When Sam Cooke recorded the song for RCA Records in 1961, he brought his signature "velvety" vocal style to the standard.
: For his My Kind of Blues album, publishers provided Cooke with dozens of folders of old blues and jazz tunes to choose from. Sam Cooke - Dont Get Around Much Anymore
Sam Cooke ’s version of "" was released on his 1961 album, My Kind of Blues . While the song is a beloved jazz standard, its history is a blend of musical genius and a poignant reflection of the times in which it was written. The Origins of the Song When Sam Cooke recorded the song for RCA
Though this specific song is about personal heartbreak, Cooke's broader life was defined by a fight for justice. During the same era he was recording these standards, he was a central figure in the . He famously refused to perform at segregated venues and eventually wrote the legendary anthem " A Change Is Gonna Come " after being denied a room at a whites-only motel in 1963. While the song is a beloved jazz standard,
: The lyrics tell the story of a jilted lover who chooses to stay home rather than visit their old haunts—like the "Saturday dance"—because being there without their partner is too painful.