Released by Specialty Records in 1970, four years after his death, The 2 Sides of Sam Cooke is a revealing look at the famed soul singer's early work as he transitioned from gospel to secular music. The LP's first side is dedicated to his work with the legendary gospel group the Soul Stirrers, which he joined when he was just 19 years old. By 1950, the Soul Stirrers were already a decades-old institution with a rotating lineup led by R.H. Harris. By replacing Harris, the handsome young Sam Cooke ushered in a new era for the aging group, delivering a sex appeal and charisma that would help remake their image and sound. After signing with Specialty in 1951, they released "Jesus Gave Me Water," their first single under Cooke's leadership. One listen to his youthful, velvety voice and it was clear that he had major star potential and the young fans who suddenly took an interest in the Soul Stirrers (and gospel in general) agreed. Although that first single was a traditional a cappella-style hymn, subsequent releases like "Touch the Hem of His Garment" and "Were You There" hinted at the warm, soulful pop direction Cooke would adopt in his solo career, and by 1956 he'd decided to make his first step in that direction with the release of the solo single "Lovable." For fear of alienating his gospel fans, he issued the song under the pseudonym Dale Cook, but he needn't have worried. His vocal style was unmistakable and Specialty owner Art Rupe quickly gave Cooke his blessing to record secular music under his given name. The second side of this collection contains the smattering of early pop singles Cooke and producer Bumps Blackwell recorded for the Specialty label before leaving in 1957. The songs are mostly romantic odes with a soulful swing, and the husky tenor vocal cascades that would become a trademark of his later hits are still being worked out on songs like "I Don't Want to Cry" and "That's All I Need to Know." A disagreement eventually broke out over his direction, with Rupe expecting Cooke to mimic labelmate Little Richard's more exuberant rock style. However, Cooke still counted George Gershwin as an influence and favored a more elegant frame for his classy brand of R&B. In 1957, citing artistic differences, both he and Blackwell left Specialty after delivering only a handful of singles.
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