The Soul Stirrers - Nearer To Thee (Sam Cooke)

[MsTruthSeeker101]

This is the very first Gospel song I ever heard, and I absolutely loved it the first time I heard it! Sam's voice was certainly blessed by God. It just draws you in and sticks with you forever. I was brought up by his secular tunes and for the longest, I was more familiar with them, but his Gospel work is a whole other dimmension. I will definitely share this with everyone that crosses my path. Thanks so much for the upload!

[OOGLiBOOGLiTX]

If your catholic, then your considered catholic not christian. but i know what you mean but if your practicing catholic faith that haves the pope as the head of the catholic church thats weird. christians don't pray to the virgin mary either,Jesus died for the church not any pope. I once was a catholic which like most, i was brought into it by family tradition not by choice.. Thanks be to God for His Son Jesus Christ.

[AlexanderMahan]

lol the powers that be :) you mean the Gods of Youtube? lol

[jazziejj153]

My favorite song sing it all the time

[wootenas7]

When you listen to this video, you can smell green and fried chicken being prepared for after church  Maybe those days weren't so bad

[mahilamahila]

when i hear it, i can feel the pain, and i have to appologize...please forgive me!

[LT1HILLINGHOE]

This version stirs the soul of this Independent Baptist with roots in the Pentecostal faith.

John 3:16KJV

Jesus Saves

[coolmamac]

@LT1HILLINGHOE Amen brother. I am crying listening to this music. Love you Jesus!

[weedandmeful]

@LT1HILLINGHOE Sorry I don't feel like believing in a man i will believe in my life, my death and my future.

[LT1HILLINGHOE]

@weedandmeful And that future is hell.

John 14:6 KJV

Jesus saves

[LairdEricW]

Why clean, honest, pious music like this would be blocked is beyond THIS Calvinist's ability to comprehend!!

[MrBasketballplayer50]

Greatvoicethat is sadly missed!

[MadSkeelz16]

This song was played at my cousin's funeral and it will always mean something special to me, I'm so glad I finally found it, I'll play it every day.

[prodigy713]

I have a video of me singing Wonderful! It isn't long cause I was acting silly through half of it. lolol I grew up on old Gospel like this. Sam Cooke is the man. Please watch and give me feedback! God bless.

[kb420ps]

I use to hear this song every Sunday morning.

[Rev12eleven]

man..what happend to gospel music, its dead now compared to this.....it dosnt capture the pain of the soul cryin out for help anymore...well...i guess it just makes us long for heaven a little more...

[winsome1235]

I have this album and its a favorite. Sam Cooke had one of the best voices ever.

[KrfNYC2]

What's Sam Cooke's best vocal performance?(I have "A Change Is Gonna Come"). I always say that Marvin Gaye is WAY better than Sam Cooke (or anyone for that matter), in response people tell me to listen to his gospel. I still don't hear it. Marvin is just that voice.

[microbro72]

@KrfNYC2

Marvin Gaye is terrific and I don't post one against the other. The gospel music by Cooke is my favorite from him, because I believe there was more passion. I don't see how you could discount his great voice.

[KrfNYC2]

@microbro72 I definitely acknowledge Sam as a great singer, but I don't think that anyone compares to Marvin vocally. I also think that Marvin wa sby far the most passionate artist...that I've heard at least. He's just untouchable to me. But, hey...to each his own.

[microbro72]

@KrfNYC2

I agree that Marvin was overall more sincerely passionate about what he sang; he didn't just sing for audible pleasure. Sam did his best in gospel, because he did it from the soul (but ended up selling out to secular music); he had some great music apart from gospel, but it lacked the conviction. "Trouble Man" is one of my favorites by Marvin.

[KrfNYC2]

@microbro72 Yeah, "Trouble Man" is good. My favorite is "Everybody Needs Love" not just for the incredible vocals and harmonzing and instrumentation but also because...it's so true.

[platesnforks]

@KrfNYC2 Sam Cooke and David Ruffin had better voices than Marvin.  I love Marvin. But, David Ruffin could sing circles around him.

[KrfNYC2]

@platesnforks Agree to disagree.

[LadyAnime06]

my mom is obssessed with this song. she loves it so much so imma make it my fav so she could listen to it whenever, ^_^

[honkyxadonis]

i love this stuff! im a staunch atheist, but i guess you dont have to be anti-semetic to enjoy wagner

[DJJONES32]

Excellent group.Deep.

