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Some facts about ‘Good Times’ by The Rolling Stones (from Songfacts)
This was one of the last songs Cooke wrote and recorded before he was killed on December 11, 1964. One of Cooke’s lighter songs, it’s about enjoying oneself at a party. It’s an example of one of Cooke’s songs that was accessible to white audiences, who he appealed to while retaining an R&B base.
The Rolling Stones recorded this in 1965 on their album Out Of Our Heads. Ian Stewart played marimbas on their version.
Journey recorded this song with the Tower of Power horn section and backing vocals by Annie Sampson and Jo Baker of the band Stoneground. Sam Cooke’s vocal style was a big influence on Journey lead singer Steve Perry, and in 1978 the band performed the song on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show.
There are two different mixes. The album version has a more laid-back and stripped-down feel with Cooke overdubbing his own backing vocals. The single version has an extra guitar line as well as handclaps and backing vocals from the Soul Stirrers, the gospel group that gave Sam Cooke his start. As of 2016, all CD releases have used the album version.
About ‘Mercy Mercy’ by The Rolling Stones (from the The Rolling Stones – All the Songs book) On December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke was found dead in the bedroom of a motel located at 9137 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. The manager of the establishment, Bertha Franklin, confessed to the police that she had shot the singer after being attacked by him. Just thirty-three years of age, Sam Cooke left behind a handful of songs that had catapulted him to the very summit of soul music and made him a model for Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye.
Although “Good Times” did not experience the same chart success as “You Send Me” or “Chain Gang,” the song nevertheless reached number 11 on the pop charts in 1964. I got my plans, I don’t know about you/I’ll tell you exactly what I’m gonna do: there was no hint here of the tragic and premature fate that was to befall Sam Cooke.
