TS: Rick Nelson's "Travelin' Man" vs. Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang"

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(b/c i feel like it and they sound similar)

I absolutely worship Sam Cooke (best popular r&b/gospel ever, imo), but i think "Travelin' Man" might be one of the most perfect-sounding records of any era.

― PB, Thursday, 31 March 2005 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

*best popular r&b/gospel SINGER ever

― PB, Thursday, 31 March 2005 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Just musically speaking (not paying attention to lyrics), I think "Travelin' Man" is a better song. "Chain Gang" isn't one of Sam Cooke's best, though, IMO.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 31 March 2005 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Both classic but the edge goes to Sam.

― ffirehorse (firehorse), Thursday, 31 March 2005 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

seven years pass...

Weird thing is that "Travelin' Man" was actually written specifically for Sam Cooke, but either Sam or JW Alexander rejected it. Joe Osborn happened to hear it and brought it to Ricky to record, bringing along Glen Campbell, who was somehow involved, to sing backing vocals.

― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 05:23 (fourteen years ago)

eight years pass...

Ricky Nelson's better than you might think, but "Chain Gang," easily. Loved it in Atlanta. A friend: "'Chain Gang' is my favourite Sam Cooke song. I love how someone (can’t recall who) described it as the first 'industrial' song, with its hammers-hitting-rocks beat, which is only partly what I love about it."

― clemenza, Thursday, 18 February 2021 17:26 (five years ago)

two years pass...

How did I never notice or not remember the “Chain Gang” quote on The Pretenders’s “Back on the Chain Gang”?

― It’s Only Her Factory, Girl! (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 29 March 2023 01:29 (three years ago)

Thinking now that “Chain Gang” is almost like a Coasters song.

― It’s Only Her Factory, Girl! (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 29 March 2023 01:30 (three years ago)

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