Customer Rating: 
Summary: Past Memories Revived
Comment: Wow!
You are going to want to experience this music again! Not only does it sound wonderful, it plays better than it did originally. It will take you back and clear away the cobwebs to memories you may have forgotten.
Thank you Joe!! Keep rockin'.
Customer Rating: Summary: WHAT A BORN NATURAL, SOULFUL SINGER !!! BRAVO, JOE COCKER !!!
Comment: The Ultimate Collection by Joe Cocker may not have all of his best hits; but this is still a pretty good compilation nevertheless. The sound quality is excellent and I like the artwork. This CD is a must-have for Joe Cocker fans.
"With A Little Help From My Friends" is partially a cover a this famous tune by The Beatles; but when Joe Cocker performs his own rendition this number takes flight just about as good as when The Beatles performed it! The backup chorus bolsters Joe Cocker's performance and overall he delivers this ballad with a great deal of sensitivity. It makes a great beginning for this album. "Feelin' Alright" is a rockin' tune that has a catchy, almost irresistible melody to it; and Joe Cocker performs this without a single superfluous note! The percussion helps to mark the beat but there's an excellent arrangement for the piano--I love it!
"She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" is another cover of a Beatles tune; and Joe would make The Beatles proud with his sublime rendition! Joe sings this very well and the somewhat jazzy musical arrangement embellishes the number a great deal. Listen also for a live recording of "Cry Me A River;" this gets a jazzy, somewhat rock and roll treatment for this classic ballad made so famous by the great Julie London. In addition, "You Are So Beautiful" is clearly one of the greatest love songs ever written--Joe Cocker sings this with passion, heart and soul. It always amazes me to hear Joe sing "You Are So Beautiful."
"Up Where We Belong" is another duet made famous by both Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. The two artists complement each other rather well and this makes "Up Where We Belong" a solid number. There's also a "90s version" of "Unchain My Heart." "Unchain My Heart" really rocks and it sounds very good! The backup chorus enhances the natural beauty of this ballad. Awesome!
"Summer In The City" is a fine cover that gets a somewhat Caribbean treatment from Joe and his musician friends; the tempo slows down and the melody overall is very pretty. "Sail Away" is a tender number that touches me when I hear it; and the album also ends very strong with Joe Cocker performing "First We Take Manhattan." "First We Take Manhattan" rocks and only Joe Cocker could make this tune sound so good!
Joe Cocker possesses a great talent and we are all better off for his sharing his giftedness with us. This is a great Joe Cocker album for his fans; and it's also a great starter CD for people just discovering the fine artistry of Joe Cocker.
