Before Sam Cooke was an internationally known soul star, he was a rising voice in gospel music, whose smooth-as-silk vocals were perfected in the churches of Chicago. In 1950, the 19-year-old singer got his big break when he joined the Soul Stirrers. The First Mile of the Way explores these formative years, offering fans the chance to witness Cooke’s development as an artist. The brand-new compilation, which coincides with Specialty Records’ 75th anniversary, features 25 tracks—spanning Cooke’s years with the Soul Stirrers through his early pop-leaning singles as a solo artist, included here in their original versions without overdubs. As a special bonus, the album includes live recordings by the Soul Stirrers at the legendary 1955 gospel concert at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium—all of which make their vinyl debut. Housed in a triple-gatefold jacket, the three-disc, 10-inch vinyl collection also features a replica promo photo, flyers and other ephemera from the era.
A decade before they were one of the biggest soul acts in the world, the Staple Singers were a popular gospel group, who had spent the ’50s building a steady fanbase across the country. In 1962, when the family band released their first Christmas album, they were on the verge of breaking through to wider audiences. Featuring the family band’s classic line-up (Roebuck “Pops” Staples with his children Mavis, Cleotha, and Pervis), The Twenty-Fifth Day Of December showcases the group’s powerful harmonies, set against stripped-down arrangements. Backed by Pops’ reverb-heavy guitar, the Staples are joined by Maceo Woods on organ and Al Duncan on drums, as they perform a collection of traditional spirituals and yuletide favorites, including “Joy To The World,” “Silent Night,” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Praised by AllMusic as “a striking and powerful listen,” and hailed an “essential” listen by PopMatters, The Twenty-Fifth Day Of December is a must-have holiday record for any fans of soul, folk, or gospel music. This special pressing features all-analog mastering from the original stereo tapes by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl, and will be available on 180-gram vinyl for an optimal listening experience.