Top 10 Best Songs by Joe Cocker

The cover that made the Beatles' original pale. At Woodstock, he screamed his soul out. The waltz-time in 6/8 gives it a dragging, bluesy feel. The ad-lib before the last note is legendary; he seems to choke from intensity. It's a primal scream of friendship and loneliness. The definitive Joe Cocker moment.

One of the most vulnerable love songs ever. Joe sings it agonizingly slowly. His voice cracks, rasps and whispers. It's as if he can barely get it out of his throat from emotion. "To me, you are everything." No production, just pure adoration. A song that proves imperfection can be perfection.

A Ray Charles classic that Cocker put in a tight eighties jacket. The bass line and saxophone are iconic. It's a plea to be released from a painful relationship. Joe sings with a force that shows he's regaining control. Tough, rhythmic and full of soul.

The hit from An Officer and a Gentleman. A classic power ballad. The contrast between Jennifer Warnes' clear voice and Joe's raw growl works perfectly. It's about love that overcomes obstacles. It builds to a grand, orchestral finale. Kitsch? Maybe. But of the best, most sweeping kind.

A big hit in Europe in the nineties. It's a nostalgic song about the generation gap and holding onto your ideals. "Don't forget." The atmosphere is French and melancholic, with an accordion. Joe sounds like a wise, old man looking back. A soulful and warm song.

A cover of John Hiatt. Just piano and that enormous, cracking voice. It's a plea for trust and love. Because the production is so bare, the emotion hits hard. You hear the cracks in his soul. A beautiful, small song from a big man.

A song that starts as a quiet story about a prostitute, but slowly transforms into a mad climax. The music swells, gets faster and more intense, until it explodes into pure energy. Live, this is a transcendent experience. Joe rages across the stage like a shaman.

Originally by The Box Tops. Joe turned it into a shredding soul rocker. The brass and piano hammer through. "Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane." The urgency in his voice is palpable; he must get to his beloved. It's raw, hard and impassioned. Live this was always an explosion of energy.

Written by Leon Russell, about the singer Rita Coolidge. It's a gospel-like rock song that bursts with love and admiration. The choir and piano propel Joe to great heights. It's festive and energetic. You hear the pleasure of the legendary Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour in it.

A cover of The Lovin' Spoonful, but slower and heavier. You feel the heat of the asphalt in his voice. The groove is lazy and sweaty. Joe sounds like a man struggling through the urban jungle. It's brooding and intense. A perfect song for a hot day in the city.