Joe Cocker – 鈥楩ire It Up鈥�
For over four decades, Joe Cocker has been making unmistakably memorable music. The 68-year-old singer continues that tradition on his 23rd studio release. 鈥淔ire It Up鈥� sizzles with precisely polished arrangements that feature and highlight Cocker鈥檚 distinct vocal style. I fondly recall Cocker鈥檚 performance of the Beatles鈥� 鈥淲ith a Little Help from My Friends鈥� during the Woodstock festival of 1969. 鈥淢ad Dogs and Englishmen鈥� recorded live at the Fillmore East in 1970 remains the pinnacle of his career featuring hits like 鈥淔eelin鈥� Alright,鈥� 鈥淒elta Lady鈥� and 鈥淭he Letter.鈥� One of my favorite Cocker tunes is a cover of Bob Dylan鈥檚 鈥淚 Shall Be Released鈥� from his 1969 debut album. And come on, who didn鈥檛 romantically slow dance to 鈥淵ou Are So Beautiful鈥� at a school dance or wedding? To this day, I still can鈥檛 get John Belushi鈥檚 imitation of Cocker singing this soaring ballad on 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� with all the facial expressions and wild body movements.
Producer Matt Serletic (Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty and Carlos Santana) masterfully delivers an impressive sound quality by getting the most out of Cocker, the red-hot band and passionate backing singers. Building from the momentum generated from the highly successful 鈥淗ard Knocks,鈥� Cocker inspires with a soulful title track that sets a bluesy-rock tone for the rest of the material that follows. The stirring and uplifting 鈥淚 Come in Peace鈥� offers a true spiritual experience with spirited gospel touches. The guitar-driven 鈥淓ye on the Prize鈥� is a muscular arrangement fueled by traces of funk and soul. Cocker also tackles Keith Urban鈥檚 鈥淚鈥檒l Walk in the Sunshine Again,鈥� adding his own emotional punch to the moving ballad. Cocker may have needed some help from his friends back in his early days, but 鈥淔ire It Up鈥� shows Cocker still has what it takes and is doing just fine on his own.