I'll Come Running Back to You

Album: Two Sides Of Sam Cooke (1956)
Charted: 18
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cooke was fired by Specialty Records' owner Art Rupe when producer Bumps Blackwell presented Rupe with the tape of Cooke singing a secular song, "You Send Me." Blackwell was fired as well, and Rupe told him that he could keep the tape. Shortly thereafter, Blackwell and Cooke signed with Keen Records, which promptly released the single.
  • As "You Send Me" was rocketing towards the #1 spot on the Hot 100 (eventually selling almost 2 million copies), Rupe had a change of heart and scoured the vault for any similar recordings by Cooke. The closest he could get was this -- which hit #1 on the R&B and disk jockey charts after it was released. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 2

Comments: 2

  • C.g. Dee from Big D, Texas, UsaI found out about Sam's career in Gospel in the 1990s, meaning I found a CD with his name all over it. Yes, in the American Black Church, moving from Gospel to Pop/R and B/Blues, etc could get one in serious trouble. The CD showcased Sam's earliest secular recordings, as well. This tune is a sleeper, covered by a few people, most famously, perhaps, by Eddie Hinton, the most tragic blue eyed soul man of all time. I heard his version during this Corona nastiness(Letters from Mississippi), and went on a Three, Four week Sam Cooke run. Still on it. Thanks, Eddie and Sam, always. Oh, those tears of joy...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 5, 1958, Sam Cooke was a guest on the NBC-TV Sunday night musical variety program, 'The Steve Allen Show'...
    At the time Mr. Cooke had four records on Billboard's Top 100 chart, "You Send Me" {at #9}, "I'll Come Running Back to You" {at #37}, "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" {at #44}, and "Desire Me" {at #48}...
    Between 1957 and 1966 Mr. Cooke had forty-three records on the Top 100; five made the Top 10 with one reaching #1*, "You Send Me", for 3 weeks in 1957...
    Sadly, Samuel Cooke passed away at the young age of 33 on December 11th, 1964...
    May he R.I.P.
    * He just missed having a second #1 record when "Chain Gang" peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} in 1960; the two records that kept it out of the top spot were "My Heart Has A Mind of Its Own" by Connie Francis and "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.