Joe Cocker - Heart Soul (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

Throroughly entertaining set from this veteran performer

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 06/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These days people my age (mid 50's) are hard pressed to find any worthwhile new recordings to purchase. That is why I usually revert to buying anthologies. Joe Cocker's new studio release "Heart and Soul" is just about the best new album I have heard come down the pike in quite some time. To begin with, Joe Cocker is not some aging rocker whose skills have diminished and is just trying to hang on. Rather, Joe Cocker is still a very viable artist who according to my ears has not lost it one bit.

"Heart and Soul" offers the listener a dozen outstanding tracks including Joe's brand new single release "One" which was written by U2. Nice tune. Most of the rest of "Heart & Soul" features new arrangements of some very familiar hits sung in the inimitable Cocker style. I found Joe's treatment of the old Ben E. King classic "I (Who Have Nothing)" to be absolutely stunning. I also was moved by his rendition of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" and by "Every Kind of People" a hit made famous by Robert Palmer in the late 1970's. A very underrated song! Joe Cocker also does a surprisingly fine job on Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking composition "What's Going On". And I would be remiss if I failed to mention his terrific remake of the old Screamin' Jay Hawkins song "I Put A Spell On You". Joe is one of only a handful of artists who could pull off that one off!

So whether you are in the market for some brand new music or find this disc attractive simply for old times sake "Heart and Soul" is sure to tickle your fancy. Unlike the embarrassing stuff Rod Stewart is churning out these days Joe Cocker has turned out an album he can really be proud of. I am quite confident it is a disc that you will play again and again. Highly recommended!!!"

Amazing Voice!!

northcountry2 | Springbrook, WI | 03/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I read other reviews and I personally cannot give this CD anything other than 5 stars. One reviewer said his voice sounded tired and weak - are we listening to the same CD??? It's anything but that - I was totally enthralled by Heart & Soul - I bought it as an import a while back (didn't want to want until it came out here) - so I've listened to it many times already. I don't over analyze music as far as production, etc. - I just listen to the voice and the music - I either like it or I don't.

I like the choice of songs on this CD - there aren't any I skip past like I do with other music that I have. My favorites on this one - if I had to pick - are Chain of Fools, One, and Love Don't Live Here Anymore. His voice is strong and if you're a Joe Cocker fan, you'll LOVE this CD!

I had the chance to see him in concert on his Heart & Soul tour in Milwaukee WI last week, and he sang 8 of the songs on this CD. He sounds as great in person as he does on the CD's. I was amazed at how great his voice still is after all these years. He even hit the high notes at the end of "You Are So Beautiful" - Fantastic performance!!I'm so glad he's still touring - this was the first time I've had the chance to see him in person.

All in all, this CD is a highly valued addition to my extensive Joe Cocker music collection!"

A Magnificent Wail

T. Mullins | Nebo, Georgia United States | 04/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every couple of months I treat myself to about a half-dozen or so CDs. I bought this one in my last batch, the only problem with is I played it first and I can't get past it. It's been on continuous rotation, especially the second song "I (Who Have Nothing)." I never particularly cared for this song, it's too schlocky for the tastes of a screaming electric blues fan. But Mr. Cocker takes this song, bounces it off of his adenoids, and zeros it straight into my Heart and Soul. I equate Joe's voice to life itself. If you've managed to get the remnants of your s**t together, life is rough but beautiful, appealing but hard to describe, in tune but not for the faint of heart, soul finding after a long hard search, and blue to the brink of tears while you thrust your fist in the air and shout "Yeah, gimme more." Great job Joe, nice to see that us middle-aged old farts can still get down. Maybe someday I'll have my fill of this album and get around to listening to my other new CDs."

Mighty Joe Cocker Pulls Out All Of The Stops

Beverly Praiswater | 03/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Joe Cocker, for 35 years, has always sung from the depths of his soul. And this project clearly is full of soul but encompasses much, much more!! His voice now brings out MUCH rougher and MORE raw sounds of joy, pain, agony, and exhilaration.

The musical arrangements bring contributions from the WHO'S WHO of musicians in the world! Just a few who add their brilliance are Michael Thompson on guitar, Jeff Beck on guitar, Eric Clapton on guitar, Steve Lukather on guitar, Chris Botti on trumpet, Jerry Goodman on violin, Mike Landau on guitar, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on guitar, Rafael Padilla on percussion, Bruce Eskovitz on sax plus many other talents.

In the collection of songs are some written by such artists as John Lennon, U2, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, and Marvin Gaye. Joe sings a fantastic and varied repertoire of songs that were originally recorded by music icons Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Rose Royce, and R.E.M.

"One" has 2 versions on the cd, the opening number which was recorded in the studio (a GORGEOUS weave of soul and subtlety) and the other that closes the album sung live in concert (with STIRRING sensitivity). Joe's vocal on "I (Who Have Nothing)" is NOTHING short of a soulful anthem. "Chain of Fools" is argueably the most glorious version ever recorded! No singer has EVER gotten inside the song "Maybe I'm Amazed" with the sensitivity that Joe has done. He builds this song to a frenzy!! (McCartney must be THRILLED.) "I Keep Forgetting", a cooking and edgy number which builds up to the next BLOW-OUT VERSION EVER RECORDED, "I Put A Spell On You". This haunting vocal pulls out ALL of the stops!!! The engaging arrangement with Eric Clapton's infectious bluesy guitar solo is INCOMPARABLE! Joe gives a wrenching vocal on "Love Don't Live Here Anymore". "Jealous Guy" is a funky tribute to one of John Lennon's songs.

Joe has taken these songs and his other legendary numbers on the road. Most recently when playing the West Coast, he completely sold all of the venues out. WHAT MORE CAN I SAY??? Next he has 3 months of touring in Europe and when he gets back, if you are lucky, I hope you get to see him as I did. But for now, you can purchase this cd and enjoy Joe Cocker at the PEAK OF HIS CAREER.

"

Up there with the best of Cocker

T. Davis | Seattle, WA | 10/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Joe Cocker's appeal has always lain in his poetic ability to dredge up and transmute the tragedy of loss and loneliness into powerful and beautiful dirges, and in the stark contrast between his ragged croak of a voice and a lush background of female vocals, wailing guitars, and slick orchestration. Listening to his songs, one feels as if someone has photographed the grittiest scene of urban despair -- a homeless addict contemplating suicide, perhaps -- and placed it in an ornate frame in a high-class gallery.

This CD contains all of the elements that have made Cocker so popular, and his selection of classic and contemporary songs is superb. A couple of the tracks may be a bit less successful than the rest, but all of them are heartfelt and soulful. While not as sublime as his albums of the late 60s and early 70s, this recording is far superior to some of the CDs he released in the late 90s and early 00s. It marks a clear return to form for the master of misery."

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