Complete List Of Sam Cooke Songs From A to Z

Sam Cooke could make a pop standard sound intimate, a dance record feel effortless, and a civil-rights anthem carry the weight of history. The 133 studio-album tracks gathered here follow that range across eleven LPs released from 1958 through 1964, from the polished arrangements of his Keen years to the blues-centered Night Beat and the landmark Ain’t That Good News.

Feature Photo: RCA Victor Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Sam Cooke began his professional career in gospel music and became the celebrated lead singer of the Soul Stirrers. His warm, flexible tenor and emotionally direct phrasing helped establish the vocal approach he later carried into popular music.

Cooke’s secular breakthrough came with “You Send Me” in 1957. The recording reached the top of the pop and R&B charts and introduced a voice that could move naturally between gospel feeling, romantic pop, rhythm and blues, and the emerging sound of soul.

Across the eleven studio albums represented in this guide, Cooke recorded standards, blues, folk songs, dance records, ballads, and original compositions. Hits including “Chain Gang,” “Twistin’ the Night Away,” “Another Saturday Night,” and “Ain’t That Good News” demonstrated how easily he could turn conversational storytelling into memorable popular music.

One of Cooke’s most enduring works, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” appeared on Ain’t That Good News in 1964 and became closely associated with the Civil Rights Movement. Its combination of personal experience, spiritual gravity, and social purpose gave Cooke’s catalog an anthem whose meaning extended far beyond the charts.

Cooke was also a pioneering businessman. In 1959, he helped establish SAR Records with J.W. Alexander and S. Roy Crain, creating opportunities for artists including the Soul Stirrers, the Valentinos, and Billy Preston. His efforts to control publishing, production, and ownership made him an important model for later generations of artists.

Cooke’s life and flourishing career ended on December 11, 1964, when he was fatally shot at age 33. His influence continued to grow after his death. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Beyond music, Cooke supported the Civil Rights Movement through benefit performances, financial contributions, and public advocacy. His friendships with figures including Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X placed him near the center of a period when Black artists were increasingly using fame, ownership, and cultural influence to demand change.

Cooke’s smooth delivery and emotional clarity influenced generations of singers across soul, R&B, rock, and pop. His work helped connect gospel technique with secular songwriting in a way that opened new possibilities for artists who followed.

Complete List Of Sam Cooke Studio Album Songs From A to Z

A–E

1. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive – Encore (1958)
2. A Change Is Gonna Come – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
3. A Whole Lotta Woman – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
4. Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Sam Cooke (1958)
5. Ain’t That Good News – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
6. All the Way – Mr. Soul (1963)
7. Along the Navajo Trail – Encore (1958)
8. Another Saturday Night – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
9. Around the World – Sam Cooke (1958)
10. Arrivederci, Roma (Goodbye to Rome) – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
11. Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home – My Kind of Blues (1961)
12. Bali Ha’i – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
13. But Not for Me – My Kind of Blues (1961)
14. Camptown Twist – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
15. Canadian Sunset – Sam Cooke (1958)
16. Chain Gang – Swing Low (1961)
17. Chains of Love – Mr. Soul (1963)
18. Comes Love – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
19. Crazy She Calls Me – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
20. Cry – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
21. Cry Me a River – Mr. Soul (1963)
22. Danny Boy – Sam Cooke (1958)
23. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – My Kind of Blues (1961)
24. Driftin’ Blues – Mr. Soul (1963)
25. Exactly Like You – My Kind of Blues (1961)

F–J

26. Falling in Love – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
27. Far Away Places – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
28. Fool’s Paradise – Night Beat (1963)
29. For Sentimental Reasons – Mr. Soul (1963)
30. Galway Bay – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
31. Get Yourself Another Fool – Night Beat (1963)
32. God Bless the Child – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
33. Goin’ Home – Swing Low (1961)
34. Good Morning Heartache – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
35. Good Times – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
36. Grandfather’s Clock – Swing Low (1961)
37. Hey There – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
38. Home (When Shadows Fall) – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
39. I Cover the Waterfront – Encore (1958)
40. I Lost Everything – Night Beat (1963)
41. I’m Just a Country Boy – Swing Low (1961)
42. I’m Just a Lucky So and So – My Kind of Blues (1961)
43. I’m Walking Behind You – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
44. I’ve Got a Right to Sing the Blues – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
45. I Wish You Love – Mr. Soul (1963)
46. If I Had You – Swing Low (1961)
47. It’s the Talk of the Town – Encore (1958)
48. Jamaica Farewell – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
49. Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair – Swing Low (1961)

