Darlene Love remains one of my all-time favorite singers, and a new anthology celebrates her long overlooked career. But the real impetus for this post is the arrival of a milestone moment in American history (or so I hope).
Back in 1963, Sam Cooke heard Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” and was so moved by the song that he began performing it on tour and during TV appearances. Perhaps more importantly, “Blowin’ In The Wind” inspired Cooke to write and record “A Change Is Gonna Come” that same year. However, RCA didn’t release it as a single until December 22, 1964, almost a year to the day it was put to tape (and just 11 days after Cooke had died at the age of 33).
“Change” marked a departure for Cooke, a polished pop singer known for hits like “You Send Me” and “Twistin’ The Night Away”—not exactly heady stuff. Though he feared losing his largely white fan base by doing so, he knew he could no longer ignore the racism and discrimination he’d witnessed and experienced while on tour. In “Change,” Cooke takes it to church, calling upon his gospel roots to deliver its stirring message of better days ahead.
Positioned as the b-side to single “Shake,” “A Change Is Gonna Come” reached only #31 on the pop charts. “Change” did better on R&B stations, with Cooke’s song of hope becoming the anthem of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
In the years and decades since, “A Change Is Gonna Come” has been covered countless times. Though it’s hard to top Cooke’s extraordinary original, soul icons Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Tina Turner have offered heartfelt takes. In 2004, Bob Dylan covered the song in concert at the Apollo Theatre, completing the circle. Cold War Kids, Arcade Fire, and Seal have turned in more recent renditions.
In 1998, Darlene Love included “A Change Is Gonna Come” on her live gospel album, Age of Miracles. Her powerful voice delivers Cooke’s hopeful lyrics like nobody’s business, making her one of the best “Change” agents on record. Hear here:
Will Tuesday bring the change fought for so very long ago? Please don’t take poll numbers for granted. Vote, and remind your friends, family, and co-workers to do so, too.
“A Change Is Gonna Come” is taken from So Much Love: A Darlene Love Anthology 1958-1998, available via Amazon. This long overdue overview of Love’s overlooked career is highly recommended.
