Tags
Feelin' Alright, Joe Cocker, John Belushi, rock music, Traffic, With A Little Help From My Friends
There’s a special place in my music pantheon for Joe Cocker, who passed away yesterday at the age of 70. He came of age during a period when everyone wanted to be a “singer-songwriter,” but Joe Cocker was first and foremost a singer, an interpreter. He could take a Beatles song and make you hear it as something completely new. And the voice: instantly recognizable, sandpapery, rough, rich and as bluesy as they come. He was a natural, from the moment he stepped on the stage at Woodstock.
My favorite of his songs is the classic Feelin’ Alright, written by Dave Mason of Traffic. Here’s what I feel is the best version on YouTube, from a concert in Nürnberg, Germany. It’s a little more uptempo than the other available versions, and he’s in great form.
SNL fans will remember the famous skit where John Belushi imitated Cocker as they performed this song.
Sadly, NBC won’t allow clips of this on YouTube. They should be posting it themselves, for one day at least, in memory of a brilliant musician.
For more essential Joe Cocker, see this list of clips.
Farewell, Beautiful Man. You unchained my heart, and there ain’t no sunshine now you’re gone. I agree with Billy Joel, you should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (How is it possible that you’re not???) Can’t wait to see you up there where you belong. Maybe with a little help from your friends.
Here’s my favorite:
Beautiful. Looks like Woodstock. I read that he was 25 at the time! Amazing presence and maturity of voice for that age…
Yeah, I think that’s the Woodstock version. He’s certainly acting like he’s at Woodstock. 🙂
I LOVE him. I’ve spent a few hours today learning this song, but I’ll have to smoke a lot of cigarettes if I want to sound like him.
Sad day—his voice stood out above most others…
Indeed, a quintessential blues voice!
Oh man, I have had my head under a Chrstmas rock. Goodbye beautiful man who sang beautiuful songs, a lovely tribute LM.
Thanks Cheer. I’ll listen to Mr. Joe this week whenever I get tired of Christmas music 🙂
I don’t know how he could have been missed from the Hall of Fame. Posthumously just doesn’t cut it. His is a huge loss for me. Best album is Sheffield Steel, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCDFDdgELFOlXR9GHj75GIGS2iTCdkEfE all good, but you’ll like Sweet Little Woman, and Many Rivers to Cross.
Fantastic! I’m not as familiar with his recent stuff, but you’re right, I do like Sweet Little Woman! A nice hint of funk on that one. And Many Rivers is a good showcase for his bluesy voice.