For any lead vocalist, Joe Cocker was a benchmark. The face and body had it all.
The first time I witnessed Joe Cocker was in my hometown movie theatre at a screening of Woodstock The Movie when I was about 17 years old
Unforgettable performance!!!
The next time was live at the old O”Keefe Centre in Toronto.
The look on Cocker’s face at any point in his career is a man enveloped by the music.
I’ve been a lead vocalist since 1972.
I can honestly say, to consistently put that much emotion into your vocals for a career that started with his debut With A Little help From Friends in 1969 is impressive.
That debut is still one of my faves, and one of the most impressive debut albums in rock history.
Of course in the same year, he puts out the sophomore album titled Joe Cocker and yes, it is even better than the debut.
Now, who puts out 2 excellent albums in one year?
Nobody!!!
Now the benchmark for vocalists is incredibly low.
Between the use of using backing tracks in a live concert to bolster a vocalist and auto-tune it’s pathetic.
And besides, do you honestly think any winner of The Voice or the American Idol in the past is going to have a 40 year plus career of international recognition.
No, not going to happen folks.
Hell, Cocker’s 2012 album Fire it Up is killer
Go ahead check it out.
While your at it, Hard Knocks his cd from 2010 is almost as good.’
Had a tear in my eye, when I played You Are So Beautiful yesterday.
Still moved this many years later by someone’s voice is a testament that great music never dies.
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, Sun Media contributor and Lead Vocalist/Songwriter
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