With Sam Cook, one minute you’d be twisting the night away, the next you’d be in a sad mood, and the next you’d be having a party.  We’re not sure, but these mood swings might have contributed to the too-too-early demise of Cooke, one of the seminal singers of R&B or any genre.

We were trolling through some of our old vinyl the other day, listening for healing, when we got mood-lashed by Sam yet again.  In the end, though, all we could recall (after snapping back from the pinballing) were the blissfully upbeat and propelling sounds of his  song,  Having a Party.  Check out the studio and live versions of the song below.  In particular check out the build that builds on the studio version starting at 1:41.  What follows for a scant 5o seconds is enough to heal all.

Here’s the studio version.

And here’s the live version from the Harlem Square Club.