Somebody Have Mercy
| "Somebody Have Mercy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Nothing Can Change Cooke.jpg | ||||
| Single by Sam Cooke | ||||
| from the album Twistin' the Night Away | ||||
| A-side | "Nothing Can Change This Love" | |||
| Released | September 11, 1962 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | February 15, 1962 RCA Studio 1 (Hollywood, California) |
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| Genre | Rhythm and blues, soul | |||
| Length | 2:17 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Writer(s) | Sam Cooke | |||
| Producer(s) | Hugo & Luigi | |||
| Sam Cooke singles chronology | ||||
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"Somebody Have Mercy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released on September 11, 1962 by RCA Victor. Produced by Hugo & Luigi and arranged and conducted by René Hall, the song was the A-side to "Nothing Can Change This Love". The song peaked at number three on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart.
Contents
Background
One line in the song ("Tell me what is wrong with me") created speculation and rampant rumors that Cooke was suffering from leukemia, which was false.[1]
Personnel
"Somebody Have Mercy" was recorded on February 15, 1962 at RCA Studio 1 in Hollywood, California.[2] The session was conducted and arranged by René Hall. The musicians also recorded much of the Twistin' the Night Away album the same day. Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.[2]
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 70 |
| US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[3] | 3 |
