Famed for his gritty voice and captivating stage presence, Joe Cocker is no stranger to the entertainment industry with a total of 22 studio albums under his belt. One of the most respected singers of his generation, Cocker’s unmistakable voice, with a blues-infused tone, has seen an impressive musical career that’s spanned over five decades. Cocker’s gritty, blues-infused voice and powerful delivery were instantly recognisable and set him apart from many other artists of his time.
His humble beginnings began in Sheffield in 1944, when Cocker took the musical world by storm and went on to have a lasting influence on popular music today. To recognise this legendary performer and take a trip down memory lane, Joe Cocker’s top 10 songs have been officially ranked by Spotify, with the list revealing a few surprises.
Cocker came up through the British rock universe in the late ’60s becoming a household name in 1970 when he received his first US hit with his cover of “The Letter”.
Many of the most iconic films ever made feature Cocker’s songs and includes The Bodyguard, The Wonder Years, 9½ Weeks and Harry and the Hendersons.
Up Where We Belong was a duet with Jennifer Warnes and was featured in the blockbuster film, An Officer and a Gentleman.
The song went on to become an international hit and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, bagging Cocker a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo.
The accolades for the smash hit didn’t end there as the song also won an 1983 Oscar for Best Original Song.and is no surprise it features in the top spot.
However, many would be surprised to see Cocker’s Feelin’ Alright?’ hit only featured in ninth spot.
The song strongly resonated with many Brits at the time, thanks to its emotional and raw energy, later seeing it become one of the most classic rock anthems.
But Feelin’ Alright? and its popularity also extended far beyond its musical merits and was described as being a symbol of a particular era, according to music experts.
It was also a reminder of the powerful connection between music and emotion, transcending generations and is still today an anthem beloved by many.
Cocker sadly passed away in 2014 at the age of 70 from lung cancer, with Jennifer Warnes leaving a special Billboard tribute for her singing partner after his death.
According to Spotify, with the analysis based on total streams, Joe Cocker’s top 10 songs of all time include:
- Up Where We Belong: (duet with Jennifer Warnes)
- You Are So Beautiful
- With A Little Help From My Friends
- Feelin’ Alright
- Unchain My Heart
- You Can Leave Your Hat On
- Delta Lady
- Cry Me A River
- I Think It’s Going To Rain Today
- Woman to Woman