I heard “Leave Your Hat On” and “You Are So Beautiful” a few too many times, but Mad Dogs and Englishmen was brill, as the kids say.
This may be my favorite — his version of Bird on the Wire, but it’s not a real video.
by DougJ| 34 Comments
This post is in: Music, Open Threads
I heard “Leave Your Hat On” and “You Are So Beautiful” a few too many times, but Mad Dogs and Englishmen was brill, as the kids say.
This may be my favorite — his version of Bird on the Wire, but it’s not a real video.
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Bystander
One of the greatest concerts I’ve ever been to, KC’s Uptown Theater. RIP.
No One of Consequence
I always did like his version of ‘The Letter’.
RIP Joe, peace unto you and comfort to those you leave behind.
– NOoC
opiejeanne
Only 70, gone too soon.
gbear
Just by chance I had Joe Cocker’s first album playing at work all morning. That is such a great album, with Jimmy Page, Steve Winwood, and Matthew Fisher and BJ Thomas from Procol Harum making major contributions along with Cocker’s pretty-much constant sideman Chris Stainton (sp?). It’s one of my favorite old go-to albums when I want to revisit my mis-spent youth.
He blew his voice out fairly early in his career, but you sure can’t knock his first couple albums.
raven
Then spin Many Rivers to Cross.
raven
@gbear: Chris Stainton is right.
Yatsuno
@opiejeanne: Cancer sucks.
raven
@Yatsuno: Rock Scully, Grateful Dead’s Manager Who Put the Band on Records, Dies at 73
Same cause.
trollhattan
Oh damn, this makes me sad. But seeing this one more time brings a smile.
Thanks for the memories, Joe.
Brendan in NC
@No One of Consequence: Yes. Along with Cry me a River and I Get By With A Little Help from my Friends
Tree With Water
AA could use the footage of Cocker declining a sip of beer from from John Belushi after their duet on Saturday Night Live (for an AA sobriety campaign, I mean). I forget the song, ut Belushi was hilarious mimicking Cocker during it.
Svensker
@raven:
That brought on the tears.
NotMax
Thought it deserved a mention, what with holiday treats time creeping up on us.
Lavocat
His cover of “Feelin’ Alright” is my all-time favorite for just being transcendently cool.
Of course, “With A Little Help From My Friends” is just all kinds of awesome.
And, shit, just put on “Mad Dogs And Englishmen” and get mellow.
rikyrah
RIP, Mr. Cocker
raven
@Tree With Water: Belushi went to a high school near to mine and a couple of my friends were close enough to him that he used their names in skits.
danielx
Joe Cocker, Jack Bruce, Johnny Winter, Jerry LaCroix, Tommy Ramone, Bobby Womack, Bobby Keys…bad year for rockers.
EthylEster
Best Dylan cover ever: Leon and Joe Cocker duet on Girl from the North Country…with Dylan in the House.
raven
@danielx: Of course, Keys played with Joe.
MikeBoyScout
sad losses today.
bobbo
Best Beatles cover ever: “A Little Help From My Friends.”
ixnay
On mad dogs, Joe is ramblin’ on about Easter, and Leon, in his Okie accent breaks in and says, “I, just wanna say, don’t get too hung up about Easter.” It’s been a family line for decades now. RIP
gbear
@danielx: It’s just going to get worse. All of the boomer rock stars are getting very old. There are a lot of them. Add Ian Mclagen to that list. We lost him just weeks ago.
jnfr
I didn’t realize he lived in rural Colorado until today. Here’s a lovely profile of him from 2008. Apparently he really enjoyed growing tomatoes.
Meet Joe Cocker, resident rock star
Jim Kakalios
@Tree With Water: Who would have thought at the time that Mr. Cocker would outlive John Belushi by decades!
When I saw the original SNL sketches, I would have said: “70? That’s a nice age.” Now – I agree – way too young!
Mike E
I saw Cocker headline a concert in Charlotte where he had a blues revue open(!) which included BB King and Buddy Guy. Weird, but it worked.
Bobby Thomson
@Lavocat:
Dave Mason agrees.
Emma
Daaay-um. *runs off to you tube*
hilts
RIP Joe Cocker
@raven:
May the four winds blow Rock Scully safely home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCc00nvR2os
Elliot Jackson
Oh, dear. I lived in Paonia, the next town over from Crawford, and Joe was a good friend of friends of mine. I just remember what a shy, humble guy he was, and how much he liked the history section of the new library that his and Pam’s donations help build. And the Cocker Kids Foundation did a lot of good in our community. Just had to update my “famous Colorado musicians” article to include the news of his death. Sadness.
Tree With Water
@Bobby Thomson: Wow, great call. I forgot all about that one– can’t recall the last time I heard it, either. It’s been quite a while, I know that.
angler
Thanks for the video. good one by JC, and it led eventually to a long run of Willie Nelson/Leon Russell material including this 1979 concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsQCFLgeusY
Bonnie
Thank you so much for directing me to the Bird on the Wire youtube! That was terrific; but, it is hard to beat a duo like Joe Cocker and Leonard Cohen. Thank you, again!
Bonnie
@danielx: Yes, but these rockers made it to their late sixties, early seventies. It was once thought no rocker would make it to 30.