This live album from Joe Cocker documents his 1970 tour from the Fillmore East in New York with two LPs of lively tracks, where only four of the tunes included were on his previous two albums.

After a quick introduction, “Honky Tonk Women” pairs Leon Russell’s thick guitar with Cocker’s inimitably soulful pipes and plenty of backing voices for a festive climate. “Sticks And Stones” then uses scrappy drumming and Jim Price’s animated trumpet for plenty of grit and melody.

Further along, the pretty piano and powerful singing of “Bird On A Wire” tugs on the heartstrings, while “Superstar” spotlights Rita Coolidge’s soaring and expressive pipes and Bobby Keys’ rich saxophone. The medley of “I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong With My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” then makes great use of Carl Radle’s moody bass and plenty of backing singers for 12-plus minutes of the emotive performing that Cocker built his career on.

Getting close to the end, the hand-clapping fun and gospel influence of “Give Peace A Chance” is as relevant as ever, and “Space Captain” offers an upbeat and collaborative moment of positivity and bluesy ideas. “Delta Lady” ends the set, and it balances classic-rock, soul, jazz and blues into an animated and raw finish of Cocker at his best.

Cocker saw this and two more of his early albums reissued in 2025, which coincides with his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. This soundtrack is a companion to the documentary and concert film of the same name that is now on YouTube in its entirety for the first time.

The sound quality on these recordings is incredible, and the interpretations of the Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Otis Redding, and the Beatles, plus the choir, three-piece horn section and many drummers makes it pretty clear just why Cocker was a superstar in 1970.

Rating: B+

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