Customer Reviews

Hymn for My Soul

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"Hymn For My Soul" is one of the finest albums Joe Cocker has ever released. And, he has found the perfect producer for this stage of his career - Ethan Johns. Together, they have created a masterpiece. It is my hope that this partnership will remain in force for a long time.

What makes this album great is a back to basics approach. The album was recorded on tape, with Joe and the musicians all in the same room, and Joe singing live with the band. This brings out the best in Joe's voice. All the nooks and crannies are there, and there is great warmth and presence in the sound. There are no computers, no multi-layered arrangements, and there isn't the slick adult contemporary feel that has been present on recent albums. What we have is Joe singing R&B and ballads as only he can. His voice remains powerful, yet at the same time he is capable of great sensitivity. That is what sets Joe apart from all of the pretenders.

Joe puts his imprint on songs from Stevie Wonder (You Haven't Done Nothin'), Bob Dylan (Ring Them Bells), George Harrison (Beware Of Darkness), John Fogerty (Long As I Can See The Light), The Meters (Love Is For Me), Percy Mayfield (River's Invitation), Solomon Burke (Don't Give Up On Me), The Subdudes (One Word - Peace), old friend Daniel Moore (Just Pass It On), and the title track by Andy Fairweather Low. These are, in many cases, unexpected and inspired song choices.

Some will complain about another "covers" album, but they don't get what Joe is all about. While he has put out a lot of memorable original material, he is at his best when he takes a great song introduced by someone else and sings it his way. After all, isn't that what great interpretive singers do? Would anybody criticize Sinatra for not writing his own material? Others will muse, "there are no true rock songs". Well, Joe has never been a pure rocker. He has always mixed rock, ballads, R&B, even a tinge of country, going back to his days in Sheffield. What is important here is that Joe is singing great, the musicianship is fantastic, and the album is beautifully recorded. At 63, he is showing that he still has it, and has a lot left in the tank.

Right now, HFMS is available only as an import, and will probably released in the US late this year. Hopefully, this album will be the one to catapult Joe back in to the spotlight in the US, and compel the Rock Hall Of Fame and the Grammys to finally give Joe Cocker the recognition he deserves.

Rock legend Joe Cocker has just released a stunning new studio album "Hymn For My Soul", which in my opinion will generate rave reviews. The album will only be released in Europe while Joe starts a world tour in that region. The cd will eventually find release in the USA in late 2007. It can be ordered on Amazon or many other sites that sell music. What makes this cd so special, is Cocker recorded this cd with Ethan Johns, whose father Glyn mixed the "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" album some 37 years ago. Recorded in the same studio as his sophmore classic from 1969 "Joe Cocker!", "Hymn For My Soul" is a smooth rock/soul delight that sounds as if it were sung live. In many ways this is a live recording from the studio, as it was recorded the old fashion way, with musicians actually playing in the studio as the vocal tracks were being recorded. No over-production, or computer over-dubs here. This is the real deal, and what you get is the pure growl of Joe Cocker's voice, and real instrumentation. Some of the highlights here include "You haven't Done Nothing", "Just Pass It On", an unbelievable take on George Harrison's "Beware Of Darkness", "Ring Them Bells", and of course the funky title track "Hymn For My Soul". Some great musicians lend a helping hand on this recording, like Jim Keltner and James Gadson on drums, Benmont Tench from Tom Petty's band on keyboards, Jethro Tulls piano man Dave Palmer is also on keyboards. The legendary Bob Babbit who played for the Motown house band the "Funk Brothers", is on bass and Merry Clayton, who sang back-up to Joe in the sixties, is back on back-up vocals. This is Cockers purest album in quite awhile, complete with some of his best vocal arrangements and sound in years. Also included on this domestic release[U.S> only], is the bonus track "Come Together", from the "Across The Universe" soundtrack, which proves to be another stellar cover of a Beatles song. At 63 years old, Joe Cocker still packs a punch like no other from his generation. Don't miss this legend as he is touring the U.S this summer with Steve Miller.

Finishing up his fourth decade of recording, the original Mad Dog and Englishman, at times better known for performances masquerading as epileptic fits and a growl with enough grit to use as sandpaper, Joe Cocker has survived and thrived as an ultimate interpreter of other people's songs, bringing to them a power and vulnerability that few singers can match.

He's back again with a new collection with less grit but no less passion wrapped in crystal clear production that shows off his still compelling voice off to it best advantage. Every selection either has a bluesy, elegaic, or gospel tone and is done well.

As usual Joe shines with his cover versions and there are plenty here to carry on that tradition - Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothing," George Harrison's "Beware Of Darkness," and Percy Mayfield's "River's Invitation." John Fogerty's "Long As I Can See The Light" is re-imagined as a religious dirge and Andy Fairweather Low (of Amen Corner and later back-up guitarist/vocalist for Eric Clapton) provides Joe with the tour de force title tune "Hymn 4 The Soul."

There's more treasure to be dug here, particularly "One Word (Peace)" which, if I had my way, would be playing on every radio station from here to Timbuktu. It is a fervent plea for peace in a world where war and terrorisn is now in everyone's backyard.

For Joe Cocker fans and people who like the blues and brilliant interpretors.

This cd is one of Cocker's best....he doesn't "belt 'em out"....he treats each song individually. Choice of material is great including "Pass it On" by Daniel & Matthew Moore.
So glad I purchased this cd because I want to hear it over and over again. Joe Cocker is magical. I think he stopped listening to people who told him what he should record and what he shouldn't record - Sounds as though he has brought along the music/songs he wanted to record....and he was right.

