Joe Cocker - Cocker

Just a few years after "Up Where We Belong" topped the charts, Joe Cocker found himself struggling to earn the attention of the audience he had just regained. It wasn't that he was recording uncommercial material. If anything, it was because he was trying too hard, as 1986's Cocker proves. He works with a variety of producers on the album, yet they all arrive at the same slick, mildly synthesized, vaguely soulful adult contemporary sound. There are some good moments on Cocker that do justice to his still-robust voice -- "Shelter Me" is a reasonably entertaining new effort, and Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" was a good cover choice, as was Randy Newman's "You Can Leave Your Hat On," even if Richie Zito's production on the latter is a little too slick. Cocker winds up being another uneven effort from a talented singer. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Albert Hammond Producer, Vocals (Background) Andrew Love Saxophone, ? Anton Fig Drums Arthur Barrow Bass, Synthesizer Bernard Edwards Bass, Producer Bob Ezrin Mixing, Arranger Brian Reeves Engineer Carl Marsh Fairlight Cliff Goodwin Guitar Curtis King Vocals (Background) Dann Huff Guitar Diane Warren Producer, Vocals (Background) Dick Hyde Horn Eddie Martinez Guitar Elesecia Wright Vocals (Background) Eric Parker Drums Guy Roche Engineer Guy Rochi Engineer Howard Hersh Piano, Keyboards Jason Corsaro Engineer Jeff Bova Keyboards Jeff Lorber Keyboards Joe Cocker Vocals Joe Turano Vocals (Background) Joel Peskin Horn Jon Goldberger Assistant Engineer Josh Abbey Engineer Julia Tillman Waters Vocals (Background) Larry Marshall Synthesizer, Keyboards, Organ Leslie Smith Vocals (Background) Matt Howe Assistant Engineer Maxine Green Vocals (Background) Maxine Willard Waters Vocals (Background) Mel Collins Saxophone Michael Baird Drums Michael Boddicker Keyboards Mike Clink Assistant Engineer Mike Moran Bass, Keyboards Neal Schon Guitar Pat Robinson Songwriter Pat Stapley Assistant Engineer Paul Lani Mixing Paul Mortimer Assistant Engineer Pete Ashworth Photography Peter Shea Design Randy Jackson Bass Richie Zito Guitar, Producer Ron Nevison Producer, Engineer Roy Kohara Art Direction Steve Madaio Horn Stuart Barry Assistant Engineer Terry Manning Producer, Engineer, Mixing Vito San Filippo Bass