – violin
Leonard Malarsky – violin
Marshall Sosson – violin
Marvin Limonick – violin
Max Cahn – violin
Myron Sandler – violin
Ralph Schaeffer – violin
Robert Barene – violin
Sidney Sharp – violin
Tibor Zelig – violin
William Kurasch – violin

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)^[9]	19

Chart (2006–07)	Peak position
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[10]	3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	3

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[12]	135
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)^[13]	20

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)^[14]	124

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[15]	Platinum	300,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b Bruce Eder. "Review: Portrait of a Legend 1951–1964". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Alwyn Turner (2006). "BBC -Music – Review of Sam Cooke: Portrait of a Legend 1951–1964". BBC. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
^ Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Back Bay Books, p. 715. First edition, 2005.
^ Wenner, Jann S., ed. (2012). Rolling Stone – Special Collectors Issue – The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. USA: Wenner Media Specials. ISBN 978-7098934196
^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
^ "All-TIME 100 Albums". Time. New York City: Time Inc. January 22, 2010. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
^ Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (liner notes). Sam Cooke. US: ABKCO Records. 2003. 92642.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Sam Cooke | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend – 1951–1964". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend – 1951–1964". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
^ "Sam Cooke Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
^ "Sam Cooke Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
^ "ChartsPlusYE2005" (PDF). Chartsplus. Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
^ "British album certifications – Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend". British Phonographic Industry.

External links

Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

[am-1] Bruce Eder. "Review: Portrait of a Legend 1951–1964". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2014.

[bbc-2] Alwyn Turner (2006). "BBC -Music – Review of Sam Cooke: Portrait of a Legend 1951–1964". BBC. Retrieved April 13, 2014.

[db-3] Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Back Bay Books, p. 715. First edition, 2005.

[RS-4] Wenner, Jann S., ed. (2012). Rolling Stone – Special Collectors Issue – The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. USA: Wenner Media Specials. ISBN 978-7098934196

[5] "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2019.

[6] "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2021.

[timereview-7] "All-TIME 100 Albums". Time. New York City: Time Inc. January 22, 2010. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved April 13, 2014.

[linernotes-8] Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (liner notes). Sam Cooke. US: ABKCO Records. 2003. 92642.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[ac_UK_Sam_Cooke-9] "Sam Cooke | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 13, 2014.

[ac_Norway_Sam_Cooke-10] "Norwegiancharts.com – Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend – 1951–1964". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2016.

[ac_New_Zealand_Sam_Cooke-11] "Charts.nz – Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend – 1951–1964". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2016.

[ac_Billboard200_Sam_Cooke-12] "Sam Cooke Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2016.

[ac_BillboardCatalog_Sam_Cooke-13] "Sam Cooke Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2016.

[14] "ChartsPlusYE2005" (PDF). Chartsplus. Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2021.

[United_KingdomSam_CookePortrait_of_a_LegendalbumCertRef-15] "British album certifications – Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend". British Phonographic Industry.

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Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964

Reception

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

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