"Having a Party" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released on May 8, 1962 by RCA Victor. Produced by Hugo & Luigi and arranged and conducted by René Hall, the song was the A-side to "Bring It On Home to Me". The song peaked at number four on BillboardHot R&B Sides chart, and also charted at number 17 on the BillboardHot 100.
Background
"Having a Party", like its B-side, "Bring It On Home to Me", was written while Cooke was on tour for Henry Wynn. While in Atlanta, Cooke called co-producer Luigi Creatore and pitched both numbers; he was sold and booked an immediate recording session in Los Angeles scheduled for two weeks later. The session's mood "matched the title" of the song, according to biographer Peter Guralnick, as many friends had been invited. "It was a very happy session," recalled engineer Al Schmitt. "Everybody was just having a ball. We were getting people out there , and some of the outtakes were hilarious, there was so much ad lib that went on." "Having a Party" was recorded first, as it was the "lighter" of the two songs, and it was completed in twelve takes. Hall assembled an eighteen-piece backing group, "composed of six violins, two violas, two cellos, and a sax, plus a seven-piece rhythm section that included two percussionists, two bassists, two guitars, and a piano." Lou Rawls, former Keen assistant A&R rep Fred Smith and J.W. Alexander join in to provide backing vocals and handclaps to the chorus. "Having a Party" became the closing song of Cooke's live performances from the time it was recorded to his death. These concerts would typically end with all other acts joining Cooke and company onstage, throwing confetti while Cooke worked the audience to "keep on having that party" after the show is over. A version can be heard on Cooke's posthumous live recording, Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963.
Personnel
"Having a Party" was recorded on April 26, 1962 at RCA Studio 1 in Hollywood, California. The engineer present was Al Schmitt, and the session was conducted and arranged by René Hall. The musicians also recorded "Bring It On Home to Me" the same day. Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation .
In 1993, Rod Stewart covered the song during his session of MTV Unplugged. It was included on the live albumUnplugged...and Seated and released as a single. It charted in the US in early 1994 reaching the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at 36, and in the top 10 of the AC chart peaking at 6.
