Hymn for My Soul

"We are amazed but not amused by all the things you said to do," Joe Cocker blasts amid a punchy horn arrangement on a Stevie Wonder song that starts one of Cocker's best CDs. "You Haven't Done Nothin'" is simply one of the best tracks Cocker has recorded. He plucks George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness" from the All Things Must Pass [BOXED EDITION] album and fully embodies the track with its now familiar melody and transforms the meditative song into a slow soul crooner, "The hopelessness around you, in the dead of night, beware of sadness." Percy Mayfield's "River's Invitation" is another pearl with Benmont Tench's piano giving the perfect accent to the bouncy arrangement about a guy about ready to throw himself into the river, "I'm trying to find my baby that no one has seen around, You know which way I'm headed if my baby can't be found." The Beatles' "Come Together" that Cocker sang in the film and on the soundtrack of Across The Universe [Deluxe Edition] concludes the set as a bonus track. Other songs like Daniel Moore's "Just Pass It On," John Fogerty's "Long As I Can See the Light" and Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells" are also exquisite. Joe Cocker does what he does best on "Hymn for My Soul," fills the music with power and conviction that mesmerizes the listener. Bravo!

I have always loved him and his music.So glad for his new cd.Keep them coming.

This cd is one of Cocker's best....he doesn't "belt 'em out"....he treats each song individually. Choice of material is great including "Pass it On" by Daniel & Matthew Moore.
So glad I purchased this cd because I want to hear it over and over again. Joe Cocker is magical. I think he stopped listening to people who told him what he should record and what he shouldn't record - Sounds as though he has brought along the music/songs he wanted to record....and he was right.

Joe Cocker's got the best voice for singing gospel. That rough burr just sends chills down your spine. IMHO, this is one of the best Cocker collections ever. He's borrowed sidemen and sidewomen from everyone from Ray Charles to Jimi Hendrix and the covers he's chosen couldn't be better.

It's hard to pick a favorite from this soul soaring collection. "As Long as I can See the Light" has been a favorite of mine since CCR, but Cocker's version is in many ways even stronger than John Fogerty's.

"One Word Peace" comes from the very underestimated New Orleans based band, The Subdudes. This is one of their finer songs and I'm hoping Cocker's cover will get them a bit more attention, too.

"Just Pass it On" is a gorgeous message and the chorus will get you up standing up and cheering.

Of course, the ending track is "Come Together" from "Across the Universe" which was one of the best songs from that movie. It's not gospel per se, but it gets the message across and this collection has 'message' everywhere!

Rebecca Kyle, July 2008

Joe Cocker is a legendary great whose artistry has grown so much over the years and this awesome set of incredible performances is one of his finest ever! A truly amazing production with Ethan Johns a perfect choice for producer as he assembled an extraordinary collection of cream of the crop musicians plus famed background singers such as Julia Waters, Oren Waters, Tata Vega, Jim Gilstrap, and the legendary Merry Clayton! Opening supremely funky with a Stevie Wonder gem "You Haven't Done Nothin", Joe cuts loose and really does let it rip on this great song making it clear that he would be perfect doing a "Stevie Wonder Songbook Collection" as this definitive version could be a huge hit if given exposure at all on the airwaves...radio programmers? "One Word (Peace)" is a stunner being a moving & timely plea for peace that is a glorious anthem that needs airplay as this universal message is a must for all to hear in these strange & alarming times where so many seem to be against those different from themselves and it is amazing they haven't learned the universal & simple message of live and let live yet...great love songs are always a pleasure & "Love Is For Me" is a passionate & exhuberant celebration while the soulful plea of "Don't Give Up On Me" is riveting classic soul at it's very finest! Joe gives a haunting & deeply soulful performance in "Long As I Can See The Light" while George Harrison must be smiling down on Joe for making "Beware Of Darkness" a haunting classic all over again. "Just Pass It On" is another wondrous stirring celebration with an unique arrangement making it clear by now this masterful collection of great songs and tremendous performances is filled with the best music can offer and hopefully radio will rise to the occasion and give this masterpiece the exposure it deserves! A old classic "River's Invitation" rocks out and is a cooker here while a sublime Dylan "Ring Them Bells" is deeply spiritial deserving a "Grammy Award" nod as it is breathtaking & brilliant to experience. Closing with a rocking and funky "Hymn 4 My Soul" it is clear that this is the tour now to see the legendary Joe Cocker on and I have tickets to experince this musical wonder once again live in concert!!! Original Import release ended here but the new U. S. version feature a awesome bonus track "Come Together" making this the collection to have...Joe once again makes a "Lennon/McCartney" classic his own and this version is fresh, exciting and Joe really nails it!!! Bravo Joe
Update: August 6 @ Los Angeles NOKIA THEATER
Joe Cocker wowed a sold-out audience in peak form receiving numerous standing ovations from a very excited audience! The Legendary singer remains one of the finest around today and induction in to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame would be the right thing to do plus a few Grammy Awards for this amazing tour-de-force filled with awesome performances making this musical treat one of the finest in recent years...enjoy!