Live at Woodstock

by Joe Cocker

Overview

Issued in 2009, the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, the most famous rock music festival in history, Joe Cocker's performance at the festival turns out to be one of the defining moments of his career thus far. Who knew? Cocker's turn on the stage came on Sunday afternoon, August 17, 1969. He had issued his brilliant debut album, With a Little Help from My Friends, the previous February, and his sophomore follow-up -- not as dynamic a recording but a more consistent one overall -- would be issued in December. Backed by the Grease Band (not to be confused with the vanguard U.S. outfit the Hampton Grease Band), his 11-song show included six cuts from the debut, two from his then upcoming album (including a dynamite cover of Bob Dylan's "Dear Landlord" that opened the gig), a stellar reading of Ashford & Simpson's "I Don't Need No Doctor," and "Something to Say,"an original that didn't appear officially on one of his own sets until 1973. From that opening Dylan cut throughout his 62-minute outing, Cocker never really let up in energy or graciousness toward the crowd. The ballads, such as "Do I Still Figure in Your Life," are delivered with soul and as much fire as harder-driving rhythm & blues-inflected numbers such as "Feelin' Alright" and "Hitchcock Railway." The summation of the show is that utterly in-the-red performance of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends," well-known to fans of Cocker and the Woodstock musical and cinematic offerings. This is easily one of the finer offerings to come from the Woodstock anniversary recordings. While the documentation on the disc is rudimentary -- such as who the backing vocalists in fact were -- the sound is terrific. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	10/06/2009
Label:	A&M
UPC:	0602527152851

Tracks

1. Dear Landlord
2. Something's Coming On
3. Do I Still Figure in Your Life
4. Feelin' Alright
5. Just Like a Woman
6. Let's Go Get Stoned
7. I Don't Need No Doctor
8. I Shall Be Released
9. Hitchcock Railway
10. Something to Say
11. With a Little Help from My Friends

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joe Cocker   Primary Artist,Vocals
Bruce Rowland   Drums
Alan Spenner   Bass
Henry McCullough   Guitar

Technical Credits

Josephine Armstead   Composer
Dave Mason   Composer
Tony McCashen   Composer
Elliott Landy   Photography
Peter Nichols   Composer,Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Bob Dylan   Composer
Jo Armstead   Composer
Chris Stainton   Composer
Joe Cocker   Composer
Donald "Duck" Dunn   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Dave Schultz   Remastering
Brian Kehew   Mixing
Pete Dello   Composer
Nickolas Ashford   Composer