Not everyone wanted to call it in the nineties, "unplugged"; the Stones had her "Stripped", and Joe Cocker called it just "Organic". The ingredients voted: producer was Don Was (he had, inter alia, Bonnie Raitt's comeback album "Nick of Time" produced and "Stripped" co-produced), and to the illustrious musician squad could not also be: Kenny Aronoff and Jim Keltner (the Joe since the "Mad Dogs" days knew) drumming, Randy Newman sat at the keys, as well as that of my very estimated Billy Preston and the old Cocker- (and Clapton-) Spezi Chris Stainton. Darryl Jones (part-time Rolling Stone) played bass, even Tony Joe White played guitar, next to Studio cracks like Johnny Lee Schell and Dean Parks; and Merry Clayton, who had already finished '69 Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones, (just to name a few) sings background.
From just over half of the 14 songs, there were already studio versions of Joe Cocker: Do not Let Me Be Misunderstood and Bye Bye Blackbird on "With a Little Help from My Friends" Delta Lady and Darling Be Home Soon on "Joe Cocker!" , You are so beautiful on "I Can Stand A Little Rain" Many Rivers to Cross on "Sheffield Steel," You can leave your hat on for "COCKER" and Can not Find My Way Home on "Night Calls".
Almost all of these songs Joe has published classic recordings that are not improving - why should an acoustic guitar version of You are so beautiful to be good? But particularly Delta Lady and You can leave your hat on acting totally toothless (for the latter you want to lie down now no longer Strip, but rather his fine rib underpants again pull). The low point is Do not Let Me Be Misunderstood is: just Cockers' 69er version to "With A Little Help ..." had always been (and much better than the Animals version) for me one of the archetypal rock songs: Strong Text, great interpretation and economically arranged, tailor-made for Joe Cocker. On "Organic" he turns it into a feel-good radio wannabe reggae (and just the single release!) - And one wonders whether it is on the old age or lack of interest, the forgotten him the third verse and instead be the first repeat. Only Many Rivers to Cross now sounds really "organic" as Cockers quite cold first version.
From the "new" songs can only the bluesy Tony Joe White / Joe Cocker composition High Lonesome Blue convince. Heart Full of Rain, You and I and Sail away rippling as smooth and inconsequential to himself as the self-cover versions; Cocker does Van Morrison Into the Mystic no favors, and even Bob Dylan Dignity he adds no new dimensions, where it also does not help that he omits half of the verses.
With this album, Joe Cocker to expire a good idea unused; the two Maxi-CD bonus tracks Anybody Seen My Girl and Springsteen Human Touch lined up as seamlessly. Two good songs (Many Rivers to Cross and High Lonesome Blue) are too meager. Here he clearly confused "relaxed" with "de-energized" and "boring". Maybe it's because Joe Cocker seems increasingly to listen to bad advisers in the song selection and form of presentation. Since "Organic" Anyway, I wonder to my original custom at every Cocker-New Release, if I should buy them blind from old friendship or maybe listen for now.