K–O

50. Laughin’ and Clownin’ – Night Beat (1963)
51. Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
52. Little Girl – Mr. Soul (1963)
53. Little Girl Blue – My Kind of Blues (1961)
54. Little Red Rooster – Night Beat (1963)
55. London by Night – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
56. Long, Long Ago – Swing Low (1961)
57. Lost and Lookin’ – Night Beat (1963)
58. Lover Come Back to Me – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
59. Lover Girl (Man) – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
60. Mary, Mary Lou – Encore (1958)
61. Mean Old World – Night Beat (1963)
62. Meet Me at Mary’s Place – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
63. Mona Lisa – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
64. Moonlight in Vermont – Sam Cooke (1958)
65. Movin’ And A’Groovin’ – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
66. My Foolish Heart – Encore (1958)
67. Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen – Night Beat (1963)
68. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – My Kind of Blues (1961)
69. There’ll Be No Second Time – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
70. Nothing Can Change This Love – Mr. Soul (1963)
71. Oh! Look at Me Now – Encore (1958)
72. Ol’ Man River – Sam Cooke (1958)
73. Out in the Cold Again – My Kind of Blues (1961)

P–T

74. Please Don’t Drive Me Away – Night Beat (1963)
75. Pray – Swing Low (1961)
76. Rome (Wasn’t Built in a Day) – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
77. Running Wild – Encore (1958)
78. Secret Love – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
79. Send Me Some Lovin’ – Mr. Soul (1963)
80. Shake, Rattle and Roll – Night Beat (1963)
81. She’s Funny That Way – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
82. Since I Met You Baby – My Kind of Blues (1961)
83. Sittin’ in the Sun – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
84. Smoke Rings – Mr. Soul (1963)
85. So Long – Sam Cooke (1958)
86. Solitude – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
87. Somebody Have Mercy – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
88. Somebody’s Gonna Miss Me – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
89. Someday – Encore (1958)
90. Soothe Me – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
91. South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
92. Sugar Dumpling – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
93. Summertime – Sam Cooke (1958)
94. Sweet Leilani – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
95. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – Swing Low (1961)
96. ‘T’aint Nobody’s Bizness (If I Do) – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
97. Tammy – Sam Cooke (1958)
98. Tennessee Waltz – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
99. That Lucky Old Sun – Sam Cooke (1958)
100. That’s It—I Quit—I’m Movin’ On – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
101. The Bells of St. Mary’s – Sam Cooke (1958)
102. The Coffee Song (They’ve Got An Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil) – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
103. The Great Pretender – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
104. The Gypsy – Encore (1958)
105. The House I Live In – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
106. The Japanese Farewell Song – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
107. The Lonesome Road – Sam Cooke (1958)
108. The Riddle Song – Ain’t That Good News (1964)
109. The Song from Moulin Rouge – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
110. The Song Is Ended – My Kind of Blues (1961)
111. The Twist – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
112. The Wayward Wind – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
113. These Foolish Things – Mr. Soul (1963)
114. They Call the Wind Maria – Swing Low (1961)
115. They Can’t Take That Away from Me – Tribute to the Lady (1959)
116. Today I Sing the Blues – Encore (1958)
117. Too Young – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
118. Trouble Blues – Night Beat (1963)
119. Trouble in Mind – My Kind of Blues (1961)
120. Twilight on the Trail – Swing Low (1961)
121. Twistin’ in the Kitchen with Dinah – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
122. Twistin’ in the Old Town Tonight – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)
123. Twistin’ the Night Away – Twistin’ the Night Away (1962)

U–Z

124. Unchained Melody – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
125. Under Paris Skies – Cooke’s Tour (1960)
126. Venus – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
127. When I Fall in Love – Encore (1958)
128. Willow Weep for Me – Mr. Soul (1963)
129. You Belong to Me – Swing Low (1961)
130. You Gotta Move – Night Beat (1963)
131. You Send Me – Sam Cooke (1958)
132. You, You, You – Hits of the 50’s (1960)
133. You’re Always on My Mind – My Kind of Blues (1961)

Sam Cooke Studio Albums

Sam Cooke (1958) – 13 songs

Encore (1958) – 12 songs

Tribute to the Lady (1959) – 12 songs

Cooke’s Tour (1960) – 12 songs

Hits of the 50’s (1960) – 12 songs

Swing Low (1961) – 12 songs

My Kind of Blues (1961) – 12 songs

Twistin’ the Night Away (1962) – 12 songs

Mr. Soul (1963) – 12 songs

Night Beat (1963) – 12 songs

Ain’t That Good News (1964) – 12 songs

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Updated July 29, 2026.

Complete List Of Sam Cooke Studio Album Songs From A to Z article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2025