"A Change Is Gonna Come"
Single by Sam Cooke
from the album Ain’t That Good News
B-side(s)	Shake
Released	December 1964
Format	7" single
Recorded	December 21, 1963
Genre	Soul
Length	3:12
Label	RCA Victor Records
Producer(s)	Hugo Peretti Luigi Creatore
Chart positions
31 (U.S.)
Sam Cooke singles chronology
That’s Where It’s At 1964	A Change Is Gonna Come 1964	It’s Got the Whole World Shakin’ 1965

"A Change Is Gonna Come" is a 1965 single by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, written and first recorded in 1963 and released under the RCA Victor label a month after his late 1964 death. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, the song became one of his first blatantly political songs, and came to exemplify the sixties Civil Rights Movement. The song has gained in popularity and critical acclaim in the decades since its release. Image File history File links ACIGCcover. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the result of a 50/50 joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment (part of Sony) and BMG Entertainment (part of Bertelsmann AG) completed in August 2004. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... We dont have an article called Hugo Peretti Start this article Search for Hugo Peretti in. ... Luigi Creatore (born December 21, 1920 in the Hells Kitchen section of New York City) is a retired American songwriter and record producer. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the result of a 50/50 joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment (part of Sony) and BMG Entertainment (part of Bertelsmann AG) completed in August 2004. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Martin Luther King is perhaps most famous for his I Have a Dream speech, given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom This article is about the civil rights movement following the Brown v. ...

History

Origins

Cooke was greatly moved upon hearing Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" in 1963 and was reportedly in awe that such a poignant song about racism in America could come from someone who was white. While on tour in May 1963, and after speaking with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina following a concert, Cooke returned to his tour bus and wrote the first draft of what would become "A Change Is Gonna Come." Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ... Blowin in the Wind is a song written by Bob Dylan in April 1962, and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin Bob Dylan. ... See also: 1962 in music, other events of 1963, 1964 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 1 - The Beatles start a 5 day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, Love Me Do. January 4 - At Cortina dAmpezzo... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Nickname: Bull City, City of Medicine Location in North Carolina Country United States State North Carolina County Durham County  - Mayor Bill Bell Area    - City 245. ...

In a sense, "A Change Is Gonna Come" is an answer to Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," as well as a song of hope for the Civil Rights Movement. The hypothetical questions posed by Dylan, most obvious being "how many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free?", were answered by an implied "Fewer than you think." Though Cooke recognized "it's been a long/a long time coming," the song states that change is inevitable. A similar sentiment was echoed by Dylan in "The Times They Are a-Changin'," written and released after "A Change Is Gonna Come." The Times They Are a-Changin is the third album by Bob Dylan, released in 1964 by Columbia Records and produced by Tom Wilson. ...

"A Change Is Gonna Come" also reflected much of Cooke's own inner turmoil. Known for his polished image and light-hearted songs such as "You Send Me" and "Twistin' the Night Away," he had long felt the need to address the situation of discrimination and racism in America, especially the southern states. However, his image and fears of losing his largely white fan base prevented him from doing so. Historic Southern United States. ...

The song, very much a departure for Cooke, reflected two major incidents in his life. The first was the death of Cooke's eighteen-month-old son, Vincent, who died of an accidental drowning in June of that year. The second major incident came on October 8, 1963, when Cooke found himself the target of racism. Cooke and his band tried to register at a "whites only" motel in Shreveport, Louisiana and were summarily arrested for disturbing the peace. Both incidents are represented in the weary tone and lyrics of the piece, especially the final verse: "there have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long/but now I think I'm able to carry on/It's been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come." October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ...

Cover of Sam Cooke's 1964 album, Ain't That Good News.

Image File history File links ATGNcover. ... Image File history File links ATGNcover. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... See also: 1963 in music, other events of 1964, 1965 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 1 - Top of the Pops premieres on BBC television. ...

Recording

After remaining confined to Sam Cooke's notebooks for months of touring, "A Change Is Gonna Come" was finally recorded on December 21, 1963. Recording took place at the RCA Studios in Los Angeles, California during sessions for Cooke's 1964 album, Ain't That Good News. December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type mayor-council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D)  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  465. ... See also: 1963 in music, other events of 1964, 1965 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 1 - Top of the Pops premieres on BBC television. ...

According to author Peter Guralnick's biography of Cooke, "Dream Boogie," Cooke gave arranger Rene Hall free rein on song's musical arrangement. Hall came up with a dramatic orchestral backing highlighted by a mournful French horn. For his vocal, Cooke reached back to his gospel roots to sing the song with an intensity and passion never heard before on his pop recordings.

