Can white man's soul get any better? I think not.Thanks Leon

With the help of Leon Russell and Joe's painfull cry, this album let me identify with some blues I wasn't aware I had.Surely if you logged on to Joe at this site, you must have a need for some soul searching music,and Joe provides just that with this gem of his early years.This is a must for every collector,you won't hear Joe again with music like this.Again thanks also goes to Leon,without whose help this album would not be the same.

Joe Cocker!

It is silly to give this cd anything but a five star rating. First, there is the excellent choice of tunes. When it originally came out it was considered hip, funky, and powerful. Here's an Englishman sounding like Ray Charles doing Dylan, Beatles, Cohen, John Sebastian, and Leon Russell (who produced this). Secondly, the thing sociologically reeks of prime hippie era panache. If you were around when this came out then you'll understand, if you didn't then this is an excellent blues based example of counter culture rock with a tinge of country.

One Of The Great Classic Rock Albums.

The Year was 1969, and Joe Cocker was a hot ticket in the circles of rock n roll. His recent performance at Woodstock and his powerful debut album, "With A Little Help From My Friends", was enough to skyrocket him to the equivalent of a rock n roll rookie of the year. "Joe Cocker!" his 1969 sophmore effort proved to be even better then his debut album. Critically acclaimed by almost every rock critic alive, the album shot up into the top ten and became one of the big sellers of the year. One can instantly feel the driving power in the voice of Joe Cocker, in his absolute prime. Tunes like "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" and "Delta Lady" are bare bones late 1960's hard rock done to perfection. The album also has a soul and gospel feel that is unmatched by any white classic rocker of that generation[he is the male version of janis Joplin]. The gospel choir sound on such tunes as "Darling Be Home Soon", "Hello Little Friend" and "Hitchcock Railway" are simply phenominal. His cover of George Harrison's "Something" is the best rock interpretation of that song ever waxed. His painful and emotional version of "Something" turns the Beatle classic into his own musical statement, that to this day remains the definitve alternate take on the song. Leon Russell did a great production job along with Denny Cordell. The allstar choir consisted of Bonnie Bramlett, Rita Coolidge, and Merry Clayton. The band assemled for this album included; Leon Russell and Cocker's own grease band consisting of Chris Stainton, Henry McCullough, Bruce Rowland, Alan Spenner and Paul Humphries. In the liner notes it states that Eric Clapton while listening to the finished product told producer Cordell "Oh man, this is a hit, this is a real hit". Indeed it was a hit, and the finest studio album Joe Cocker has ever put out. "Joe Cocker!" is also one of the greatest rock albums of alltime.

One of the great forgotten albums!

I cannot believe I am the first person to review this album. This is Joe Cockers most soulfoul, honest, talented, perfect record...forget his 80s efforts and return to this people. Listen to songs such as Hitchcock Railway, a boogie-woogies, blues-rock shaking number and Darlin Be Home Soon, his best song ever! This album has the sound of a fresh raw gifted singer who was keen and anxious to hit the bigtime, but was striving to find that BIG hit. Never mind if he failed or not, this album is in my top-ten of all time. And when I say that albums such as Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin IV, Stick Fingers, Appetite For Destruction, Dark-Side Of The Moon and compilations from Elvis, Otis Redding and CCR, occupy the other placings you KNOW I'm talking serious!

This album is indeed a lost gem.

The Best Album By A Living Legend Of The 60s

JOE COCKER is the best album by the singer of the same name. He ranks up there with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, and way above Jim Morrison, as one of the great performers of the 60s. If the others had survived, music might be much more interesting than the garbage we have coming out today. (Take your Pearl Jam and N-Sync CDs and shove 'em.) This guy not only survived, but has made some great recent records, notably 2002's RESPECT YOURSELF. Anyway, this CD has several versions of Beatles songs that tear the great originals to shreds, as well as a couple of exceptional versions of Leon Russell compositions, and a rendition of the Lovin' Spoonful's "Darling Be Home Soon" that blows the original away any time you hear the two back-to-back. "Hitchcock Railway" is also great, and the bonus cut "She's Good To Me" is a wondrous Cocker/Stainton original that shows Cocker equally capable of writing original material as well as interpreting the works of others. Pointing out other highlights is pointless, as this album must be heard as a whole to be fully appreciated. You cannot afford to be without this album.