Heart & Soul

Joe Cocker

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: February 1, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New Door Records
• ASIN: B00074CBMY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,328 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
While Rod Stewart was busy chasing American songbook classics up the charts in Cole Porter drag, 60's Brit-soul colleague Joe Cocker pursued a more contemporary and compelling set of standards. The material here stretches from the soulful American r&b hits that first inspired the gritty-voiced singer to their modern progeny, emotive ballads like REM's "Everybody Hurts" and the compelling studio/live takes of U2's "One" that bookend the album. Cocker revisits old inspirations Lennon ("Jealous Guy" recast as warm, Caribbean-rhythmed r&b) and McCartney (a grand, if less inspired "Maybe I'm Amazed"), but it's on more vintage material like "Chain of Fools" and Lieber-Stoller's "I Keep Forgetting" and "I (Who Have Nothing)" that Cocker truly invests his considerable interpretative instincts. Jeff Beck solos with tasteful, typically elastic lyricism on the latter, while fellow ax icon Eric Clapton torches "I Put A Spell On You" with his own bluesy fire. But as brilliant as Cocker and his session cohorts (who also include Steve Lukather and Dean Parks) often are, their efforts sometimes skid on C.J. Vanston's way-too-slick production; aiming for the middle of the road, Vanston instead drives material like James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" and Cocker's otherwise lovely read of "Everybody Hurts" towards a ditch. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Throroughly entertaining set from this veteran performer, June 29, 2005

By	Paul Tognetti "The real world is so much more... (Cranston, RI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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!!!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Wail, April 28, 2005

By	T. Mullins (Nebo, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Voice!!, March 2, 2005

By	northcountry2 "northcountry2" (Springbrook, WI) - See all my reviews

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!