Release

The song made its first appearance on Ain't That Good News, the last album to be released within Cooke's lifetime. The LP did well, peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, making it more successful than Cooke's previous LP, 1963's Night Beat. The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ... See also: 1962 in music, other events of 1963, 1964 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 1 - The Beatles start a 5 day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, Love Me Do. January 4 - At Cortina dAmpezzo...

However, Cooke and his new manager Allen Klein thought the song deserved greater exposure. According to Guralnick's book, Klein persuaded Cooke to sing "A Change Is Gonna Come" on his February 7th, 1964 appearance on The Tonight Show. Cooke sang the song; unfortunately, any impact it made was dimmed by The Beatles' history-making appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show just two days later. In a further misfortune, NBC did not save the tape of Cooke's performance, which has never turned up in private collections either. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... Ed Sullivan The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971, and was hosted by former entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. ...

RCA Records had bypassed "Change" for Cooke's early 1964 single, instead releasing the tracks "Good Times" and "(Ain't That) Good News". But the company agreed to put the song out as a single late in the year, as the B-side to Cooke's latest potential hit, "Shake." At one of his last recording sessions, Cooke approved an edit to the song that would shorten it by about 30 seconds, increasing its chance for airplay on American radio stations. RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ...

Finally given proper attention, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became a sensation among the black community, and was used an anthem for the ongoing civil rights protests. On R&B radio, the song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Black Singles chart, and topped many local playlists, most notably in Chicago. The song had more limited success on top 40 radio. By February 1965, the song had peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and fallen off. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ... See also: 1964 in music, other events of 1965, 1966 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 4 - Fender Guitars is sold to CBS for $13 million. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

Sadly, Cooke did not live to see the song's commercial success. On December 11, 1964, he was killed at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California under what many consider mysterious circumstances. December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Legacy

Sam Cooke performing live.

Though only a moderate success sales-wise, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement, and is widely considered Cooke's best composition. Over the years, the song has garnered significant praise and, in 2005, was voted number 12 by representatives of the music industry and press in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and voted number 3 in influential webzine Pitchfork Media's The 200 Greatest Songs of the 60's.The song is also among three hundred songs deemed the most important ever recorded by National Public Radio (NPR) and was recently selected by the Library of Congress as one of twenty-five selected recordings to the National Recording Registry as of March of 2007. Image File history File links Samcook. ... Image File history File links Samcook. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the magazine. ... The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2004. ... A typical example of Pitchforks main page, as of 12-12-06 Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork and occasionally shortened to P4K or pfork,[1] is a United States-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... Offical NPR logo National Public Radio (NPR) is an independent, private, non-profit membership organization of public radio stations in the United States. ... The Great Hall interior. ... The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings which are culturally, historically or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Despite its acclaim, legal troubles have haunted the single since its release. A dispute between Cooke's music publisher, ABKCO, and record company, RCA Records, made the recording unavailable for much of the four decades since its release. Though the song was featured prominently in the 1992 film Malcolm X, it could not be included in the film's soundtrack. By 2003, however, the disputes had been settled in time for the song to be included on the remastered version of Ain't That Good News, as well as the Cooke anthology Portrait of a Legend. ABKCO Records is a record company owned by music impresario Allen Klein. ... RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ... This is a list of film-related events in 1992. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

"A Change Is Gonna Come" was a precursor to many later socially-conscious singles, including Marvin Gaye's lauded "What's Going On". Al Green, a self-professed fan of Cooke, covered the song for the concert celebrating the 1996 opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Green's live rendition was included in the soundtrack to the 2001 Michael Mann film Ali. James Taylor recorded a version specially for an episode of the same title of the television drama The West Wing. The Allman Brothers Band captured their performance of the song on their 2003 DVD Live at the Beacon Theatre. Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... Whats Going On is a 1971 hit single by Marvin Gaye for the Motown label, and the title track from his groundbreaking 1971 LP Whats Going On. ... See also: 1995 in music, other events of 1996, 1997 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // January 8 - Madonnas stalker, Robert Hoskins is found guilty and convicted on five charges of assault, stalking, and threatening to kill the singer. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... Cleveland redirects here. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Kenneth Mann (born February 5, 1943 in Chicago) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. ... Ali is a 2001 biographical film which tells the story of boxer Muhammad Ali. ... James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Belmont, Massachusetts. ... A Change Is Gonna Come is episode 117 of The West Wing. ... The West Wing is a popular and widely acclaimed American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin and produced and co-written by John Wells. ... The original Allman Brothers Band The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... The Beacon Theater is an historic New York City Art Deco theater on upper Broadway in Manhattan. ...

