Soul Tracks

I was introduced to Baby Huey and The Babysitters a few days ago after discovering John Legend & The Roots have released a cover of the band's Curtis Mayfield penned 'Hard Times.' I had to dig a little deeper. Surprisingly, the short-lived band was signed to Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records, thanks largely to Donny Hathaway. The band's 400 pound front-man James Ramey, also known as Baby Huey, died of a heart attack shortly before the release of the band's debut album, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend, which somehow slipped through the cracks of soul music. (After Ramey's death, The Babysitters briefly employed a young Chaka Khan as their lead singer before disbanding). Following in the footsteps of Sly & The Family Stone, the band's sound was rooted in psychedelic soul. Baby Huey possessed a howling, wailing, voice that was as tender & sentimental as it was rough. The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend featured several Curtis Mayfield compositions, as well as a brilliant cover of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' Baby Huey & The Babysitters turned Cooke's enduring anthem into a psychedelic fueled soul sermon that combined rock, soul & gospel. Nine minutes and thirty one seconds later, Baby Huey & The Babysitters turn you into a believer.

Soul Fixin'

Anthony Hamilton Covers Sam Cooke

President-elect Barack Obama has inspired us all and promised a change in America. So, it is no coincidence that soul man Anthony Hamilton took a stab at Sam Cooke's larger than life 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' on his current Playin' It Cool Tour. Anthony was kind enough to share the video with us on his tour blog. Anthony Hamilton, a man who possesses fragments of DNA from soul legends such as Bobby Womack, Al Green, and Otis Redding, serves up a cool cover of the Cooke classic. A. Ham is just an all around cool dude.

Video Soul

"it's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
it's been a long, a long time coming
but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will..."

Soul Tracks

At the core of Obama's historic campaign is a single word, CHANGE. Obama's run for the nation's highest office has birthed a slew of songs from artists representing a wide range of musical genres. However, hip hop and soul artists are at the front of the Obama movement. But no song embodies the campaign of Obama quite like Sam Cooke's 1963 epic 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' Inspired by Bob Dylan's protest song "Blowing In The Wind," and two life-altering incidents; a conversation with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina and the death of his infant son, Cooke composed the highly emotional tune. In the years that followed, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. Today's Soul Tracks features Aretha's 1967 reading of the song. Aretha paid homage to her friend and musical icon on her '67 Atlantic debut, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, considered to be one the greatest soul albums of all time. Forty one years after Aretha wrapped her gospel drenched vocals around the landmark song, I found myself anxiously anticipating a change. I know it's been a long, a long time coming but I know a CHANGE gonna come.

Soul Fixin'

Seal's Ode To Obama
Seal can now be added to the very long list of artists supporting Barack Obama. Seal's endorsement comes via his latest music video for his remake of Sam Cooke's epic 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' A fitting song for a candidate that is promising a change. The emotional display of support features various clips of Obama campaign speeches and images and clips that touch on various social issues that plague the world and our country. By the way, Seal does a pretty damn good job covering the 44 year old soul classic. His upcoming album, Soul, will feature Seal's take on a slew of soul gems including Harold Melvin & The Blue Note's 'If You Don't Know Me By Now', Al Green's "Here I Am (Come And Take Me) " and Ann Peebles "I Can't Stand The Rain." Soul  hits stores in few weeks, November 11 to be exact. In the meantime, enjoy this ode to Barack. Barack > McCain. Barack The Vote on November 4.

Under The Covers

Rumor has it that Barack Obama is looking for a campaign song, "A Change Is Gonna Come" is the ideal song for Obama's historical run for the White House. A change is so desperately needed in this country. "A Change Is Gonna Come" was composed by one of soul music's founding fathers, Sam Cooke, during the turbulent 60's. It's no coincidence that a gospel singer turned pop star wrote the highly emotional "A Change Is Gonna Come." Much like gospel staples "I Won't Complain" and "How I Got Over," "A Change Is Gonna Come" forces one to reflect on their life. Cooke was inspired by Bob Dylan's protest song "Blowing In The Wind," and two life-altering incidents; a conversation with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina and the death of his infant son. The song, with it's dramatic orchestral backing and mournful french horns, exemplified the trials and tribulations of black America, especially the second verse, "it's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die/'cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky/it's been a long, a long time coming/ but I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will." "A Change Is Gonna Come" appears on Cooke's final studio album, Ain't That Good News. Surprisingly, "A Change Is Gonna Come" only reached #9 on the Black Singles charts. In the years that followed, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. In 1966, Aretha Franklin wrapped her soulful gospel drenched vocals around "A Change Is Gonna Come" and payed homage to her musical idol. The song is included on 'Retha's '67 Atlantic Records debut, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, considered to be one the greatest soul albums of all time. Aretha's cover of the song is mind blowing, Aretha's opening note sends a chill through your body and for a second you forget "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a Sam Cooke song. Even though Aretha is one of music's greatest interpreters, Cooke's recording reigns supreme. "A Change Is Gonna Come" set the foundation for other socially-conscious songs such as Marvin's "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" and Curtis Mayfield's "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue." "A Change Is Gonna Come" ranks on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was selected by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry, a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States."