Howdy. Welcome to "Blue Monday." This is the first entry in a new weekly series on BC. I'll be spotlighting esoteric, overlooked and classic R&B, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Soul, Gospel & Reggae artists, musicians, producers and recordings.

Some of the artistes that I'll be discussing are world renowned, others, shadowy obscure figures lost in a musical netherworld. All are deserving of your attention and superlatives. I mean, everyone has heard of Bo Diddley, right? But how many of you are familiar with Bo Dudley? Yeah, that's what I thought. I hope to show these men & women in a hitherto unseen light and to (hopefully) introduce some of you to some really great overlooked and underrated music.

All of the self absorbed, opinionated musings to be found here at "Blue Monday" and any resemblance to sanity on the part of the author is purely coincidental.

Night Beat

Every artist has a standard by which their works are measured: a painting, poem, LP/CD, or movie, whatever the medium may be, a standard. I don't feel this is necessarily indicative of their best work but rather a rare meeting of the minds between fan and critic with both sides being close to correct.

There are some recordings which are so god blessedly and just plain undeniably aw shucks good, that they refuse to be ignored. This usually happens on that ultra rare occasion that the material is up to the level of the artist's involved.

To my ears such is the case with the following: 'Tago Mago' - Can, 'Natty Dread' - Bob Marley & The Wailers, 'Highway 61'- Bob Dylan, 'Kind Of Blue'- Miles Davis, 'Sex Machine' - James Brown, 'Phases & Stages' - Willie Nelson, 'Maggot Brain' - Funkadelic, 'Live At The Regal' - BB King, 'Get Your Ya- Ya's Out' - The Stones, 'Hoodoo Man Blues' - Jr. Wells and many, many more.

What comes to my mind when the name of the late, great 'Mr. Soul' Sam Cooke is invoked, is this recording: 'Night Beat'.

"Night Beat" is the record that Sam always wanted to make. He retained full artistic control over the material, production and musicians involved. It is a self-realized, confident, deeply soulful record that stands as a timeless testimonial to the prodigious vocal talents of Sam Cooke. And can this man SING!!!

Unlike Sam's previous LP's which were chiefly built around a hit single or two then fleshed out with a load of forgettable studio filler, this set is conceptually unified and an excellent indication of the direction his music was headed. Sam's deep soul magnum opus "A Change Is Gonna Come" was recorded just months after these sessions took place.

"Night Beat" was done over a three day period (Feb. 22, 23 & 25th 1963) at RCA studios in Hollywood. Eschewing the usual orchestral arrangements, Sam opts to use a small band here, led by noted writer/arranger/musician Rene Hall. Cliff White (Sam's long time friend, guitar player and bandleader) is on board here for the proceedings as well. The rest of the band is all top notch as well and include Billy Preston on organ and Barney Kessel (who really shines here with some exceptionally beautiful guitar work).