Remembering Joe Cocker Trivia Quiz

Answer: John

John Robert Cocker was born in 1944 and became known as Joe from his childhood, although the origin of the nickname is unclear. He joined his first band in 1960 and worked as a gas fitter while trying to break into the music business. Joe landed a recording contract with Decca records, but failed to make an impact and was dropped by the record label in 1964.

Answer: With a Little Help From my Friends

Joe's version was very different from the original, which featured Ringo Starr on vocals. Joe slowed the song down considerably and his rasping voice gave the song a completely different sound. His recording was enhanced by having Jimmy Page, who went on to become part of Led Zeppelin, on lead guitar.

The record was something of a slow burner and took a few weeks to reach the top of the charts, but it became number one on the UK Singles Chart in November 1968.

Answer: Woodstock

Joe and his band, The Grease Band, were touring the USA and had already played the Newport Rock Festival and Denver Pop Festival. They managed to obtain an invitation to play at Woodstock, and proved successful. The band then returned to the UK where they played at the Isle of Wight Festival.

The touring was taking a toll on Cocker's health and The Grease Band was broken up at the end of 1969.

Answer: Mad Dogs and Englishmen

The album was a double and included covers of several well known songs, including 'Honky Tonk Women' originally sung by The Rolling Stones and written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard. Leonard Cohen's 'Bird on the Wire' and 1950s song 'Cry Me a River' also featured. 'Cry Me a River' was released as a single in the USA and was moderately successful.

All the options listed were Noel Coward compositions.

Answer: True

The song was written by Billy Preston and his usual songwriting partner Bruce Fisher with contributions from Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. Cocker recorded it for his 1974 album 'I Can Stand a Little Rain' and it reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.

At this stage of his career, Joe was far more popular in the USA than in his home country and neither the album nor the single made any impact on the UK charts. The only recording to reach a higher position in the USA was a duet.

Answer: The Letter

Joe took the original pop song and reworked it into a bluesy version. The song was particularly successful in the USA, reaching number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It reached only a miserly number 39 in the UK, and began a run which saw Joe have far more success in America than in his home country, at least with singles, which lasted until 1982.

The original version had been a worldwide chart topper in 1967 for The Box Tops, who also recorded 'Cry Like a Baby' and 'Neon Rainbow'. As far as I can discover, Joe did not cover these, but he did do a version of 'A Whiter Shade of Pale', the Procol Harum hit.

Answer: Sheffield Steel

The album was recorded in Nassau, in the Bahamas, and originally had ten tracks. A further four were added for a re-release in 2002. The album didn't do well, despite having backing singers of the calibre of Robert Palmer and Jimmy Cliff.

Joe was born and raised in Sheffield, which is renowned for steel making and cutlery. The title can also be read to mean strength - steeliness. The other options were made up, but do reflect the industries for which the cities were known.

Answer: Delta

'Delta Lady' was written by Leon Russell, who went on to work with Joe on numerous occasions. The song first appeared on the 1969 album named 'Joe Cocker!', which also included covers of George Harrison's 'Something' and 'Darlin' Be Home Soon', written by John Sebastian for The Loving Spoonful.

The single did well in the UK, reaching number ten on the UK Singles Chart, the last big hit he had at home for several years.

Answer: Jennifer Warnes

The song was, of course, 'Up Where We Belong' and it brought Joe back to the attention of the UK. It reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and did even better in the USA hitting the top of the US Billboard Hot 100.

Jennifer Warnes had tasted chart success previously, with 'Right Time of the Night' having reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. The duet with Joe must have encouraged her as she went on to have two more number one hits, including another duet with Bill Medley, of The Righteous Brothers, this time. It was called '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' which was featured in the 1987 film 'Dirty Dancing' - you may have heard of it.

Answer: Cancer

Joe died in Colorado, in the USA, where he had lived for most of his adult life with his American wife, Pam, who he married in 1987. He succumbed to lung cancer at the age of seventy. He had continued performing and his final studio album, 'Fire it Up', was released only in 2012.

Paul McCartney was among many who paid tribute to Joe after his death was announced, saying that Cocker's versions of The Beatles' songs had 'blown him away'.