In this June 1970 photo released by Linda Wolf, Joe Cocker appears in Los Angeles after the Joe Cocker — Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour and traveling party
Can you sing the blues without having suffered?
Joe Cocker: It's an emotion – a way of carrying an emotion. It's a very simple format but I find myself leaning that way as I get older. It's a very nice way to sing.
Where did your unique dancing style come from?
You mean my arm movements? I actually saw myself with Eric Clapton – you know you see all your old stuff on YouTube now – and I was horrified at myself, with my arms just flailing around. I guess that came with my frustration at never having played piano or guitar. If you see me nowadays I'm not quite so animated, but it's just a way of trying to get feeling out – I get excited and it all comes through my body.
You played at Woodstock, which looks like the worst experience on Earth from the movie. How was it for you?
We were kind of lucky because we got on stage real early. It took about half the set just to get through to everybody, to that kind of consciousness. You're in a sea of humanity and people aren't necessarily looking to entertain you. We did Let's Go Get Stoned by Ray Charles, which kind of turned everybody around a bit, and we came off looking pretty good that day. A lot of other artists didn't enjoy themselves at all.
The Guardian Interview
For all my Visitors here . . . . . . many now become, well friends
Seasons Greetings and Take it Easy out there . . . but take it!
Joe was such a power performer! I'm glad I got to see him twice before he left us...
ReplyDeleteAlways welcome GMan and I only got to see him the once but I had seen, like so many, nothing like it before or since and loved him for the get go . . . .
ReplyDeleteHoly crap, what a performance. That's something I enjoy too, are these singers having such great backing bands. What a climax too. Brilliant stuff. Gotta love a bit of Joe. His story would make a good film methinks. He was down and out for a few years I recollect, before Tian Turners' manager (can't remember his name) took him and cleaned him up. Love it Andy. Saw he was on at the old Ox Pol I recollect but didn;t bother for some reason. Cheers DD
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