(Ain't That) Good News

Infobox Single
Name = (Ain't That) Good News


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Sam Cooke
Album = Ain't That Good News
A-side =
B-side = "Basin Street Blues" (RCA 8299 & 1386)
"Little Red Rooster" (RCA 07070)
Released = January 22 1964
Format = Vinyl record
Recorded = December 20, 1963
RCA Studio, Hollywood, California
Genre = R&B
Length = 2:30
Label = RCA
07070
Writer = Sam Cooke
Producer = Hugo & Luigi
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single = "Another Saturday Night"
(1963)
This single = "(Ain't That) Good News"
(1964)
Next single = "Good Times"
(1964)
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Music sample
Name = (Ain't That) Good News
Audio file= (Ain't That) Good News sample.ogg

"(Ain't That) Good News" is a song written and performed by soul singer Sam Cooke, released on RCA Records in 1964. The song was recorded in 3 takes for the 1964 album of the same name and reached #11 on the pop chart as a single. Cooke performed the song live on American Bandstand on April 4 of the same year. It is a modern adaptation of an older gospel song of the same title. Cooke's version was later covered by many acts, such as Otis Rush, the Supremes, David Fathead Newman, and King Curtis.

The song was the first piece of new material that Cooke had recorded in the six months following the drowning death of his 18-month old son Vincent. After reaching a new deal with RCA records, Sam Cooke received more creative freedom in his work and had chosen a fine line of session musicians to accompany him.

Lyrical Content

"Ain't That Good News"

I ‘ve a crown in the Kingdom
Ain’t that good news
I’ve a crown up in the Kingdom
Ain’t that good news

I’m going to lay down this world
Going to shoulder up my cross
Goin’ to take it home to Jesus
Ain’t that good news

I ‘ve a harp in the Kingdom
Ain’t that good news…

I ‘ve a robe in the Kingdom
Ain’t that good news…

I ‘ve slippers in the Kingdom
Ain’t that good news…

I ‘ve a Saviour in the Kingdom
Ain’t that good news…

J. W. Work (in “American Negro Songs”, 1940) [http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/ain_t_that_good_news.htm Song Official Site of Negro Spirituals, antique Gospel MusicThe tunes and the beats of negro spirituals and Gospel songs...]

Known for his gospel roots, Sam Cooke often used church influences in his music. "(Ain't That) Good News" is a secular reworking of an old spiritual. The spiritual's lyrics proclaimed the singer's faith and love for Jesus, built around gospel themes and a slow gospel tempo with an underlying pulsating drive. Sam Cooke, however, transformed the song into an umptempo soulful number with an upbeat horn and rhythm section.

Cooke's version has the same feel, passion, and soul as the original, but the only difference being the faith and love of a woman.

Personnel

* Sam Cooke - vocals

Horn Section

* John Ewing - trombone
* Jewell Grant - saxophone
* William Green - saxophone
* Edgar Redmond - saxophone

Rhythm Section

* Joseph Gibbons - guitar, banjo
* Edward Hall - drums, percussion
* René Hall - guitar
* Howard Roberts - guitar
* John Pisano - guitar
* Emil Radocchia - marimbi, tympani, percussion
* Clifton White - guitar
* Eddie Tilman - bass

References

* [http://www.songsofsamcooke.com/songs/good_news.htm Song profile at SongsOfSamCooke.com]