Joe Cocker

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and was known for his gritty voice, his spasmodic body movement in performance and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles. His cover of the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" reached number one in the UK in 1968, and he performed the song live at Woodstock in 1969. His version also became the theme song for the TV series The Wonder Years. His 1975 cover of Billy Preston's "You Are So Beautiful", reached number five in the US. Cocker is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his US number one "Up Where We Belong", a duet with Jennifer Warnes. In 1993 he was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male, in 2007 was awarded a bronze Sheffield Legends plaque in his hometown, and in 2008 he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.

Links To Peel
Peel seemed to discover Joe Cocker in 1968 with his backing band, The Grease Band. On 3rd November 1968, Peel introduced Joe Cocker to the crowd at his gig in Birmingham and invited him to his one and only session in 1969. On 22 February 1970 Joe Cocker was meant to play a gig for the In Concert series, but had to cancel it with Deep Purple as the late replacement. Peel had some interest in Joe Cocker's music throughout the 1970's, even to the extent of producing Bill Oddie's 'On Ilkla Moor Baht' record to the tune of Joe Cocker's version of 'With A Little Help From My Friends'. After Peel's death the record was found in his John Peel's Record Box.

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1969-09-29. Broadcast: 11 October 1969. Repeated: 17 January 1970, 26 September 1972
 * Lawdy Miss Clawdy
 * Darling Be Home Soon
 * Hello Little Friend
 * Delta Lady

Other Shows Played
1968 1969
 * 09 June 1968: I Shall Be Released
 * 22 September 1968: With A Little Help From My Friends (single) Regal Zonophone
 * 21 September 1969: Delta Lady (single) Regal Zonophone


 * 04 October 1969: Delta Lady (single) Regal Zonophone
 * 08 November 1969: She Came In Through The Bedroom Window (single) A&M

1970
 * 22 November 1969: Hello, Little Friend (LP – Joe Cocker) Regal Zonophone
 * 13 December 1969: She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (LP - Joe Cocker!) Regal Zonophone
 * 27 December 1969: Lawdy Miss Clawdy (session)
 * 23 May 1970: I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends (3xLP – Woodstock) Atlantic

1972
 * 06 June 1970: The Letter (7") Regal Zonophone
 * 27 June 1970: The Letter (7") Regal Zonophone
 * 30 June 1972: Woman To Woman (single) Cube


 * 11 July 1972: Woman To Woman (single) Cube

1975 1978
 * 18 July 1972: Woman To Woman (single) Cube
 * 25 September 1975: Delta Lady / Hello Little Friend
 * 12 September 1978: Whiter Shade Of Pale

1979 2000 TOTP
 * 13 September 1978: 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine (LP-Luxury You Can Afford)' (Asylum)
 * 14 September 1978: 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine (LP-Luxury You Can Afford)' (Asylum)
 * 18 September 1978: 'What You Did To Me Last Night (LP-Luxury You Can Afford)' (Asylum)
 * 03 October 1978: Fun Time (7") Asylum
 * 30 October 1978: 'Fun Time (7")' (Asylum)
 * 08 January 1979: 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale (7")' (Asylum)
 * 23 May 2000: Bird On The Wire (album - Joe Cocker!) Regal Zonophone
 * 05 May 1983 (TOTP): With A Little Help From My Friends