Joe's got gospel covered
Joe Cocker's got the best voice for singing gospel. That rough burr just sends chills down your spine. IMHO, this is one of the best Cocker collections ever. He's borrowed sidemen and sidewomen from everyone from Ray Charles to Jimi Hendrix and the covers he's chosen couldn't be better.

It's hard to pick a favorite from this soul soaring collection. "As Long as I can See the Light" has been a favorite of mine since CCR, but Cocker's version is in many ways even stronger than John Fogerty's.

"One Word Peace" comes from the very underestimated New Orleans based band, The Subdudes. This is one of their finer songs and I'm hoping Cocker's cover will get them a bit more attention, too.

"Just Pass it On" is a gorgeous message and the chorus will get you up standing up and cheering.

Of course, the ending track is "Come Together" from "Across the Universe" which was one of the best songs from that movie. It's not gospel per se, but it gets the message across and this collection has 'message' everywhere!

Rebecca Kyle, July 2008

SOUL-DEEP MAGNIFICENT VOCALS~BRAVO JOE!!!
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 very finest! A truly amazing production with Ethan Johns a perfect choice for producer as he assembled an extraordinary collection of cream of the crop musicians plus famed background singers such 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 really does let it rip on this great song making it clear that he would be perfect doing a "Stevie Wonder Songbook Collection" as this definitive version could be a huge hit if given exposure at all on the airwaves. "One Word (Peace)" is a stunner and 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

Good Old Joe
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.

Cocker's Hymn
Love this new Cocker album, but would have liked to hear some of the new titles before purchase, but am not disappointed. I have all Cocker albums and carry them in my car.

Not as Good as his others
Don't get me wrong - I love Joe Cocker's music and look forward to each new album. But I was very disappointed in this one. Most of the songs are average. I only really liked two of them. I have most of his CD's (going all the way back to when he was using the name Vance Arnold) and I paid a lot of money to be sitting at a front row table at one of his concerts in his Heart & Soul World tour in Milwaukee a couple of years ago, so it pains me to say, I could have skipped buying this one and not missed much. I hope his next one will be better.