Having A Party

Written by Sam Cooke    [ABKCO Music Ltd. 1962]

Trivia

• # 274 in Dave Marsh's 1001 Greatest Songs of All Time. Amazon.com
• Songs mentioned in the song are "Soul Twist" by King Curtis and "I Know" by Barbara George
• The recording took 13 takes.

Studio Version

Recorded at RCA Hollywood, Studio 1 on April 26, 1962

Produced by Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretta        Engineer:    Al Schmitt

Musicians:   

• Frank Capp - drums, percussion
• Ernie Freeman - piano 
• William Green - sax 
• René Hall - guitar
• Armand Kaproff - cello 
• Marvin Limonick - violin
• Wilbert Nuttycombe - viola
• Ray Pohlman - bass 
• Myron Sandler - violin 
• Joseph Saxon - violin
• Ralph Schaeffer - violin 
• Marshall Sosson - violin
• Tommy Tedesco - guitar
• Clifton White - guitar

Orchestra conducted by Rene Hall

Charts   

• #4 in 1962,  R&B, #17 pop
• The Ovations had a hit with it in 1973: #56 pop, #7 R&B
• The Pointer sisters reached #62 on the US R&B charts
• Rod Stewart's unplugged version got to #36 on the pop charts and #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart

Billboard Review: Sam has another swinger in his "Twistin'the Night Away" groove here that's bound to get the kids dancing. The side features same spirited vocal style in front of strings, punching ork and chorus.  (May 19, 1962) - a Billboard Pick

MP3

• Get it at Amazon.com
• Amazon.com alos has a karaoke version

Singles   

• RCA 0705 b/w Bring It On Home To Me
• RCA 1296 b/w Bring It On Home To Me
• RCA 8036 b/w Bring It On Home To Me (May 8, 1961)
• RCA 20301 & 101299 b/w Bring It On Home To Me (Australia) 
• RCA 47730 b/w Bring It On Home To Me

Albums:    

• The Best of Sam Cooke  
• This is Sam Cooke 
• Portrait Of A Legend 
• Forever (32-track LP)   
• The Man And His Music
• Hits!   
• The Late and Great Sam Cooke - My Kind of Soul  
• The Man Who Invented Soul   
• 16 Most Requested Songs    
• The Golden Age of Sam Cooke 
• All Hits 
• 20 Golden Greats
• 20 Greatest Hits   
• Wonderful World
• The Best Of (Paradiso)

Live Version

Albums:

• Live At The Harlem Square Club 
• The Man Who Invented Soul (Box)

Lyrics    /    Guitar Chords

We're having a party
dancing to the music
played by the DJ
on the radio
The cokes are in the icebox
popcorn's on the table
Me and my baby
we're out here on the floor

So Mister, mister DJ
keep those records playing
'Cause I'm having such a good time
dancing with my baby

Everybody's swinging
Sal is doing the twist now
If you take requests,
I got a few for you
play that song called "Soul Twist"
play that one called "I know"
Don't forget the mashed potato
no other songs will do

Let me tell you
mister, mister DJ
keep those records playing
'cause I'm having such a good time
dancing with my baby

(Sam says): Tell them one more time
-fade-

Covered By

Afghan Whigs
Arthur K. Adams	The Poncello Records Story	Get it at Amazon.com
Gene Allison		Get it at Amazon.com
Gerald Alston	Sings Sam Cooke
Leroy Barbour	Leroy Live	Get it at Amazon.com
Mike Majik Boyd	Tribute To Sam Cooke
Solomon Burke		live version. Get it at Amazon.com
Noheli Cypriano	Around Again (1995)	Get it at Amazon.com
Denzil Dennis	Me Nah Worry (2003)	Get it at Amazon.com
Ted Hawkins
Johnny Jenkins	All In Good Time	Get it at Amazon.com
Bobby King	Bobby King	Get it at Amazon.com
King Curtis	Blow Man, Blow!
Johnny Meastro
The Ovations	One In A Million	reached #56 pop, #7 R&B
The Pointer Sisters		Reached #62 on the US R&B Charts in 1977. Get it at Amazon.com
Andy Roberts & the Great Stampede		Get it at Amazon.com
Q-Tips		Get it at Amazon.com
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes	Havin' A Party with Southside Johnny	Get it at Amazon.com
Rod Stewart
Sulo and Clarise Muvemba	Soul Folks	Get it at Amazon.com
The Supremes	We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
2Unes	Hot And Cool (2005/)
Al Wilson	Having A Party	Get it at Amazon.com
Norma Jean Wright	Norma Jean	Get it at Amazon.com