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Cover to Cover: The Beatles v Joe Cocker

Henry Irving
Henry Irving Posts: 85,221
in Not Sports Related
You know how it works by now.

Two versions of the same song. Which do you prefer?

The 1967 Beatles pop original sung by Ringo on Sgt Pepper or the blues cover by Joe Cocker from 1968

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkyqRP8S93Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr3XHHMtrHw

Comments

  • CHG
    CHG Posts: 4,529
    This a very good one Henry, will have to go for Cocker.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,039
    Dead heat for me. Love both versions.
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,843
    Tough one, Henners.

    The Beatles are The Beatles and a track from what many would say is their seminal album takes a lot of shifting. But Joe's voice and interpretation are both sublime.

    Cocker for me - but only just.
  • Greenie
    Greenie Posts: 9,172
    edited July 2017
    No contest, Cocker, his version is what the Beatles should have made. And Winwood is on keys....thats enough for me.......
    Ringo starr should never ever be allowed near a microphone....in fact he should have taken a vow of silence.
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,844
    edited July 2017
    Ooh tough choice, one where I don't have to click on the links as I know them so well

    Joe Cocker, just
  • raytreacy69
    raytreacy69 Posts: 955
    IMO - best ever cover of any Beatles song and better than the original
  • Karim_myBagheri
    Karim_myBagheri Posts: 12,715
    Joe Cocker for me an all
  • Johnnysummers5
    Johnnysummers5 Posts: 8,469
    Joe Cocker, by a mile
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,331
    The Beatles. By a country mile.

    Cocker's version is good, but it loses on account of The Beatles' rich back story constructed around Sgt Pepper. For instance, the song is a tale told by a character called Billy Shears. Where is he in Cocker's version? When the narrator's identity - introduced before the song starts in the origin version - is ignored, the story changes. And, in my view, not for the better.

    It is not true to say - as some do - that you can't ever surpass a track from Sgt Pepper with a cover. But I don't think I've heard anyone doing so. Joe Cocker has produced an enjoyable song, but it's far from being superior to The Beatles version.

    Sgt Pepper was released on Friday 26 May 1967. Two days later, Jimmy Hendrix played a gig in London. During that set, he played the album - having had only 48 hours or so to learn it. I doubt he - or anyone - would have done the same had they heard Cocker's version a couple of days before a gig.

    RIP Joe, John, George and Jimmy
  • Afternoon Delight
    Afternoon Delight Posts: 913
    The Beatles for me, although the Cocker version is excellent and forever linked to the superb "Wonder Years"
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  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,221
    Afternoon Delight said:

    The Beatles for me, although the Cocker version is excellent and forever linked to the superb "Wonder Years"

    One of the best "coming of age" programmes on TV and great soundtrack.
  • cfgs
    cfgs Posts: 11,476
    Cocker for me.

    Gave @Afternoon Delight a like as I loved Wonder Years as well.
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,625
    Henry Irving said:

    Afternoon Delight said:

    The Beatles for me, although the Cocker version is excellent and forever linked to the superb "Wonder Years"

    One of the best "coming of age" programmes on TV and great soundtrack.
    I heartedly agree. Also have to go for the Beatles track over Jarvis Cocker anyday......
  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    I love the Beatles one, and Starr's vocals actually work for a change, but for me cocker's version is best.
  • Six-a-bag-of-nuts
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts Posts: 8,127
    The Beatles.
    I'm not sure how much I buy into Chizz's "context" argument, but the song was written specifically for Ringo to sing.
    John and Paul always wrote one song for him on each album and in this case he sang "in character" as an "average" vocalist in a "Lonely Hearts Club" band.
    For all of Ringo's vocal limitations, his voice has soothing charm and it works within his range.
    I do get irked by the snobbery (not on here) attached to Joe Cocker's "more authentic" version.
    Don't get me wrong, I love his version and it adds a completely different dimension to the song.
    It's a close run thing, but the Beatles perfect pop confection wins for me.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,221
    @cfgs @Afternoon Delight @golfaddick

