Artist: Cocker, Joe
Label: EMI Records
Release: 2007
The fact that Joe Cocker, at 63 and with that incredible voice of his, can still wow music fans of every generation doesn’t surprise anyone anymore. Hymn For My soul is his latest effort, and once again the grand old man of rock and soul spoils us with his own take on legendary and lesser-known songs alike. As on most of his albums, it’s the usual mix of “evergreens” and more obscure tracks, a balance Cocker has traditionally used to take the weight off his projects. His voice, with its usual fullness and that ever-present, powerful sensuality, once again manages to capture the essence of every musical motif involved, whether it comes from the pen of Stevie Wonder, George Harrison or the unforgettable Creedence Clearwater Revival.
For this round of soul healing, Joe once again gathers a motley crew of musicians around him. Their tough job is mostly to build an atmosphere that’s friendly (read: fitting) to each individual song, which, given such a varied selection, is definitely no walk in the park. The vast majority of that burden naturally falls on the shoulders of the main man, whose trademark husky vocal still sounds incredibly fresh after all these years and, even more importantly, totally convincing. As for the arrangements themselves, you’ll probably find some particularly hardcore grumbler while listening to the album, unhappy with one way or another of reinterpreting their favorite hymn. Whether Cocker improves on anything with his way of expressing himself is hard to say. Which doesn’t even matter, since the whole thing is mostly about an approach that tries to make the chosen song different, maybe even more interesting. In a way, it offers the listener a completely new take on it. What would some especially devoted Stevie Wonder worshipper have to say if Cocker’s version of You Haven’t Done Nothin’ suddenly smacked them around the ears out of their radio? We can ask the same while listening to the acoustic version of Long As I Can See The Light, which, with its original vocal interpretation, turns into a completely new song.
Cocker is a master of his craft, no doubt about it. It’s downright incredible how easily the man takes on every one of these chosen songs. It often seems like every tune he tackles was written just for him. And if they’re not the fruit of his own imagination, he adopts them for good with his trademark raspy voice and yearning moan. You probably won’t find a finer example of this on the album than Don’t Give Up On Me. The lightness of his storytelling soaks the air with naive melancholy. When a pleading organ solo from the background adds its softness to the whole thing, we’re witnessing one of Cocker’s greatest masterpieces in recent years. That’s exactly what you expect from a good interpreter, and that’s exactly what Cocker does. So I recommend you forget all the boring flavors of the moment and head to the nearest shop as soon as you can, and treat yourself to a moment for your soul with Hymn For My Soul. You definitely won’t be disappointed.
Lineup
Joe Cocker – vocals
Ethan Johns – guitar
Greg Leisz – guitar
Bob Babbitt – bass
James Gadson – drums
Mike Finnigan – hammond b3
David Palmer – keyboards
Production
Ethan Johns
Tracklist
1.You Haven’t Done Nothin’
2.One Word (Peace)
3.Love Is For Me
4.Don’t Give Up On Me
5.Long As I Can See The Light
6.Beware Of Darkness
7.Just Pass It On
8.River Invitation
9.Ring The Bells
10.Hymn 4 My Soul
Album length: 37.27
