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From the Vault...
03/07/2004
#880 |
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info
Joe Cocker
"The Best Of Joe Cocker"
© Capitol Records
Year of Release: 1993
Rating:
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track listing
Unchain My Heart
(90's Version)
You Can Leave
Your Hat On
When The
Night Comes
Up Where We Belong
Now That The Magic
Has Gone
Don't You Love Me
Anymore
Shelter Me
Feels Like Forever
Night Calls
Sorry Seems To Be
The Hardest Word
Civilized Man
With A Little Help
From My Friends
(Live)
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Joe Cocker
"The Best Of Joe Cocker"
Joe Cocker -- a man who has been in the music business for 35 years, his
voice is unique, rough and edgy, yet distinctive and enjoyable in his own right.
He first appeared at the 1969 Woodstock concert, and has been recording ever
since. His Best Of consists of songs from his Capitol releases
(1984-1992). The most popular songs from this era are here, such as his
powerful version of Ray Charles' "Unchain My Heart," Randy Newman's
"You Can Leave Your Hat On," Bryan Adams' "When The Night Comes,"
and his only #1 song of his career, the ballad duet with Jennifer Warnes
from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman, "Up Where We Belong."
Songs that may not be remembered are just as entertaining:
"Now That The Magic Has Gone" is a great song, having a very impressive
blues/soul touch. The ballad "Don't You Love Me Anymore" has Cocker's
voice just right in all the right places, being a soft-rock composition.
"Shelter Me" has a recognizable beginning, as it was used for radio
show intros and/or voiceover music, and his voice is rough and fits very well
with its rock style. "Feels Like Forever" is another
ballad, having a common 1980s Adult Contemporary sound, as this song was
co-written by Bryan Adams.
"Night Calls" was written by ELO's Jeff Lynne, and you can easily
tell this is a Jeff Lynne composition, and it even has a comparison to The
Beatles' "Free As A Bird." Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The
Hardest Word" is just as enteraining as the original. "Civilized
Man" is a bit more pop than your normal Cocker tunes. The album closes
with a live version of the classic "With A Little Help From My Friends,"
it's a reminder of the live Woodstock era, yet this song was recorded in 1990,
it is obvious his voice has aged since the original, in 1969.
Joe Cocker's music is truly amazing. His unique voice has blended rock and
blues in a unique vocal style that has always been a force to be reckoned with.
Rough, edgy, his songs still have enough energy to categorize himself as a
gifted singer. Some of his songs can be just as soulful, just giving his voice
the right touches. His original albums are just as entertaining, and like most
artists, a Best Of is truly not enough music to enjoy. Albums from this
Best Of consisted of Night Calls, Civilized Man, Cocker, Joe Cocker
Live, One Night Of Sin, and Unchain My Heart. Of course, the title
track from One Night Of Sin is a great song by Cocker, and wasn't included
in this Best Of, likewise many songs from Unchain My Heart.
Civilized Man was a bit mediocre compared to the others, and the other
albums mentioned, I have yet to hear.
But for someone just getting their feet wet with Cocker's music, his
Best Of and his Greatest Hits (from his A&M record label years)
are excellent choices. There is an Anthology and Millennium collections,
and those releases showcases his entire career. Joe Cocker still records
and performs today, and as many rock legends from previous decades still have
a breath in the bodies, they still know how to Rock n Roll.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Capitol Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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