    Can any of your remember which episode it is when Karen, the older sister, goes away to college. Really want to watch the scene when she makes up with her dad even though he won't give her his old army kit bag.
  • 3blokes
    3blokes Posts: 4,610
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts said:

    The Beatles.
    I'm not sure how much I buy into Chizz's "context" argument, but the song was written specifically for Ringo to sing.
    John and Paul always wrote one song for him on each album and in this case he sang "in character" as an "average" vocalist in a "Lonely Hearts Club" band.
    For all of Ringo's vocal limitations, his voice has soothing charm and it works within his range.
    I do get irked by the snobbery (not on here) attached to Joe Cocker's "more authentic" version.
    Don't get me wrong, I love his version and it adds a completely different dimension to the song.
    It's a close run thing, but the Beatles perfect pop confection wins for me.

    That pretty much sums up how I feel.
    Fab Four version for me.
  • Friend Or Defoe
    Friend Or Defoe Posts: 18,083
    Joe Cocker, mainly due to the Wonder Years and having a better voice.
  • Six-a-bag-of-nuts
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts Posts: 8,127
    Joe Cocker v. Leon Russell versions of Delta Lady might be a good cover to cover Henry?
    Or maybe only for fogies :smile:
  • Karim_myBagheri
    Karim_myBagheri Posts: 12,715
    Henry Irving said:

    @cfgs @Afternoon Delight @golfaddick

    Can any of your remember which episode it is when Karen, the older sister, goes away to college. Really want to watch the scene when she makes up with her dad even though he won't give her his old army kit bag.

    think you mean this one. it's called daddy's little girl.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5YVK43nGWU
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  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,844
    edited July 2017
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts said:

    The Beatles.
    I'm not sure how much I buy into Chizz's "context" argument, but the song was written specifically for Ringo to sing.
    John and Paul always wrote one song for him on each album and in this case he sang "in character" as an "average" vocalist in a "Lonely Hearts Club" band.
    For all of Ringo's vocal limitations, his voice has soothing charm and it works within his range.
    I do get irked by the snobbery (not on here) attached to Joe Cocker's "more authentic" version.
    Don't get me wrong, I love his version and it adds a completely different dimension to the song.
    It's a close run thing, but the Beatles perfect pop confection wins for me.

    I would agree that the song does fit Ringo very well. "What would you think if I sang out of tune" works so much better with Ringo singing it, as John and Paul would never in 1967 be singing out of tune!
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,221
    Karim_myBagheri said:

    Henry Irving said:

    @cfgs @Afternoon Delight @golfaddick

    Can any of your remember which episode it is when Karen, the older sister, goes away to college. Really want to watch the scene when she makes up with her dad even though he won't give her his old army kit bag.

    think you mean this one. it's called daddy's little girl.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5YVK43nGWU
    Yes, thanks, that's it. Welling up now
  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,735
    Cocker
  • McBobbin
    McBobbin Posts: 12,051
    Henry Irving said:

    Karim_myBagheri said:

    Henry Irving said:

    @cfgs @Afternoon Delight @golfaddick

    Can any of your remember which episode it is when Karen, the older sister, goes away to college. Really want to watch the scene when she makes up with her dad even though he won't give her his old army kit bag.

    think you mean this one. it's called daddy's little girl.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5YVK43nGWU
    Yes, thanks, that's it. Welling up now
    Bedsaddick said:

    Cocker

    Harsh
  • Davo55
    Davo55 Posts: 7,836
    Just don't think the Beatles should ever have let Ringo near a microphone.

    Cocker by a mile.
  • EastTerrace
    EastTerrace Posts: 3,961
    Loved The Wonder Years!
  • Redskin
    Redskin Posts: 3,112
    No contest. The Beatles hit a steady, natural groove with Ringo's wistful gratitude lacking any pretence.
    Cocker's version is somewhat affected, and trying too hard to make the song his own.
    No-one has ever come near the Beatles as a band, and no-one ever will.
  • Alex Wright
    Alex Wright Posts: 8,214
    Has to be Joe Cocker for me.
  • sillav nitram
    sillav nitram Posts: 10,164
    It's one of my least favourite Beatles tracks, so Joe for me.

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