Sam Cooke - ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’
I have loved this song through my son’s ears. For me it was just part of Sam Cooke’s repertoire, even though he is one of my favourite singers. He takes the visceral and makes it palatable. And he was perfect. Back then you would have to do full takes of songs and you’d only have enough time to do a couple of takes. And his singing is perfect. I get a little bit tired [of music] from alterna-indie onwards with everyone thinking they can sing out of tune and it’s cool. I even scream in tune! [laughs] I do that because I’m an old fucker but Sam Cooke just had it. ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ is not him playing along to much. It’s viscera plus bones I guess. It’s what my son Bo listens to when he’s catching lizards in New Orleans. He walks round his garden listening to this song on his iPhone when he’s catching lizards.