RIP Joe Cocker

Perhaps you will prefer Wales/Yorkshire duet, with Turkish titles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NirFiAApl0s

I guess up is really where he belongs now

Seeing all those people on stage it's amazing that there wasn't a stage collapse on this tour...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKNJj6MsGfI

I had a lot of love for his beer-commercial 80s revival style -- felt like his AOR radio stuff then was really pleasant, and that was a time when I was starting to question the whole "It's rock and roll! It's not supposed to be pleasant!" handed-down stuff I'd sort of been raised on. "Unchain My Heart" sounds good on a jukebox in a bar with friends in 1989 on a cold night, good enough to remember later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j04mQ6UnGTI

Heavy groove song. No surprise it's been sampled three million times.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=26b_1315119865 1976 Joe Cocker with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live

"Joe Cocker was the biggest influence on my stage presence and character." -- Ian MacKaye

?! bigger than TED FUCKING NUGENT?

"[insert name here depending on who we're talking about] was the biggest influence on my stage presence and character." -- Ian MacKaye

"Donald Duck was the biggest influence on my stage presence and character." -- Ian MacKaye

you're right it totally works!

It's sad he only became famous covering some other people's songs. RIP, but barely a musician imho.

why is that sad? what does it matter tjat he was "barely" a "musician"?

it's sad Dusty Springfield only became famous covering other people's songs

Meant it in a "it's sad he was a x/y" ILX meme way :-/

Sad Elvis

are there any singers these days outside of jazz who are primarily known for interpreting other people's songs?

the joe cockers and linda ronstadts of this world?

susan boyle, i guess, but i mean good ones.

Many country and R&B performers.

well, yeah (sez don), but i guess i mean people who reinterpret popular hit songs, like "the letter" and "a little help from my friends." country singers my have hits with songs written by pro writers, but typically they aren't previously-established hits.

Feel like the wobbly optical film soundtrack via youtube does not quite do justice to these tunes. Doubters please seek out properly mixed versions of MD & E.

Aah, just heard the news. Surprised no mention yet of Marjorine - a family favourite in my house, guaranteed to raise a smile every time it pops up on a playlist. RIP, great man.