Joe Cocker's whiskey-torn voice and broken
soul singer's heart have made him one of the finest song interpreters of the
rock era, and given the right song, he can drive it home at an emotional level that borders on possession. This collection of singles drawn from the early and middle points of his career forms a remarkably cohesive portrait of an often overlooked artist, and it also functions as a pretty decent introduction to
Cocker's love-wracked world. There are a couple of omissions, including his live version of
Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" from the Mad Dogs & Englishmen album and his perfectly nuanced cover of
Randy Newman's "You Can Leave Your Hat On," but these are minor complaints, given the many fine tracks here. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide