Hip-O's double-disc
Joe Cocker set
Gold unites the tracks on 2004's single-disc
Ultimate Collection with 16 favorites that had been left off that package due to space restrictions. With that situation corrected, these original recordings span the singer's 30-plus years by not only including all the obvious favorites from his A&M days ("Feelin' Alright," "Delta Lady," "The Letter," etc.) but important overlooked hits of that era like "Put Out the Light," "High Time We Went," and "Midnight Rider." His later work on MCA, Island, Capitol, and Sony is also documented thoroughly with the inclusion of his number one 1992 duet with
Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong," and the tastefully selected cover versions
Cocker recorded in the 1990s of songs by
Ray Charles,
Elton John,
Lovin Spoonful, and
Randy Newman among others. Anyone looking for a comprehensive collection of
Cocker's best recordings should pick this up. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide