Good Times

Album: Ain't That Good News (1964)
Charted: 11
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Songfacts®:

  • This was one of the last songs Cooke wrote and recorded before he was killed on December 11, 1964. One of Cooke's lighter songs, it's about enjoying oneself at a party. It's an example of one of Cooke's songs that was accessible to white audiences, who he appealed to while retaining an R&B base.
  • The Rolling Stones recorded this in 1965 on their album Out Of Our Heads. Ian Stewart played marimbas on their version. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for all above
  • Journey recorded this song with the Tower of Power horn section and backing vocals by Annie Sampson and Jo Baker of the band Stoneground. Sam Cooke's vocal style was a big influence on Journey lead singer Steve Perry, and in 1978 the band performed the song on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show.
  • There are two different mixes. The album version has a more laid-back and stripped-down feel with Cooke overdubbing his own backing vocals. The single version has an extra guitar line as well as handclaps and backing vocals from the Soul Stirrers, the gospel group that gave Sam Cooke his start. As of 2016, all CD releases have used the album version. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    David - AZ

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1964 {July 12th} "Good Times" by Sam Cooke peaked at #11 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, thus just missing making the Top 10...
    "Good Times" was the third of three consecutive records by Sam Cooke to peak at #11 and all three spent ten weeks each on the Top 100...
    The other two records that peaked at #11 were "Little Red Rooster" and "Good News"...
    Between 1957 and 1966 the Clarksdale, Mississippi native had forty-three records on the Top 100 chart, five made the Top 10 with one reaching #1*, "You Send Me", for three weeks in 1957...
    Sadly, Samuel Cooke passed away at the young age of 33 on December 11th, 1964...
    May he R.I.P.
    * He just missed having a second #1 record when "Chain Gang" peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} in 1960; the two records that kept it out of the top spot were "My Heart Has A Mind of Its Own" by Connie Francis and "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the ten records that kept "Good Times" out of the Top 10 were:
    #1. "Rag Doll" by the Four Seasons
    #2. "Memphis" by Johnny Rivers
    #3. "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys
    #4. "Can't You See That She's Mine" by the Dave Clark Five
    #5. "The Girl From Ipanema" by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto
    #6. "The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)" by Jan and Dean
    #7. "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers
    #8. "Dang Me" by Roger Miller
    #9. "My Boy Lollipop" by Little Millie Small
    #10. "Keep On Pushing" by the Impressions
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis record was the middle one of three straight records by Sam that peaked at #11, thus just missing making the Top Ten. In order they were 'Little Red Rooster, 'Good Times', and 'Good News'. Interestingly, all three also stayed in the Top 100 for ten weeks...
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