Hymn for My Soul [Import]

"Hymn For My Soul" is one of the finest albums Joe Cocker has ever released. And, he has found the perfect producer for this stage of his career - Ethan Johns. Together, they have created a masterpiece. It is my hope that this partnership will remain in force for a long time.

What makes this album great is a back to basics approach. The album was recorded on tape, with Joe and the musicians all in the same room, and Joe singing live with the band. This brings out the best in Joe's voice. All the nooks and crannies are there, and there is great warmth and presence in the sound. There are no computers, no multi-layered arrangements, and there isn't the slick adult contemporary feel that has been present on recent albums. What we have is Joe singing R&B and ballads as only he can. His voice remains powerful, yet at the same time he is capable of great sensitivity. That is what sets Joe apart from all of the pretenders.

Joe puts his imprint on songs from Stevie Wonder (You Haven't Done Nothin'), Bob Dylan (Ring Them Bells), George Harrison (Beware Of Darkness), John Fogerty (Long As I Can See The Light), The Meters (Love Is For Me), Percy Mayfield (River's Invitation), Solomon Burke (Don't Give Up On Me), The Subdudes (One Word - Peace), old friend Daniel Moore (Just Pass It On), and the title track by Andy Fairweather Low. These are, in many cases, unexpected and inspired song choices.

Some will complain about another "covers" album, but they don't get what Joe is all about. While he has put out a lot of memorable original material, he is at his best when he takes a great song introduced by someone else and sings it his way. After all, isn't that what great interpretive singers do? Would anybody criticize Sinatra for not writing his own material? Others will muse, "there are no true rock songs". Well, Joe has never been a pure rocker. He has always mixed rock, ballads, R&B, even a tinge of country, going back to his days in Sheffield. What is important here is that Joe is singing great, the musicianship is fantastic, and the album is beautifully recorded. At 63, he is showing that he still has it, and has a lot left in the tank.

Right now, HFMS is available only as an import, and will probably released in the US late this year. Hopefully, this album will be the one to catapult Joe back in to the spotlight in the US, and compel the Rock Hall Of Fame and the Grammys to finally give Joe Cocker the recognition he deserves.

Rock legend Joe Cocker has just released a stunning new studio album "Hymn For My Soul", which in my opinion will generate rave reviews. The album will only be released in Europe while Joe starts a world tour in that region. The cd will eventually find release in the USA in late 2007. It can be ordered on Amazon or many other sites that sell music. What makes this cd so special, is Cocker recorded this cd with Ethan Johns, whose father Glyn mixed the "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" album some 37 years ago. Recorded in the same studio as his sophmore classic from 1969 "Joe Cocker!", "Hymn For My Soul" is a smooth rock/soul delight that sounds as if it were sung live. In many ways this is a live recording from the studio, as it was recorded the old fashion way, with musicians actually playing in the studio as the vocal tracks were being recorded. No over-production, or computer over-dubs here. This is the real deal, and what you get is the pure growl of Joe Cocker's voice, and real instrumentation. Some of the highlights here include "You haven't Done Nothing", "Just Pass It On", an unbelievable take on George Harrison's "Beware Of Darkness", "Ring Them Bells", and of course the funky title track "Hymn For My Soul". Some great musicians lend a helping hand on this recording, like Jim Keltner and James Gadson on drums, Benmont Tench from Tom Petty's band on keyboards, Jethro Tulls piano man Dave Palmer is also on keyboards. The legendary Bob Babbit who played for the Motown house band the "Funk Brothers", is on bass and Merry Clayton, who sang back-up to Joe in the sixties, is back on back-up vocals. This is Cockers purest album in quite awhile, complete with some of his best vocal arrangements and sound in years. Also included on this domestic release[U.S> only], is the bonus track "Come Together", from the "Across The Universe" soundtrack, which proves to be another stellar cover of a Beatles song. At 63 years old, Joe Cocker still packs a punch like no other from his generation. Don't miss this legend as he is touring the U.S this summer with Steve Miller.

Finishing up his fourth decade of recording, the original Mad Dog and Englishman, at times better known for performances masquerading as epileptic fits and a growl with enough grit to use as sandpaper, Joe Cocker has survived and thrived as an ultimate interpreter of other people's songs, bringing to them a power and vulnerability that few singers can match.

He's back again with a new collection with less grit but no less passion wrapped in crystal clear production that shows off his still compelling voice off to it best advantage. Every selection either has a bluesy, elegaic, or gospel tone and is done well.

As usual Joe shines with his cover versions and there are plenty here to carry on that tradition - Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothing," George Harrison's "Beware Of Darkness," and Percy Mayfield's "River's Invitation." John Fogerty's "Long As I Can See The Light" is re-imagined as a religious dirge and Andy Fairweather Low (of Amen Corner and later back-up guitarist/vocalist for Eric Clapton) provides Joe with the tour de force title tune "Hymn 4 The Soul."

There's more treasure to be dug here, particularly "One Word (Peace)" which, if I had my way, would be playing on every radio station from here to Timbuktu. It is a fervent plea for peace in a world where war and terrorisn is now in everyone's backyard.

For Joe Cocker fans and people who like the blues and brilliant interpretors.