Joe Cocker

Matt Till · #1 09-10-2006, 09:50 PM

I'm kinda pissed that you guys didn't tell me Joe Cocker made some of the best music of all time.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #2 09-10-2006, 09:56 PM

His take on "With A Little Help From My Friends" is one of those few cases in which a rendition turns to be more popular than the original version. I love to watch the Woodstock performance of this tune, specially the bassist and guitarist singing the female choruses.

Matt Till · #3 09-10-2006, 10:02 PM

It's funny, I actually got into him because of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. They decided to take apart Dr. Dre's California Love. So on the radio they had the funk song they swiped the chorus from "California, knows how to party..." etc (The band name escapes me), and Joe Cocker's Woman to Woman, which the main groove was swiped from.

Woman to Woman, for the past 2 months has been my favorite song... that takes a lot of work.

7flat5 · #4 09-10-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I'm kinda pissed that you guys didn't tell me Joe Cocker made some of the best music of all time.

Then you will be really pissed if someone doesn't tell you he got a lot of it right from Ray Charles. Seemed to perform some of Charles arrangements note for note, especially early on.

Matt Till · #5 09-10-2006, 10:27 PM

I know, but Joe Cocker takes my favorite parts of Ray Charles (boogie/funky rock) and does it... better! (IMO)

I appreciate Ray Charles diversity, but a lot of his stuff doesn't do much for me. If Ray Charles did more songs like Hit the Road Jack and Unchain my Heart, I'd prefer him. But Joe Cocker, even though he can write a beautiful ballad which I also really like, does what I like about Ray... better.

peteroberts · #6 09-10-2006, 11:42 PM

silly little boy! You didn't know that??

You REALLY need to see him live...I saw him at a 3 day music festival several years ago and he was by far the best act there (better than Journey, Buddy Guy, Leftover Salmon, and several other acts...including Incubus I think?)

Just an awesome live act. GO NOW!!! He is on tour; played Reno last weekend.

jerry · #7 09-11-2006, 09:40 AM

Joe Cocker always had great bass players like T.M. Stevens, Gordon Edwards, Robbie Shakespear and the late great Alen Spenner. On the Woodstock movie check out how hip Spenner's basslines are for the time period. You found another great one Matt!

**baba** · #8 09-11-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

. On the Woodstock movie check out how hip Spenner's basslines are for the time period. You found another great one Matt!

Yeah, if you haven't seen his Woodstock performance, check it out immediately. He was ripped on acid and you can see and feel it just swelling out of him. Amazing performance.

**Adam Barkley** · #9 09-11-2006, 11:28 AM

The man can play imaginary guitar.

Lazylion · #10 09-11-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

Yeah, if you haven't seen his Woodstock performance, check it out immediately. He was ripped on acid and you can see and feel it just swelling out of him. Amazing performance.

The way I understand it, the whole band except for Joe were on acid for that show.

superbassman2000 · #11 09-11-2006, 12:30 PM

he is a great singer, and he really likes to move around when he sings

dougjwray · #12 09-11-2006, 12:55 PM

That "With a Little Help" from Woodstock is absolutely insane. Joe's scream (in the 2nd bridge) gets my vote for best rock scream ever.
Also, being an old codger, I got to see one of his "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" shows at the Fillmore East in March 1970. The great Carl Radle/Jim Gordon rhythm section was playing. I remember that someone in the front row was admiring Joe's boots, and Joe just took them off and gave them to him!
Those were the days...