You Send Me

Album: Sam Cooke (1957)
Charted: 29 1
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Sam Cooke's brother Charles "LC" Cooke. In the '40s, the brothers sang in their family gospel group, The Singing Children.
  • Cooke was signed to Specialty Records, which was a gospel label. Cooke's producer, Bumps Blackwell, brought this to Art Rupe, who owned the label. Rupe objected to the use of the choir on this track and was afraid it was too secular and would alienate the label's gospel fans. He offered Cooke a release from his contract in exchange for outstanding royalties. The song was passed to the Keen label where it sold over 2 million copies.
  • Aretha Franklin released her version as the B-side of her 1968 single Think.
  • In Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Times issue, Art Garfunkel said: "I must have sung 'You Send Me' to myself walking up and down stairwells at least a thousand times. It was on the charts right when I was having my first little success with Paul Simon as Tom and Jerry. I was just a kid, calling on radio stations for promotional purposes, and all I heard was 'You Send Me.' Sam was great to sing along with. He was my hero." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 14

  • Larry Hilton Cooke from Fayetteville NcTwo reasons for the( E) being added to Cook.
    1. To help confuse his Gospel audience..he didn't want to seem to be disrespectful to his Gospel followers nor to the Gospel group....the Soul Stirrers, whim he truly cared for and loved..Thus not only did he add the (E) but also recorded under a soto first name....Dale..
    2.Without revealing to much.. I'll just say in superstition...he added the ( E ) to avoid bad luck...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 2nd 1957, Sam Cooke performed "You Send Me" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was in its first of two weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on October 6th at position #94 and it stayed on the Top 100 for exactly a half-year {26 weeks}...
    One day earlier on December 1st, 1957 Mr. Cooke was roughly 97 miles north of Philly when he appeared on CBS-TV's 'The Ed Sullivan Show'* in NYC, on that show he also performed "You Send Me"...
    Between 1957 and 1966 he had forty three Top 100 records; with five making the Top 10; his other four Top 10 records were "Chain Gang" {#2 in 1960}, "Twistin' the Night Away" {#9 in 1962}, "Another Saturday Night" {#10 in 1963}, and "Shake" {#7 in 1965}...
    * Also appearing on the same 'Sullivan' were Buddy Holly & the Crickets, The Rays, and Bobby Helms.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 6th 1958, Sam Cooke performed for the first time at the Copacabana Night Club in New York City {he would appear there again in 1964}...
    At the time Mr. Cooke had four records on Billboard's Top 100 chart; "I'll Come Running Back to You" {at #66}, "You Send Me" {at #72}, "Lonely Island" {at #76}, and "Desire Me" {at #89}...
    Of the four records "You Send Me" was the biggest hit; it peaked at #1* for two weeks...
    * The record it bumped out of the top spot was "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis; it had been #1 for six weeks.
  • Hugh Mcphee from Wick, United KingdomAs Rebecca has already stated, this song is classically romantic. Perhaps a wee bit overplayed on Valentine's Day but still an important song in history.
  • Sharon from Memphis, TnActually, Sam's last name was "Cook" before he added the "e" for the stage. His brother LC was trying to make a name for himself in the mainstream music industry as well, so he followed Sam's lead by adding the "e" to his last name, since Sam had already made the name recognizable in the industry. The other members of the family, such as their brother, Charles and sister, Agnes (now Hoskins), continued to spell their last name in the traditional form. (Cook)
  • John from Eugene, OrIf Sam's last name was actually Cook then his brother, LC, would have been Cook too; not Cooke.
  • John from Eugene, OrTime Line: This song came out at the same time as the double sided hit by Buddy Holly, namely: Peggy Sue/Every Day.
    Sam Cook(e) may have changed the spelling of his name because of Bob Keane. Google Bob Keane and you will read the story of how he was a "co-partner" of the Keen record label which released "You Send Me". Find out what Bob Keane's last name was before he changed it. There is a chance that Bob influenced Sam into adding the 'e' for other reasons. I think the guy in Norway is mistaken.
  • George from Louisville, KySing it my man
  • Ronald from Phoenix, AzSteve Miller's version is a ver ygood cover of this great song
  • Garry from Anchorage, AkThis is the only song I know that just pops into my head every once in a while for no reason. I've never figured out why. - Garry Gamber, Alaska
  • Helge from Bergen, NorwayAs his follower, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cook added an E to his last name to become Sam Cooke.
  • Patrick from Wevelgem, BelgiumThis song first came to my attention due to Steve Miller's version on "Fly Like an Eagle" ('76).
    Nice one.
  • Rebecca from Atlanta, GaA classic, unbelievably romantic, simple.
    -Rebecca, Atlanta, Ga.
  • Sarah from Lakeside, CaThis song is irreplaceable
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