Joe Cocker: You Were So Beautiful

Just the other day I was going through some music and came across "High Time We Went" by Joe Cocker. I started thinking about him, and the fact that no one who watched him perform in the 60s thought he would live to see the 70s. Kinda like Keith Richards. Then yesterday driving home, I had my tunes hooked up to the car stereo and "Up Where We Belong" came on the shuffle. I said to myself, if he ever tours again, I need to see him live, something I have never done.

Sadly it seems, I won't get that chance. Word is coming out the Joe has died, possibly from lung cancer. I guess his spirit was bouncing around in my brain so I could get some thoughts together about him.

I've written about Joe before: "Always with a Little Help From His Friends," where I mentioned that he was one of the greatest vocal interpreters of our time. He was. The man could cover a ballad, or a rocker with equal greatness and intensity. And yes, when he was younger, his stage presence was intense. From Woodstock to Mad Dogs and Englishmen to late night talk shows, to the music shows of the era, Joe Cocker made everyone take notice as he gyrated around the stage with his crazed eyes and tie-dyed shirts. But man could he sing.

His "best of" list is absurd in it's length: "The Letter," "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Delta Lady," "You Can Leave Your Hat On," "You Are So Beautiful," "Unchain My Heart," "Feelin' Alright," "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window," "Cry Me A River," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Hitchcock Railway," and on and on. No one, no one, covered songs with such beautiful passion.

This has been one really bad year in the number of great musicians we have lost. Several have been hard to accept, all have been upsetting. At 70, Joe Cocker lived longer than a lot of others from his generation, but I was still hoping there were more songs to sing.

Easy Journey Joe.

and because...hell yeah more cowbell.

See you on the other side Joe.

Twisted MixTape: Cover Me This Batman

I'm back. It's been a few weeks and I admit, I've been a rude guest. I've been really busy and I didn't even send back my RSVP to Jen at My Skewed View, that I wouldn't be hanging out at the MixTape party. But here I am, and I brought a hostess gift.

This weeks Twisted MixTape theme is cover songs. I.Love.Covers. Just really enjoy hearing one artist interpret another. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but tonight... all winners.

The first song was written in 1969 by American musician Steve Young. I first heard it covered by Rita Coolidge in 1970, but the best cover I've heard is the one with the five-part harmony.

The Eagles "Seven Bridges Road"

The Everly Brothers have had their songs covered endless times. One of the most interesting is this.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant "Gone, Gone, Gone"

I used this next song in one of my "Got It Covered" features, that sadly I haven't done in a while. My dear S-I-L the fab Ms. G turned me onto it, and without a doubt it's one of the best covers I've ever heard. Originally by Cheap Trick, it's hard to believe it's the same song.

The Holmes Brothers "I Want You To Want Me"

I cannot do this list without something from one of the greatest song interpreters, Joe Cocker. But which one to choose? "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Feelin' Alright," "Summer In The City," "Something," are all worthy choices. But I think I'll go with the girl who worked in fifteen clubs a day.

Joe Cocker "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"

Now I just have to throw an old blues number in the mix, but which one. There are literally hundreds to choose from and I love them all. So, I think I'll pick a blues cover which helped me start to dig deeper into the genre. Originally by Big Mama Thornton, who does a great job herself, this is from Janis.

Janis Joplin "Ball And Chain"

My last selection is just incredible. Some of you may be aware of this video, it's gone viral. It's just two guys, on guitar and bass, sitting in a pizza joint singing one of the best covers. Check out the number of views. Top rock stars would die for those numbers. I actually had the pleasure of interviewing him, it will be posted over at Earth Hertz as soon as I get it finished. It's a great story even without the music. Anyway, this is just wonderful.

Mike Masse and Jeff Hall "Africa"

Covers... I got a million of 'em, but that's enough for tonight.

Always With A Little Help From His Friends: Joe Cocker

Today we are going to sample a few tasty treats from one of the greatest vocal interpreters of our time.

When he first burst upon the scene in the 60's, no one who saw him sing would have ever thought he would still be alive today. In my mind it was going to be a race between him and Keith Richards, to see who would kick the bucket first. Amazingly and luckily for us...they are both still here.

