This was written by Sam Cooke's brother Charles "LC" Cooke. In the '40s, the brothers sang in their family gospel group, The Singing Children.
Cooke was signed to Specialty Records, which was a gospel label. Cooke's producer, Bumps Blackwell, brought this to Art Rupe, who owned the label. Rupe objected to the use of the choir on this track and was afraid it was too secular and would alienate the label's gospel fans. He offered Cooke a release from his contract in exchange for outstanding royalties. The song was passed to the Keen label where it sold over 2 million copies.
Aretha Franklin released her version as the B-side of her 1968 single Think.
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