- Average
- 6.4
- Ratings
- 17
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- Reviews
- 9
- Lists
- 0
Tracklist
Disc 1
- A1Introduction0:45
- A2Honky Tonk Women3:35
- A3Introduction0:18
- A4Sticks and Stones2:30
- A5Cry Me a River3:50
- A6Bird on the Wire6:15
- B1Feelin' Alright5:30
- B2Superstar4:55
- B3Introduction0:15
- B4Let's Go Get Stoned7:15
Disc 2
- C1Blue Medley: (a) I'll Drown in My Own Tears, (b) When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, (c) I've Been Loving You Too Long12:47
- C2Introduction0:30
- C3Girl From the North Country2:30
- C4Give Peace a Chance4:20
- D1Introduction0:40
- D2She Came In Thru the Bathroom Window2:50
- D3Space Captain4:55
- D4The Letter4:20
- D5Delta Lady5:35
Reviews
Rated 8/10
Favourite songs: The Letter, Space Captain, Sticks and Stones, Feelin' Alright, Honky Tonk Women, Superstar, Cry Me a River
Least favourite songs: Blue Medley
4/5
Rated 6/10
My first live album from the user list! The original of this album is about an hour and 10 minutes, I'm listening to the 2005 reissue which is 2 hours and 16 minutes long, because this is presumably the one that the submitter wants me to listen to. With the main list I was always cautious of live albums, too many were stand-ins for compilations and many of them just weren't that good. Will the user list fare better? I imagine so. Anyway let's get into it.
So this album is almost entirely covers. Does it matter? Honestly probably not, you're listening to Joe Cocker for his vocals, energy, and stage presence which is expectedly very good on this album. I do think his renditions of the songs are overwrought and dramatic in a lot of cases (e.g. With a Little Help From My Friends), but again he's playing to his strengths which I respect.
With some songs I actually prefer the original, The Weight is a great example of this, I think the original vulnerable vocals were a better fit for the song despite Cocker having the objectively stronger vocals. Sometimes less is more, not that I don't love Cocker's version.
The big downside is the length, and I do think it starts to drag in the second half. Also I feel like the energy starts to fizzle out in the second half which for a frontman like Cocker is never a good thing. There's a lot I like, and a lot I dislike, and I probably won't willingly return to this
Also, Joe Cocker is English? It's so weird for him to sing in his powerful soul and blues inspired voice to talk like a Yorkshire commoner.
Should it be on the main list: No, but it's better than most of the live albums there.
Top 3 songs: She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, Something, Let It Be (what can I say, I like The Beatles)
Rated 8/10
Beatles cover? Knowing nothing about this guy going in its all Wikipedia research. So most famous for his covers, he has a great blues rock voice. Gives like a Dueling Piano Bar kinda vibe.
Rated 4/10
Mad Dogs & Englishmen by Joe Cocker or: A Bunch of Mediocre covers by a Guy Most Well Known for a Mediocre Beatles Cover.
Rated 6/10
The Best Cover Band Ever.
Rated 2/10
A 76-minute album. Fuck you.
Rated 4/10
An hour-15 of pretty decent blues rock. I don't think this brought much to the table that the original list didn't cover, and there wasn't enough variety in the runtime to stop it wearing out its welcome
Rated 6/10
An hour and 20 of a live show, seemingly recorded over the phone onto a warped vinyl disc, then broadcast on radio and taped for an extra layer of hiss and pop. The songs are good enough, and it sounds like a fun show, but this embodies some of my thoughts against live albums.
As well as the sound quality, it also doesn't flow like an album, has unexplained and unnecessary guests, and doesn't even feature some of his biggest hits (which can be a selling point of a live set).
I love his voice, but would have preferred s studio take.
Rated 6/10
Not a fan of live albums, but we needed some Joe cocker on the original list.