"A Change Is Gonna Come" was written and recorded by Sam Cooke in 1964, and released as a single shortly after his death at the end of the year. He is said to have been inspired by Bob Dylan's 1963 song "Blowin' In The Wind". An earlier mix included a rare live performance of that song by Cooke. This week features the song he wrote that soon became a standard for the Civil Rights Movement, and America itself. Also on here are covers by J. J. Jackson and Otis Redding.
"City Of New Orleans" was written by Chicagoan songwriter Steve Goodman and first released by him in 1971. He is said to have auditioned it for Arlo Guthrie in a bar, and Guthrie's hit the following year is the most famous version. In addition to that cover, this week features versions by Sammi Smith and Johnny Cash with June Carter Cash.
The one other song to repeat this week are two versions of the soul obscurity "Never More" by Jerry Townes and Little Ben & The Cheers.
The rest: an alternate version of Kool Moe Dee's cautionary "Dumb Dick", the cinematic "I've Been Riding With The Ghost" by Songs: Ohia, the haunting "Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen,
the righteous "Robin Hood Theory" by Gang Starr, the rare original studio version of "Ain't Got No - I Got Life" by Nina Simone, the mellow "Who's Gonna Save The World" by Father's Children, the Roy Ayers-sampling "Searching" by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "All In Love Is Fair" by Nneenna Freelon, the funky "He Made A Woman Out Of Me" by Bobbie Gentry, Liz Phair's suggestive "Glory", the original 1928 folk standard "Big Rock Candy Mountain" by Harry McClintock, the Civil Rights era standard "We Shall Overcome" by Louis Armstrong And His Friends, and a live radio session of M. Ward's cover of "Let's Dance" by David Bowie.
City Of New Orleans Sammi Smith
A Change Is Gonna Come J.J. Jackson
Dumb Dick (alt mix) Kool Moe Dee
I've Been Riding With The Ghost Songs: Ohia
Streets Of Philadelphia Bruce Springsteen
Robin Hood Theory Gangstarr
Ain't Got No - I Got Life Nina Simone
Who's Gonna Save The World Father's Children
Searching Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
Never More Jerry Townes
All In Love Is Fair Nnenna Freelon
Change Gonna Come Otis Redding
City Of New Orleans Arlo Guthrie
He Made A Woman Out Of Me Bobbie Gentry
Glory Liz Phair
Never More Little Ben & The Cheers
Big Rock Candy Mountain Harry McClintock
The City Of New Orleans Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
We Shall Overcome Louis Armstrong And His Friends
A Change Is Gonna Come Sam Cooke
Let's Dance ('04 KCRW Session) M. Ward
