Joe Cocker Doubleback 2LP

Joe Cocker 'I'll get by with a little help from my Friends/Joe Cocker!' (Fly Records, 1972)

I've had to endure both these albums twice now. Once during an intensely boring Fifa 11 session when I took Borussia Mönchengladbach to the Bundesliga title and once because Lu was complaining that I never listen to records she might like when she's in.

After about 15 minutes of 'Joe Cocker', which we incorrectly listened to first, she announced that she didn't like his voice and got back to important things like Facebook and The Daily Mail's gossip site.

Cocker specialises in dreary quasi soul/gospel drudgery and even on his most recognisable covers, like his debut's title track, you wish he'd get on with it. Seeing him live must have been a somnambulist's dream. Having said that he surrounds himself with some excellent musicians and rock glitterati; Jimmy Page, Tony Visconti, Albert Lee, Stevie Winwood, Carole Kaye, Bruce Rowland and Chris Staiton all appear along with many other talented session musicians. In addition he is known for his mad electrocuted zombie stage shtick, which always made me laugh when he was on Top of the Pops doing that song from 'An Officer and a Gentleman'.

This is a Fly 'Doubleback - two for the price of one' release (RRP £2.30!) and it's a nice package. The labels on the records are really cool with a massive orange fly obviously attracted to the quality of the music contained within.

I'm maybe being a bit too harsh, but it's really annoyed me that I've listen to both these albums twice and I still have to session the new Dragged into Sunlight.

Peace