With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker

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With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker

This is another one I had on most of my 60s compilations. Think the production and emotion created into this is pure class. Especially compared to Ringo Starr's version released by the Beatles. You believe Joe Cocker had a little help from his mates, the roar in this vocal is a master at work, is he out of tune? Who cares! What sounded like a nursery rhyme before now sounds like a huge cry for help. The subject matter is so true, we all need propping up once in a while, hard times are upon us and we need to look after each other.

The other thing about this song was it was used as the title music for a TV program called ‘The Wonder Years.’ Channel 4 in the UK showed it when I was a teenager. It was set in the 60s in small town America and the narrator was the main characters older self looking back on his younger days. Kevin Arnold had a best mate called Paul, my name being Kevin and my best friend being a Paul was enough reason to know it was all about us. The Vietnam War was a big subject matter in there as was the relationships between the family members. It was a thought provoking comedy showing how life used to be.

This song summed up the series perfectly and I was surprised to learn that when different countries aired the show not all of them used this fantastic song.
The opening bars alone take you on a journey and from there you just have to sing along, even if you are out of key.
 
Favourite lyric : Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song / I will try not to sing out of key
Location: Rayleigh, UK

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