måndag 8 augusti 2016

JOE COCKER SP-4368 (-72) US

His third studio LP. As I've seen often reveiwed as a transition album between the earlier pop/rock period and the bigger breakthrough with the soul filled "I Can Stand A Little Rain", but not much good things said elsewise. To my ears it's an enjoyable album, well worth to be positively judged by own means. Cocker was usually a cover artist, but six of nine tracks here are co-written by him - where of five together with Chris Stainton and one with Peter Nichols. Music is a blend of soul, funk and jazz, ballads and up-tempo, showing on his amazing ability to move between styles without getting lost. Those very special vocals, by then getting even more soared, could obviously tame any genre making each his own territory. To my taste maybe not up there with his two first and commercially far from the success of the next, but with enough quality to make it a lot more than just an intermediate phase. Favorite tracks - "Woman To Woman", "High Time We Went" and "St. James Infirmary". Produced by Denny Cordell and Nigel Thomas, mostly backed by The Grease Band with addition of Jim Keltner and Alan White on drums. Special kudos to the quire ladies - including Bolan g/f Gloria Jones - doing some prominent parts that really adds beauty to the full picture. Issued and reissued all over the world as "Joe Cocker" or "Something To Say" on vinyl and CD through the years. Premiere UK, released as "Something To Say" on Cube (HIFLY 13), came with alternate sleeve design. Early US had label as shown here, matt fold/out cover and custom A&M inner. (MÖRS*) (JÖC*) (YZÄ*)

2 kommentarer:

  1. I think I said something similar the last time you listed a Joe Cocker album, but he really was dreadfully served by the art department! The cover of the UK version is even worse (if you can believe that).

    SvaraRadera
  2. OK maybe not the most attractive in the history of record sleeves, but I prefer it to the UK one. This at least has a bunch of good happening photos inside fold/out

    SvaraRadera