[larrycancooke2]

In that photo Agnos looked just like Mommy...Oh how I miss them......Cooke

[puddin128]

Yor right they have blocked this video for a very long time because I have been looking for it for over a year now. I love this. There is someting so pure and stirring about Sam's voice..Thanks again for posting.

[sshockley]

just beautiful, simply beautiful

[charliestube1]

Jonnie Taylor used to sing with the Soul Stirrers and the Highway Q.C.'s

[chikkengrease]

was JT singing with the Soul Stirrers when Sam Cooke was in the group. I think Bobby Womack also sang with them as well

[WILLIAMS16567]

SAM formed and sang lead for the HWY QC's as a teenager in 1950. He replaced R H Harris of the Soul Stirrers in 1950-57. Johnny Taylor replaced Sam in 57. Bobby Womack played guitar for Sam when he sang R & B. Bobby also married Sam's widow/Barbara just 3-months after Sam's death. They divorced in 1970. Bobby's brother/Cecil married Sam's daughter/Linda. They had an Album together called," Womack & Womack. Sam was voted in 2008 by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 4th greatest singer of all time.

[larrycancooke2]

@WILLIAMS16567

The lead singers for the Soul Stirrers (before the split) and after Sam were ( Johnny Jones of the SQ. His recordings with the SS are on youtube )Johnny Taylor who sang in KC before coming to Chicago and the HQC's, James Phelps, Willie Rogers...The main stay at the time before the split was Paul and JJ....I've enjoyed standing behind the mike and singing lead with them.....Cooke

[Marks104]

By far one the great gospel hits performed by cooke, simply touching to the soul....

[Walt1124]

Always to remain a unique voice--Cooke was at his best in gospel. I never leave out the group, of course, because the combination gives us much more than is possible while each is standing alone. These styles should remain. My credo is that we can add to musical styles, but should not altogether replace them.

[dalkey130388]

After nearly a years block on this video and others I had posted, the powers that be have reinstated them.

Enjoy people!

[sunnymeadowz]

Hurray!

[mahilamahila]

@dalkey130388 I´m white and i love that song and i love everything sam cook did. He just died for being black...

[mahilamahila]

@dalkey130388 I love that song, sam cooke was great! I'm white,male , born in the sixties and i want to apologize. And i mean it from the bottom of my heart!

[44joints]

@dalkey130388 ... thank you very kindly!!!

[dmmrad54]

I love Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. I had a live version of this song on a album years ago and can't find it. They tore the church up.

[dalkey130388]

Wow, if you do find it, post it will you? I'd love to hear the Soul Stirrers live.....

thanks dmmrad54!

[ICITALL411]

Sam Cooke is my favorite singer of all time. Loved the pictures...especially (1:43 & 2:04) because I loved Sam more when he was with the Soul Sirrers. I have listened to Sam just about everyday of my life since I was a little boy. Not a day goes by that I don't hear his voice whether it's in my home or in my car!!

[dalkey130388]

I know what you mean! Sam's voice with the soul stirrers was more...I don't know...like he was testifying? If that makes any sense! but he definatley brought that Gospel goodness to secular music, his popular soul classics have an air of reverence about them like few others. Glad you like the pics, finding them and compiling them is a labour of love! Thanks ICITALL411 for the comment!

[ICITALL411]

Anytime. He was so unique b/c he was so young (19yrs) and was blessed with so much talent. Who know's what he could have accomplished by now if he were still with us!!I have a lot of Sam songs and photo's too...just have to learn how to post them on Youtube.

[emifolk]

really loved it such a lot of great voices

love gospel music and this is a fantastic song

thanks for posting

all the stars and fav

greetings to you both

Folker

[ibZippinit]

This great hymn.

[tomcat1234beale]

great song

first time i have heard this song

do like this one a lot

great stills as well

TC

[jockkearney]

How absollutely fabulous. I am a Roman Catholic but I will be putting it on my blog.

[dalkey130388]

Thanks Mr Kearney, I know this tune wouldn't be found at Mass, but I find it so..well...SOUL STIRRING! (for want of a better phrase!)btw I love your channel.

[ghostgal30e]

great expression thanks.