Soul Music

The song was written and recorded by Sam Cooke. In 1964, the single, backed with “Basin Street Blues,” went to #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Cashbox Magazine’s R&B chart. The song is a secular version of an older gospel song of the same name. Besides the focus of the lyrics to be about the coming home of a man’s sweetheart, Cooke made it up-tempo and added joyous horn and rhythm arrangements. The song was also on his 1964 album titled Ain’t That Good News. Cooke sings the vocals. The horn instrumentation is provided by John Ewing (trombone)plus Jewell Grant, William Green, and Edgar Redmond on saxophone. Other personnel on the track are Joseph Gibbons (guitar, banjo), Edward Hall (drums, percussion), Emil Radocchia (marimbi, tympani, percussion), René Hall (guitar), Howard Roberts (guitar), John Pisano (guitar), Clifton White (guitar), and Eddie Tilman (bass).

Cooke performed this song on American Bandstand on April 4, 1964 (as seen in the video).

Here are the lyrics to “Ain’t That Good News” by Sam Cooke:

Oh my baby’s comin’ home tomorrow
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news
Baby is comin’ home tomorrow
Ain’t that news
Man, ain’t that news

I got a letter just the other day
Telling me that she was on her way
And she wants me to meet her at the station
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news

In the letter she told me he still loved me
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news
In the letter she told me she loved me
Ain’t that news
Man, ain’t that news

She said he’s sorry that she left
Found out she don’t want nobody else
She said he wants me all to herself
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news

Ain’t that news
Ain’t that good news
Man, I know that’s good news
My baby’s coming home tomorrow
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news

I’m gonna have her a party at the station
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news
Have a party at the station
Ain’t that news
Man, ain’t that news

I can’t wait to get her home
Where we can finally be alone
Disconnect my telephone
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news

Ain’t that news
Ain’t that good news
Man, man, man ain’t that news
My baby’s coming home tomorrow
Ain’t that good news
Man, ain’t that news

Good news
Good news
Ain’t that good news
Ain’t that news

For other songs by Sam Cooke:  “A Change is Gonna Come,” as well as”Another Saturday Night,” “Chain Gang,” “Sad Mood,” “You Send Me,” “Wonderful World,” and “Cupid,” which are on Pass the Paisley’s sister site The Daily Doo Wop.

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Ain’t That Good News” by Sam Cooke.