Other notable artists who have covered the song include Aretha Franklin, The 5th Dimension, The Band,Billy Bragg, Terence Trent D'Arby, Gavin Degraw, the Fugees, The Gits, Deitrick Haddon, Morten Harket, The Neville Brothers, Otis Redding, and The Supremes. In recent years, the song has served as a sample for rappers Ja Rule (2003) and Papoose (2006). Nas's It Was Written album also features a similar opening as the song. Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American soul, R&B, and gospel singer, songwriter, and pianist born in Memphis, Tennessee, but raised in Detroit, Michigan. ... The 5th Dimension is an American popular music group, best-known during the late 1960s and 1970s for popularizing hits of songwriters like Jimmy Webb, Laura Nyro, Ashford & Simpson, and others, and helping to popularize flower power music with both white and black middle-class Americans. ... For other uses, see Band. ... Stephen William Bragg (born December 20, 1957), known as Billy Bragg, is an English musician renowned for his blend of folk, punk-rock, and protest music, and his poetic lyrics dealing with political as well as romantic themes. ... Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent DArby and born Terence Trent Howard on March 15, 1962) is an American-born singer-songwriter currently living in Milan, Italy. ... Gavin DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American pop singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist. ... The Fugees are an American music group, most popular during the mid-1990s, whose repitoire includes primarily hip hop, with elements of soul, and Carribean music (particularly reggae). ... The Gits were a Seattle punk rock band active from 1986 to 1993. ... Detroit native gospel singer/songwriter/producer Detrick Haddon rose to prominence as the leader of Detrick Haddon & Voices Of Unity. ... Morten Harket Morten Harket (born September 14, 1959 in Kongsberg) is the lead singer of the Norwegian pop band a-ha, who have released eight studio albums and topped the charts in several countries after their breakthrough hit Take on Me in 1985. ... The Neville Brothers, an R&B, Soul and a Jazz group, was formed in 1976 in New Orleans, LA. Group Members Aaron Neville Art Neville Charles Neville Cyril Neville Ivan Neville Discography The Neville Brothers (March 1978) Fiyo on the Bayou (April 1981) Nevillization I (September 1982) Nevillization II (February... Otis Ray Redding, Jr. ... The Supremes were a Motown all-female singing group. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg performing for the US Navy For information on rap music, see hip hop music. ... Jeffrey Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule is an American rapper from Hollis, Queens, New York City, New York, United States. ... A papoose (from the Algonquian papoos, meaning child) is an English loanword whose present meaning is an American Indian child (regardless of tribe). ... Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (born September 14, 1973), known simply as Nas, formerly Nasty. ... It Was Written was the multi-platinum second album by Queensbridge rapper Nas. ...

Chart performance

The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

Credits

• Written by Sam Cooke.
• Produced by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore.
• Instrumentation by Rene Hall (arrangement and conductor of orchestra), Larry Hilton, and Earl Palmer (drums).
• Engineering by David Hassinger

We dont have an article called Hugo Peretti Start this article Search for Hugo Peretti in. ... Luigi Creatore (born December 21, 1920 in the Hells Kitchen section of New York City) is a retired American songwriter and record producer. ... René Hall (b 26 September 1912, Morgan City, Louisiana – d 11 February 1988, Los Angeles) was an American guitarist and music arranger. ... Earl Palmer (October 25, 1924) is a legendary drummer and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... David Hassinger was a sound engineer at RCA Studios in Los Angeles. ...

See also

• American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
• Blowin' in the Wind
• The Times They Are a-Changin'

Martin Luther King is perhaps most famous for his I Have a Dream speech, given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom This article is about the civil rights movement following the Brown v. ... Blowin in the Wind is a song written by Bob Dylan in April 1962, and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin Bob Dylan. ... The Times They Are a-Changin is the third album by Bob Dylan, released in 1964 by Columbia Records and produced by Tom Wilson. ...

References

• Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964. Abkco Records, 2003. Los Angeles, California.
• Werner, Craig (1999). A Change Is Gonna Come: Music, Race, and the Soul of America. Plume. ISBN 0-452-28065-6. 
• Wolff, Daniel J., S.R. Crain, Clifton White, and G. David Tenenbaum (1995). You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke. William Morrow & Co. ISBN 0-688-12403-8.