Soul mix before the band goes on...

[TheBri-Man]

At the two shows I've been to this tour (both in Louisville) they played a mix of songs before the band came on.  There is one song, and I'm like 99% sure it's a Sam Cooke song, but I don't know the name and it's killing me to try and think of it.

I know this is vague...but can anyone help me?

[logan5ive]

I'm not certain about the Sam Cooke song but I do know that one of the pre show songs in Dallas was this:
"Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" - Isaac Hayes

[Sassbox]

Grover Washington, Jr. -- heard it in Philly and Dallas.  Can't remember what else is on there.

[slimsloslider]

bill withers "use me"
stevie wonder "smile please" & "it ain't no use"
harvey averne dozen "never learned to dance"
marvin gaye "right on" and a slow version of "god is love"
an erykah badu song (i know not which)

[TheBri-Man]

I appreciate the help...and those are all great songs...but still no luck on the one I'm thinking of...It would probably help if I knew some of the words...dang it!

[slimsloslider]

yeah, it was one i wasn't familiar with either. i know which one you're talking about and i've scoured my collection of cooke tunes in order to find it, but alas, i don't believe i own a copy of it. its a great tune though, and i know that jim's a big fan. i read an interview in which he told the reporter that cooke's gospel songs are proof that god in fact exists...how very true

[Prom King]

Another One:

Massive Attack - Be Thankful For What You Got

[the_wizzard]

Was it Massive Attack's cover of Be Thankful For What You Got?  Or the O.G. by William DeVaughn?  I know Jim is a huge fan of the O.G. version.  I read an interview somewhere at some point and he mentioned playing that song over 100 times one summer.......
Just wondering.....

[tinnitus photo]

i'm pretty sure that before the Boston show, they played Dramatics - whatcha see is whatcha get

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG-hD81o6Rs

[Witness MMJ]

I asked Bo after the DC show what a song was and he told me it was Miles Davis "in a silent way"

I'm not sure that's the song your talking about, but it might be.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW THIS IS IT.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1134732

[slimsloslider]

they definitely played that miles tune. i'm 100 percent certain. i recall the dramatics too. god i love it when bands turn you on to other incredible music.

[TheBri-Man]

Sadly no...another great tune...but not the one I'm thinking of.  I'd bet my life on the fact that it's Sam Cooke...but I have NO IDEA what the name of the song is.  Thanks for all the help though...I really appreciate you guys trying.  Anyone else got anything?  I'm drivin myself crazy trying to find it.

[AMightyCaporal]

Sadly no...another great tune...but not the one I'm thinking of.  I'd bet my life on the fact that it's Sam Cooke...but I have NO IDEA what the name of the song is.  Thanks for all the help though...I really appreciate you guys trying.  Anyone else got anything?  I'm drivin myself crazy trying to find it.

have you tried to youtube sam cooke- just to get a listen to some of his stuff and rule out song titles?

[thelightofsound]

i'm pretty sure that before the Boston show, they played Dramatics - whatcha see is whatcha get

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG-hD81o6Rs

this was in the atlanta mix too. great song. i love stax artists.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

I was at 2 shows where this mix was played (Louisville & Austin) and since my brain was dripping out of my ears after both, I can only recall with certainty a couple of the songs.  

The aforementioned "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" by Isaac Hayes was played before both, as was Bill Withers' "Use Me", which has already been named as well.  I also remember the Erykah Badu song being played before both, but unfortunately I cannot remember which song it was either.

The mystery Sam Cooke song was played at both of those shows as well, and while I recognized the song immediately at the time, I can't recall the tune for the life of me.  I want to say it was "Good Times", but correct me if I'm wrong.

The real treat for me from the mix in Austin and Louisville was William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful for What You Got".  Very often people assume this is a Curtis Mayfield song (myself included the first couple of times I heard it) and it is sometimes erroneously called "Diamond in the Back".  Give it a listen and you will know which song I'm talking about..... It's definitely the gem of the mix.

[TheBri-Man]

Sadly, I don't think Good times is it...but I think we're getting closer!  I would love to just have a copy of this mix...it's all so damn good.  I'm determined to find this Cooke song now...I'll keep fighting the good fight until I know what it is.

[newjack]

ok, i don't know the name of the song, but i was at the KC show, and I said to my son that it was a Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers Song. This was the gospel group Cooke was a part of before he went solo. There is a compilation album out there of there music, great stuff and yes if Jim said Cooke's voice was evidence of the existence of GOd, then I'd have to agree. Too many singers out there sight him as major influence, hopes this helps, ;D

[SplatSplatSplat]

it's not "that's heaven to me" is it?  

[newjack]

not that, check the sam cooke and soul stirrers compilation