I've never been a fan of Joe Cocker, beginning from his Woodstock days. My husband has always been a big fan of his, especially since Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen album. I had to listen to that one over & over, ad naseum, etc. I saw Joe in August on The View, promoting his new "album". He was very charming, & performed his title song of this "album", as I guess I'll always call it. "Hymn for my Soul" is just a beautiful song--I fell in love. My husband's birthday was coming up, so I ordered it for him. I am now a certified fan of Joe. The version of "Come Together" is definitly the best I have ever heard, even better than the original. Sorry I've dissed you all these years, Joe. You are a true artist, & my husband was right from the beginning.

I don't believe anyone can do a cover quite like Joe Cocker can. His performance of "With a Little Help From My Friends" at Woodstock is still one of my top ten favorites. Though he doesn't surpass that here he is in rare form. If you like Joe then this CD is for you. Beautiful.

"We are amazed but not amused by all the things you said to do," Joe Cocker blasts amid a punchy horn arrangement on a Stevie Wonder song that starts one of Cocker's best CDs. "You Haven't Done Nothin'" is simply one of the best tracks Cocker has recorded. He plucks George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness" from the All Things Must Pass [BOXED EDITION] album and fully embodies the track with its now familiar melody and transforms the meditative song into a slow soul crooner, "The hopelessness around you, in the dead of night, beware of sadness." Percy Mayfield's "River's Invitation" is another pearl with Benmont Tench's piano giving the perfect accent to the bouncy arrangement about a guy about ready to throw himself into the river, "I'm trying to find my baby that no one has seen around, You know which way I'm headed if my baby can't be found." The Beatles' "Come Together" that Cocker sang in the film and on the soundtrack of Across The Universe [Deluxe Edition] concludes the set as a bonus track. Other songs like Daniel Moore's "Just Pass It On," John Fogerty's "Long As I Can See the Light" and Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells" are also exquisite. Joe Cocker does what he does best on "Hymn for My Soul," fills the music with power and conviction that mesmerizes the listener. Bravo!

The minute that old gravelly voice comes through the speakers it makes you just want to smile. The fact that one of Rock's classic voices is still in such fine form is reason enough to appreciate and buy this CD. I could only wish that the song selection created a feeling that there were some classics here that will stand the test of time. The haunting rendition of Creedence's "Long as I Can See the Light" comes closest, and is a tremendous bluesy take on an original swamp classic. The rest just don't seem to measure up to the best of Cocker's interpretations. Mediocre song choice, but Oh, how that voice still sends chills up your spine!!!

Joe Cocker is a legendary great whose artistry has grown so much over the years and this awesome set of incredible performances is one of his finest ever! Truly amazing production with Ethan Johns as a perfect choice for producer who assembled an extraordinary collection of cream of the crop musicians plus famed background singers as Julia Waters, Oren Waters, Tata Vega, Jim Gilstrap, and the legendary Merry Clayton! Opening supremely funky with a Stevie Wonder gem "You Haven't Done Nothin'", Joe cuts loose and lets it rip with this great song making it clear he would be perfect doing a "Stevie Wonder Songbook Collection" as this definitive version could be a huge hit if given exposure on the airwaves...radio programmers, where are you when it comes to get music? "One Word (Peace)" is a stunner being a moving & timely plea for peace that is a glorious anthem that needs airplay as this universal message is a must for all to hear in these strange & alarming times where so many seem to be against those different from themselves and it is amazing they haven't learned the universal & simple message of live and let live yet...great love songs are always a pleasure & "Love Is For Me" is a passionate & exhuberant celebration while the soulful plea of "Don't Give Up On Me" is riveting classic soul at it's very finest! Joe gives a haunting & deeply soulful performance in "Long As I Can See The Light" while George Harrison must be smiling down on Joe for making "Beware Of Darkness" a haunting classic all over again. "Just Pass It On" is another wondrous stirring celebration with an unique arrangement making it clear by now this masterful collection of great songs and tremendous performances is filled with the best music can offer and hopefully radio will rise to the occasion and give this masterpiece the exposure it deserves! A old classic "River's Invitation" rocks out and is a cooker here while a sublime Dylan "Ring Them Bells" is deeply spiritial deserving a "Grammy Award" nod as it is breathtaking & brilliant to experience. Closing with a rocking and funky "Hymn 4 My Soul" it is clear that this is the tour now to see the legendary Joe Cocker on and I have tickets to experince this musical wonder once again live in concert!!! Original Import release ended here but the new U. S. version feature a awesome bonus track "Come Together" making this the collection to have...Joe once again makes a "Lennon/McCartney" classic his own and this version is fresh, exciting and Joe really nails it!!! Bravo Joe
Update: August 6 @ Los Angeles NOKIA THEATER
Joe Cocker wowed a sold-out audience in peak form receiving numerous standing ovations from a very excited audience! The Legendary singer remains one of the finest around today and induction in to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame would be the right thing to do plus a few Grammy Awards for this amazing tour-de-force filled with awesome performances making this musical treat one of the finest in recent years...enjoy!

When you listen to Joe Cocker, when you purchase a CD by Joe Cocker, you know what you are getting! This music will not disappoint as long as you don't expect an out of body experience. Enjoy, lean back and remember that this talent is now in the 21st century and as strong as ever.