Joe Cocker, Bye Bye Blackbird | COVERS

In the 17^th edition of COVERS (2024), Joe Cocker delivers a compelling rendition of “Bye Bye Blackbird,” first recorded in 1926.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 17^th edition of COVERS (2024), Joe Cocker delivers a compelling rendition of the standard, “Bye Bye Blackbird”.

“Pack up all my cares and woes / Feeling low, here I go / I should have dialed (Bye, bye, blackbird)…” Joe Cocker was the definition of a male powerhouse.  That man could flat-out sing 💪! “Bye Bye Blackbird” is NOT a Joe Cocker original.  Sure, Joe makes this Mort Dixon and Ray Henderson-penned number his own, but it was first recorded in 1926 🤯!  The first hit version also arrived in 1926, courtesy of Gene Austin. It has been covered hundreds and hundreds of times. This standard appears as the second track on his 1969 album, With a Little Help From My Friends.  There is a more iconic cover from the LP but “Bye Bye Blackbird” in his hands is EPIC.

Denny Cordell produced “Bye Bye Blackbird,” which features a bluesy, soulful instrumental.  The piano leads the charge initially. However, “Bye Bye Blackbird” becomes even grander with the organ entering the mix as well as an incredible guitar solo by the one-and-only Jimmy Page around the 1:40 mark. The star of the show, Mr. Cocker, gives his all to the vocals, singing commandingly, soulfully, and infusing grit. Besides his dynamic, nuanced lead, the background vocals bring the heat too. Again, this is not an original written for Cocker, but he makes it sound original.  It’s easy to buy what he sells as he sings: “Nobody seems to love / Or understand me / And horrid hard luck stories / They keep on handin’ me.” Indeed, Joe, indeed.  “Bye Bye Blackbird” = sensational.

Joe Cocker // With a Little Help From My Friends // A&M / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1969

Joe Cocker, Bye Bye Blackbird: Covers No. 17 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; A&M / UMG Recordings, Inc.; Andrea Piacquadio, cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Matteo Milan from Pexels; MR1313, OpenClipart-Vectors, Vicki Hamilton from Pixabay]