From the Vault...

03/07/2004
#880

info
Joe Cocker
"The Best Of Joe Cocker"


© Capitol Records

Year of Release: 1993
Rating:

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 related sites:
    Joe Cocker Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #879
    The Brian Setzer Orchestra--Vavoom!
    Next Review: #881
    Alex Bach--Miles To Go
    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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    Previous Review: #879
    The Brian Setzer Orchestra--Vavoom!
    Next Review: #881
    Alex Bach--Miles To Go