BJ Wilson live on CD with Joe Cocker

The recently-issued (2001) Joe Cocker double CD Standing Here (Live in Denver, Colorado, May 2nd 1981 (Pilot 63) features our beloved BJ Wilson on drums, and includes a live version of the Cocker A Whiter Shade of Pale (António Alfaite)

Joan May wrote: I've always maintained that this was Joe's greatest line-up ever, and sadly they released almost no recordings – this one was only released as an LP in Australia – until now, July 1998! It's still an import from Australia, but available on CD and accessible to us all: review here.

The recording quality is quite good and BJ sounds great as do Joe, guitarist Cliff Goodwin and the whole band. The Cocker / Wilson Band did at least four other live recordings – the two German Rockpalasts (1980 and 1983), King Biscuit, 1982, and Montreal, 1981. The latter was shown on Canadian TV and was fantastic.

I wish they'd release all the available Cocker / Wilson shows on CD or video – let's hope this is the first of many!

Joe Cocker Live In New York (1981, Liberation Records: made in Australia)

Joe Cocker – vocal
Mitch Chakour – Piano
Cliff Goodwin – Guitar
Howie Hersh – Bass
BJ Wilson – Drums
Bob Leinbach – Keyboards (predecessor to Larry Marshall, organist on the Montreal show)
Maxine Green, Ann Lang and Beth Anderson – vocals
Executive Producer – Michael Lang
Producer: Robert Deitsch

Put Out the Light
Look What You've Done
So Blue
Guilty (just Joe and Mitch – no drums)
Jealous Kind
Hitchcock Railway
Sweet Forgiveness
You Are So Beautiful (BJ and Cliff really shine here)
The Letter
With a Little Help From My Friends