Joe Cocker

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Maybe all the uncultured bastards who roam this site and wander forum to forum in search of musical inspiration will happen upon this thread that will surely die in a record time and revel in it's intelligence, wit, and utter enjoyment of it's subject.

Born in May 1944, Joe Cocker has yet to be dethroned as Britain's premier White Soul singer. He began his career with small time bands here and there when he was spotted by a talent agent and released a single. The single flopped, however, and the ever faithful Cocker pulled his resources into the Grease Band at 22 years of age. The band pulled a minor hit, and began a second, revamping the band's lineup constantly.
The first single from the second album, a Beatles cover called "With a Little Help from my Friends." You've heard this particular song if you've ever seen The Wonder Years as it's the opening theme to that particular rating favorite.

Cocker followed this up with a fairly successful career, and even played a small get-together of rockers of the time called Woodstock. Other singles which show the depth of his soul include "You are So Beautiful to Me," "She Came in Through The Bathroom Window," and "Let it Be."
Don't let the idea form in your head that these are simple covers. These are covers that revamp the original song. In many ways they are done better than the originals, and are more heartfelt.
Take the first hit, "With a Little Help From My Friends." Originally sung by Ringo Starr of the Beatles, it is a light ditty that sounds too much like the rest of the album (Sgt. Pepper.) Although the album itself is a landmark piece, this particular song does not stand out for this particular author. I actually hate it, but that's is because I hate Ringo Starr and his hype and overall mediocrity.
But when we view Joe Cocker's version of the same songs, there is a heartfelt sense of thanks emmenating from the lips of him, a deep understanding of whatever the Beatles really felt about that song when they wrote it instead of fluffy garbage as Lennon labeled most of his work after the breakup. "With a Little Help From my Friends" went from a light-hearted romp of easy to hear tones and Ringo's flat singing to a deeply moving song that echoes in one's head after hearing it.
For more bluesy songs, try "She came in Through The Bathroom Window," and others. Joe Cocker may have faded away like all old heroes, but when at the top of his game, he owned.