His facial expressions and wild arm gyrations just made you think, this guy is just gonna OD on stage. And yes, there were many demons. But somehow over the years, he always managed to pull it together and record another great cover song where he would sing his ass off.

John Robert Cocker or as we know him...Joe.

Starting out with covering "With A Little Help From My Friends," the list of songs he has given a new life to, is both extensive and impressive. And yeah, he won a Grammy and an Oscar for "Up Where We Belong," a ballad duet with Jennifer Warnes from the "Officer and a Gentleman" soundtrack, but that wasn't nearly gritty enough for me.

So today, let's taste a few real nice rockers and a ballad or two (can you just imagine at how many weddings "You Are So Beautiful" has been played?), cause the man can sing both. He can make you rock and he can make you weep. There are singers with vocal ranges where you listen and marvel at the talent that god has given them. Then there are singers who take what they have and prove that god has given them a soul.

Joe Cocker sings from his soul.

Listen Up...

"Feelin' Alright" ...the great song by Traffic, live from the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour
"Cry Me A River" ...same tour with Leon Russell, Chris Stainton, Rita Coolidge, etc.
"The Letter" ...first a pop hit for The Box Tops, Joe gave it some blues and some balls.
"When the Night Comes" ...great song from Bryan Adams, Diane Warren and Jim Vallance. This is how you cover a song.
"Unchain My Heart" ...a pure and crisp vocal...very satisfying indeed
"You Are So Beautiful" ...a simple song, a simply powerful vocal

And my favorite Joe Cocker tune...
"Hitchcock Railway"  ... if your feet ain't tappin' with this song, baby...well you know.

yeah...now I'm ready for the day.

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Got It Covered: A Song For You

"I've been so many places in my life and times

I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhymes.

I've acted out my love in stages, with ten thousand people watching

But we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you."

So begins the taste of the day. It has been said Elton John has called this song an American Classic. It has been covered by countless artists and for my money...it is one of the most beautifully written love songs ever.

"A Song For You" was written by Leon Russell. He recorded it for his 1970 self-titled solo album.

"I know your image of me is what I hope to be 

I treated you unkindly, but darling can't you see 

There's no one more important to me, baby can't you please see through me 

Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you"

Transcending all music genres, it has been covered by artists as diverse as Andy Williams, Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock & Christina Aguilera, Joe Cocker, Cher, Aretha, Mavis Staples, Neil Diamond, The Temptations, Simply Red, Whitney Houston and Bizzy Bone (featuring DMX & Chris Noetz)...just to name a few.

"You taught me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing 

You came out in front when I was hiding, but now I'm so much better 

And if my words don't come together, listen to the melody 

Cause my love is in there hiding"

Deciding which covers to use is the hard part. I'll try to highlight a few different styles, taste as many as you like.

"I love you in a place where there's no space or time 

I love you for my life, you are a friend of mine 

And when my life is over, remember when we were together 

We were alone and I was singing this song for you 

We were alone and I was singing this song for you" 

"A Song For You"  Ray Charles
"A Song For You"   Simply Red
"A Song For You"  Amy Winehouse
"A Song For You"  Joe Cocker
"A Song For You" Herbie Hancock & Christina Aguilera
and from the composer... "A Song For You"  Leon Russell

Lyrically simple, again it shows it ain't always what you write but how you write it.

Just singing this song...for you.

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Working On The Valentine's Mojo

Ok, so I just finished the Theory of Life blog about Valentine's Day and now it's time to write the VDay themed music blog. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Now for New Year's Eve, in a post titled "Hot Licks For New Year's Eve" I offered up some "in the mood" selections. So let's see if we can find a few more.

The New Year's list began with Marvin Gaye and I've already tweeted  it this morning, if you can... start the day with it.  Because how do you not start with Marvin...?  "Let's Get It On."  oh yeah

Lou Gramm "Warmest Rising Sun"...sultry
Survivor "Too Hot To Sleep"...just too damn hot
Joe Cocker "You Can Leave Your Hat On"...anybody for a pole dance?
Eric Clapton "I Wanna Make Love To You."...well alright then

Feel that temperature rise, after that you guys are on your own.
Let it flow.

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