Sam Cooke

Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963

First released1985

Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 was recorded on October 17, 1963, at the Harlem Square Club in Miami, Florida, capturing Sam Cooke performing live before an enthusiastic audience. The album was produced by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore for RCA Records, who recognized the energy and authenticity of the live performance. The recording was notable for its raw, unpolished quality compared to Cooke's studio work, featuring minimal overdubbing and capturing the natural acoustics and crowd interaction of the venue. The album remained largely unreleased until 2006, when it was discovered in RCA's archives and released as a complete set, becoming praised for preserving an authentic snapshot of Cooke's live performance style and his connection with his audience during the civil rights era.