Sam Cooke released a double-sided single, pairing "Cousin of Mine" with "That's Where It's At", on 16 September 1964, which would become the final single he released during his lifetime. Tragically, Cooke was shot and killed at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles on 11 December 1964, just three months later, at the age of 33, making this modest release an poignant endpoint to one of American music's most remarkable careers.

"Cousin of Mine" reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, whilst "That's Where It's At" peaked at number 93—relatively modest chart performance by Cooke's standards. Both sides became top ten hits on the R&B chart, with "That's Where It's At" reaching number six. The latter track, written by Cooke and JW Alexander, took 32 takes to complete at RCA Studios and later found a second life through covers by Bobby Womack and Lou Rawls, ensuring the song retained cultural significance beyond its initial release.