"Bring It On Home To Me" is a microcosm of the record's best elements: the impromptu asides, the band's fluidity, the boisterous passion of the crowd and Sam's complete control over it all. The song opens with more than two extemporized minutes of Sam teasing the crowd into a wild frenzy, and finishes with him effortlessly leading the audience in a call and response prompted with the simple command: "Everybody's with me tonight!" The radio executives were right: Sam's passionate performance at the Harlem Square Club is more than soulful -- it's forceful, sensual and vigorously authentic.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sam's premature death and I am eternally grateful that this record exists. Without it, our memory of Sam's prodigious talent would be incomplete.

On Monday, Har Mar Superstar wrote about Sam Cooke's last words, "lady, you shot me." But for me, Sam's goodbye is Harlem Square Club's final song, "Having a Party." As it ends, Sam implores the audience:

"I don't wanna quit. I don't wanna to quit now! But it looks like I gotta go now.

"You keep on having a party. I gotta go, but when you go home, keep on having that party. No matter where you at, remember I told you to keep on having that party. If you're with your loved ones somewhere, keep on having that party. If you feel good all alone riding with the radio sometime, riding in a car and the radio is on, keep on having that party."

This week, The Current celebrates Sam Cooke in honor of Black History Month. Listen for Cooke's music throughout the week, and stay tuned for Ella Fitzgerald featured next week.

Related

• Why I love Sam Cooke, by Har Mar Superstar
• Sam Cooke - 'Live at the Harlem Square Club' on Spotify