Joe Cocker - No Ordinary World

For most intents and purposes, No Ordinary World is an ordinary latter-day Joe Cocker album, filled with slick but impassioned ballads, moderately paced rockers, and smooth adult contemporary pop songs. The thing is, this is just a cut above average, thanks to uniformly fine performances from Cocker and a strong set of songs. Yes, at 14 songs, there are inevitably a couple of slow patches, but there are not only good covers here ("First We Take Manhattan," "While You See a Chance") but some good professionally crafted tunes like "Different Roads," the title track, and the Michael McDonald/Tony Joe White composition, "Where Would I Be Now." No Ordinary World may not erase memories of the fiery early Cocker albums, nor is it quite as memorable as the best of his latter-day work, but for longtime fans, it's a nice, satisfying listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Seymour Guitar (Electric) Andy Duncan Drum Programming, Percussion Andy Haller Engineer Andy Hasegawa Assistant Engineer Andy Scott Engineer Billy Lang Guitar (Electric) Bryan Adams Vocals (Background) C.J. Vancston Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Strings, Keyboards, Synthesizer Strings Chistopher Deschamps Drums Chris Cameron String Arrangements David Clayton Synthesizer Gavyn Wright Conductor Greg Gorman Photography Guy Delacroix Bass J. Neil Sidwell Trombone, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone) Jean-Jacques Goldman Vocals (Background), Producer, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards Jeremy Stacey Drums Katie Kissoon Vocals (Background) Keith Murrell Vocals (Background) Lance Ellington Vocals (Background) Mark Evans Programming, Engineer Marlena Jeter Vocals (Background) Mary Carewe Vocals (Background) Matt Tait Engineer Michael Bigwood Strings, Engineer Michael Thompson Guitar Mortonette Jenkins Vocals (Background) Natalie Jackson Vocals (Background) Neil Stubenhaus Bass Patrice Tison Guitar Richard Niles String Arrangements Spike Edney Synthesizer Steve McEwan Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Steve Power Guitar (Electric), Producer, Mixing Steve Sidwell Overdubs Tim Pierce Guitar (Electric) Tommy Blaize Vocals (Background)