Joe Cocker - Joe Cocker!

Reissue of the raspy-voiced, blue-eyed soul man’s second

In 1969, Joe Cocker’s career took a quantum leap forward: his incendiary performance at the Woodstock festival and, in particular, his intensely soulful, near-cathartic rendering of Lennon and McCartney’s With A Little Help From My Friends, transformed the former gas fitter from Sheffield into a global star.

Hot on the heels of his triumphant Woodstock appearance came this, his sophomore outing for A&M, co-helmed by Denny Cordell and songwriter Leon Russell. Featuring Cocker’s own group, The Grease Band, and judiciously augmented by Russell on piano, along with percussionist Milt Holland, guitarist Sneaky Pete and a host of female backing singers, the 10-track LP proved a potent follow-up to his debut opus, With A Little Help From My Friends, released earlier the same year.

The set’s standouts include a bluesy, raucous cover of The Beatles’ She Came In Through The Bathroom Window and a powerful, gospel-infused take on George Harrison’s ballad, Something. Also noteworthy is the propulsive, piano-driven Delta Lady, a Leon Russell original that became a Top 10 smash for Cocker in the UK. A subtle and sensitive reading of Russell’s delicate ballad, Hello Little Friend, demonstrates that Cocker had more to his vocal armoury than growling and groaning. Undoubtedly one of his best albums.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Hip-O Select | B 0012911-02

Reviewed by Charles Waring
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