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"A Change Is Gonna Come" is a 1965 single by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, written and first recorded in 1963 and released under the RCA Victor label a month after his death. Though only a modest hit for Cooke, especially in comparison with his previous singles, the song became one of his first blatantly political songs, and came to exemplify the sixties Civil Rights Movement. The song has gained in popularity and critical acclaim in the decades since its release.

Origins
Cooke was greatly moved upon hearing Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind in 1963 and was reportedly in awe that such a poignant song about racism in America could come from someone who was white. While on tour in May, 1963, Cooke wrote the song that would become the most provocative and lasting of his career. After speaking with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina following a concert, Cooke returned to his tour bus and wrote the first draft of what would become "A Change Is Gonna Come."

In a sense, "A Change Is Gonna Come" can be seen as an answer to Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," as well as a song of hope for the Civil Rights Movement. The hypothetical questions posed by Dylan, most obvious being "how many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be free?" by an implied "soon." Though Cooke recognized "it's been a long/a long time coming," the song states that change is inevitable. A similar sentiment was presented by Dylan himself in "The Times They Are a-Changin'," written and released after "A Change Is Gonna Come."

"A Change Is Gonna Come" also reflected much of Cooke's own inner turmoil. Known for his polished image and light-hearted songs such as "You Send Me" and "Twistin' the Night Away," he had long felt he needed to address the situation of his fellow people in America (especially the south). However, his image and largely white fan base prevented him from doing so. The song was very much a departure for Cooke and reflected two major incidents in his life. The first was the death of Cooke's eighteen-month-old son, Vincent, who died of an accidental drowning in June of that year. The second major incident came on October 8, 1963. Cooke and his band tried to register at a "white" motel in Shreveport, Louisiana and were summarily arrested for disturbing the peace. Both incidents are represented in the weary tone and lyrics of the piece, especially the final verse: "there have been times that I thought/I couldn't last for long/but I know a change is gonna come."

Recording
After residing in Sam Cooke's notebooks for months of touring, "A Change Is Gonna Come" was finally recorded on December 21, 1963. Under the producers, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, Cooke entered the RCA Studios in Los Angeles, California that December to begin recording the songs (including "Change") that would become part of his 1964 album, Ain't That Good News. The song's musical arrangement, composed by Rene Hall, marked a return to Cooke's gospel roots, not seen in previous Cooke hits. Low-key arrangement highlighted Cooke's soulful vocals and the song's personal lyrics. The last album to be released within Cooke's lifetime, Ain't That Good News went on to become even more successful than his last (1963's Night Beat), peaking at #34 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

Release
After recording the song, Sam Cooke and his producers were eager to release it to radio in order to receive a wider audience for its message. RCA Records, who released Ain't That Good News, had other plans, releasing tracks "Good Times" and "(Ain't That) Good News" first to radio. Both songs became respectable hits, crossing over to pop radio, where both peaked at #11 respectively. Despite the success of the album and its first two singles, RCA remained apprehensive about releasing "A Change Is Gonna Come," instead opting to market two b-sides from his Ain't That Good News recordings: "Cousin of Mine" (#31 Pop) and "That's Where It's At" (#93 Pop).

On December 11, 1964, Cooke was tragically killed at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California under mysterious circumstances. His death came near the end of recording sessions for his next album, Shake. Instead of immediately releasing his next single, "Shake," RCA Records decided to release his protest song, "A Change Is Gonna Come," as a tribute to Cooke and the Civil Rights Movement which continued to divide the nation.

Quite predictably, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became a sensation among the black community and was used an anthem for the ongoing civil rights protests. On R&B radio, the song reached the top ten, and topped many local playlists (most notably in Chicago), peaking at #9 on the Billboard Black Singles chart. The song was met with a lukewarm reception at top 40 radio, however. By February 1965, the song had peaked at #31 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and fallen off.

Legacy
Though only a moderate success for Sam Cooke, especially in comparison with his other hits, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement. Due to its poignant lyrics and subtle production, the song has widely considered Cooke's best composition. Over the years, the song has garnered massive praise, such as in 2005, when the song was voted #12 by representatives of the music industry and press on the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is also among three hundred songs deemed the most important ever recorded by National Public Radio, or NPR.

Unfortunately, legal troubles have haunted the single since its release. A dispute between Cooke's music publisher, ABKCO and record company RCA Records made the recording unavailable for much of the four decades since its release. Though the song was featured prominently in the 1992 film Malcolm X, it could not be included in the film's soundtrack. By 2003, however, the disputes had been settled in time for the song to be included on the remastered version of Ain't That Good News as well as the Cooke anthology Portrait of a Legend.

"A Change Is Gonna Come" was a precursor to many future socially-conscious singles, including Marvin Gaye's lauded "What's Going On." Al Green, a self-professed fan of Cooke, covered the song for the concert celebrating the 1996 opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Most recently, Green's impassioned live rendition was included in the soundtrack to the 2001 Michael Mann film Ali. Other notable artists who have covered the song include The Band, The 5th Dimension, Otis Redding, and The Supremes.

Credits

 * Written by Sam Cooke.
 * Produced by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore.
 * Instrumentation by Rene Hall (arrangement and conductor of orchestra), Larry Hilton, and Earl Palmer (drums).