With A Little Help From My Friends

Although I'd heard many of the songs from Joe Cocker's debut album With A Little Help From My Friends at various stages, I first heard this album in its entirety about 20 years ago when I bought it on vinyl. I've been looking for it on CD and finally picked it up for $7.50 in Canada. This album is great - I'm as impressed now as I was then - no wonder Cocker went on to become a superstar.

From the opening piano and bongo introduction of Feeling Alright to Cocker's soulful, closing performance of Dylan's I Shall Be Released, this album never misses a beat. Some of the arrangements and recordings are a little bit dated, but the performances are all fabulous. Naturally, one of the highlights is the title track, which begins with Jimmy Page's guitar, searing over the top the drums and organ... and then there are those excellent backing vocals... oh yeah, and Cocker delivering a classic vocal performance. Joe Cocker is one of the few people to make a Beatles songs his own - many people remember this version rather than the original.

This remastered CD comes with a couple of B-sides tacked onto the end. The New Age Of Lily is a bit weak and could have been left off. However, Something's Coming On is a welcome addition.

Cocker's debut comes across like a "best of". There are 10 great songs here...