A Change Is Gonna Come

Released as a single in February 1964, A Change Is Gonna Come stands as the defining work of Sam Cooke's final year. The track emerged from sessions in December 1963 where Cooke recorded with producer Hugo Peretti and arranger René Hall alongside top Los Angeles session musicians. While RCA Victor initially paired it as the B-side to "Shake", the song quickly overshadowed its partner due to its profound emotional weight and direct engagement with the Civil Rights Movement.

Cooke wrote the lyrics after being turned away from a whites-only motel in Shreveport, Louisiana, in January 1963. He also drew inspiration from Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and the spiritual "We Shall Overcome" to craft a melody that blended gospel fervor with secular soul balladry. The recording features a slow tempo, a prominent string arrangement, and a choir backing that created a cinematic soundscape distinct from his earlier dance hits like "You Send Me".

Although the single failed to reach the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its initial release due to radio hesitation over its political content, it peaked at #31 on the R&B chart. Following Cooke's death in December 1964, the song gained massive traction and became an unofficial anthem for the movement. It has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2002. [edit]