In memory of Joe Cocker

In memory of Joe Cocker, who passed away on Monday at age 70, I offer this reflection: Cocker has received much deserved acclaim for "Feelin' Alright" and his covers of "With A Little Help From My Friends" and "The Letter."  Four recordings of his that also deserve that level of recognition, however, are:

• Bye Bye Blackbird (This is how you emote in a way that satisfies the audience and you.)
• I Think It's Going To Rain Today (The orchestral arrangement and strong backing vocals augment Cocker's already powerful lead.)
• Pardon Me Sir (As I've mentioned, few rock songs cry out for tuba accompaniment; this one does, however, and it works extremely well.)
• A Song For You (Ray Charles and Joe Cocker set the bar high with their respective versions.  Here's wishing any singer luck who thinks (s)he can equal or top the pathos either artist exhibits on this tune.)

It's unusual for a singer to convey such a level of passion, grit, and gravity in his music, but Cocker pulled it off over the decades.