I just got the new Joe Cocker album, “The Ultimate Collection.” from work at Universal and I had heard of him but never connected him with his songs. After listening to it I was like, “Oh, I know that song. And that one. And that one.” I realized I knew at least half the songs.

It’s a great collection of his hits from his 30+ year career. I know you all know these ones: “With A Little Help From My Friends” (the theme to Wonder Years), "You Are So Beautiful", "Up Where We Belong" from Officer and a Gentleman, "Unchain My Heart", "When The Night Comes" and “First We Take Manhattan.” I love that the CD features some great guests: Jimmy Page, Jimmy Cliff, Billy Preston, and Randy Newman.

Check out this live footage and it is a must see. Very vintage.

http://www.hip-o.com/streaming/joecocker/video/with-little-help-hi.asx
http://www.hip-o.com/streaming/joecocker/video/with-little-help-lo.asx

http://www.hip-o.com/streaming/joecocker/video/when-night-comes-hi.asx
http://www.hip-o.com/streaming/joecocker/video/when-night-comes-lo.asx

http://www.hip-o.com/streaming/joecocker/video/bathroom-window-hi.asx
http://www.hip-o.com/streaming/joecocker/video/bathroom-window-lo.asx

He's okay, certainly not a legend.

His covers of The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends" and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" are pretty good (but certainly not better than the originals). I do take issue that after all these years, due to record label politics, Dennis Wilson still doesn't have a songwriting credit for "You Are So Beautiful," even though he wrote most of it.