Today in History: Joe Cocker was born. His 10 greatest songs according to Billboard magazine
One of the greatest vocalists of all time, the late Joe Cocker was born on this day in 1944.
Before his death on 22 December 2014, Joe Cocker charted 19 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including familiar recordings like 1968’s cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends, which later became the theme song for the hit 1980s TV show ‘The Wonder Years’.
Cocker was born John Robert ‘Joe’ Cocker, on 20 May, 1944, at 38 Tasker Road, Crookes, Sheffield.
According to differing family stories, Cocker received his nickname of Joe either from playing a childhood game called ‘Cowboy Joe’, or from a local window cleaner named Joe.
Cocker’s main musical influences growing up were Ray Charles and Lonnie Donegan.
Cocker’s first experience of singing in public was at the age of 12 when his elder brother Victor invited him on stage to sing during one of his skiffle group’s gigs.
In 1960, along with three friends, Cocker formed his first group, The Cavaliers.
They broke up after a year and Cocker left school to become an apprentice gas fitter, working for the East Midlands Gas Board, while simultaneously pursuing a career in music.
His big break came after minor success in the United States with the single Marjorine, when he rearranged With a Little Help from My Friends.
Cocker’s career would skyrocket from thereon, achieving a number of hits that charted in Billboard’s Top 40, such as You Are So Beautiful, The Letter featuring Leon Russell and The Shelter People, When the Night Comes, and Feelin’ Alright.
Another famed Cocker track, You Can Leave Your Hat On, became a hit in 1986 after it was used in the film ‘9½ Weeks’.
Hip-hop fans might also be surprised to discover that Cocker’s 1972 single Woman to Woman was interpolated into rapper 2Pac’s 1996 hit California Love.
The chart of Cocker’s Top 10 hits below is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100.
Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at number one earning the greatest value and weeks at number 100 earning the least.
10. Put Out the Light
Peak Position: No 46
Peak Date: 27 July 1974
9. Midnight Rider featuring the Chris Stainton Band
Peak Position: No 27
Peak Date: 28 October 1972
(Not original performance of song)
8. Feelin’ Alright
Peak Position: No 33
Peak Date: 12 February 1972
7. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
Peak Position: No 30
Peak Date: 7 February 1970
6. High Time We Went / Black-Eyed Blues (double-sided single)
Peak Position: No 22
Peak Date: 17 July 1971
5. Cry Me a River
Peak Position: No 11
Peak Date: 14 November 1970
4. When the Night Comes
Peak Position: No 11
Peak Date: 20 January 1990
3. The Letter featuring Leon Russell and The Shelter People
Peak Position: No 7
Peak Date: 30 May 1970
2. You Are So Beautiful / It’s a Sin When You Love Somebody (double-sided single)
Peak Position: No 5
Peak Date: 29 March 1975
1. Up Where We Belong featuring Jennifer Warnes
Peak Position: No 1
Peak Date: 6 November 1982
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