Comments for The color of change

The color of change

2008-12-22T15:00:00Z

From over at Proper Talks we've got Anthony Hamilton covering Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." Of course nothing swings like the original--and that isn't even Sam Cooke's best song. But I digress, it's amazing how Obama used language that has specific meaning in the African-American context, and blew it out to encompass everyone. The paraphrasing of Malcolm is a gimme. But beyond that, the word "change" has a specific connotation among us historically, from Cooke to Haki Mahdubuti's "A Poem to Compliment Other Poems." Anyway, Hamilton ain't Cooke (who is?) but he's got the touch.

Anthony Hamilton - "A Change Is Gonna Come" from levi maestro on Vimeo.

Comment from Ofay McCrackerson on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:10:16Z

Baby Huey did the best version of A Change Is Gonna Come. Look him up, you won't regret it. RZA sampled him on Supreme Clientele (Buck 50).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrwal73e4fQ

Obviously, the sound isn't great on youtube, but download it.

Comment from James on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:11:57Z

Let's get this semi-jack out of the way:

that isn't even Sam Cooke's best song

Really? What do you think is? without the above, IMO, you don't have Whats Going On.

Comment from shani-o on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:12:13Z

Now you have to tell us what you think Sam's best song is. Since he's my absolute favorite male vocalist of all time, you'd better get it right...

Comment from Jonathan on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:12:46Z

Love Hamilton. He did his thing on Al Green at the BET Awards, too. Thanks for this...

Comment from Ta-Nehisi Coates on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:25:06Z

Off the top--The Live version of Havin A Party, recorded at the Harlem Square Club. Absolute murder. I'll try to find and post.

Also "Touch The Hem Of His Garment," "That's Where It's At," "Somebody Have Mercy," and of course, "Bring It On Home To Me."

All of them are killer. Just killer.

Comment from harum-scarum haze on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:28:31Z

"Oh s***! It's Wayne Brady!"

From his album "A Long Time Coming": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMAW7lI4OQ

Comment from Ta-Nehisi Coates on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:29:25Z

Let's hold off on this. We'll have a Sam Cooke thread in a moment.

Comment from shani-o on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:30:07Z

T- The best cuts from Live @ Harlem Square are the "It's All Right" medley, and "Bring It On Home to Me."

But I think my favorite is a tie between "Sad Mood" and a live recording of "If I Had A Hammer."

But you're right. Just about everything he did was killer.

Comment from stan on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:40:15Z

Holy Crap. I've got to say that Wayne Brady's version has that world weary while at the same time sophisticated feel that Cooke's original has.

Comment from ThatDude on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T15:55:00Z

In my humble opinion, had he done it first, Ant Hamilton's would have been the classic. Sure we're nostalgic for Sam Cooke, but he just kilt that one for real. Vintage gut bucket blues wailin'.

Comment from big bad wolf on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T18:01:21Z

that's a very good version. i don't think it merely nostalgia that i think cooke's better. i'll give up that a live version is going to be a bit rougher, but i think hamilton propels the song a bit too much. cooke's vocal captures the inevitable, the inexorable, the weariness of waiting, and the hope that comes from seeing the arc bend. it takes a mighty long, hard time if you're just one person, but still you know you're part of it and that sustains you, if just barely sometimes. or that's what i hear in cooke

Comment from jake on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T18:19:01Z

Agreein' on the Baby Huey love, dude was 400 pounds of soul and good God could he wail. Ten minute versions with monologues in the middle, I miss 70's soul.

Comment from Kiana on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T19:04:11Z

First, thanks for posting the link to our site!

Secondly, I can't believe ThatDude just said that AntHamilton's version would have been the classic if he had of made it first!?!

Seal, has a really good version out right now (yeah, Seal) but I think it should be a crime for anyone to remake this because no one gets the emotion quite like Sam. Seriously, anyone who covers it should be fined :-) I think it might be because we have no idea what it was like to be in our 20s (and up) in the 60s. Black folk have struggled since then, but we don't know that pain. Ant actually sounds happy singing that in the video to me. I can't even listen to Sam version on a bad day because I'll start crying 30 secs in.

Comment from Mike on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T19:20:31Z

There's no beating the original here, but check out the punk-rock stylings of The Gits' version. Mia Zapata can belt out some vocals. I think covers of this should be held to a high standard and Zapata delivers the goods.

Comment from Lester Spence on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T20:54:05Z

But I digress, it's amazing how Obama used language that has specific meaning in the African-American context, and blew it out to encompass everyone.

Barack Obama was the Omni-American candidate.

Comment from DJ ImagoDei on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T21:39:27Z

I have a ridiculous man-crush on Anthony Hamilton. Dude is a complete vocal beast. It was like God felt bad for all of us 20-somethings who never got to see Marvin & co. live and in their primes and sent Hamilton (and Jaheim while I'm at it) as a peace offering. Remember Hamilton doing "Do You Feel Me" in American Gangster? It damn-near stole the movie! After the flick my friends and I were talking about how hot it was, comparing it to the classics in the genre and whatnot, and all I kept saying every couple of minutes was "hold up, can we talk about how sick that new Anthony Hamilton track was?"

Comment from Jonathan on 2008-12-22

2008-12-22T23:14:03Z

Can't agree that Baby Huey's version is definitive one, but the album is cold as hell (on Curtis Mayfield's imprint too) and very much worth seeking out. "Hard Times" is a spine chilling cut. Actually recorded first by Gene Chandler on Checker under the title "In My Body's House". Refers to the line, "In my body's house/I'm afraid to go outside..." Man, powerful shit. Baby Huey's take on it was sampled first by 45 King on Chill Rob G's album though... Ghost loves him some throwbacks.

Comment from JR on 2008-12-22

2008-12-23T03:29:44Z

The best cover for Sam Cooke's "change" was done by his nephew from the group Solo. Blew it out the park and dare I say it (heresay) better.

Comment from Junior T on 2008-12-23

2008-12-23T08:12:57Z

I gotta say Wayne Brady killed it! Brought a tear to my tired old eyes...and I now see why he was the only one nominated for a Grammy...