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Joe Cocker — Feelin' Alright
Album: Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1836









Released: 1970
Length: 5:35
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Seems I've got to have a change of scene
Cause every night I have the strangest dreams
Imprisoned by the way it could have been
Left here on my own or so it seems
I've got to leave before I start to scream
Someone locked the door and turned the key

Feeling alright
I'm not feeling good myself
Feeling alright
I don't have to feel alright
I'm feeling good myself
Boy you sure took me for a ride
And even now I sit and wonder why
That when I think of you I stop myself from crying
I just can't waste my time
I must keep trying

I've got to stop believing all your lies
Cause there's too much to do before I die

Chorus

Don't you get too lost in all I say
But at the time you know
I really felt that way
But that was then and now you know it's today
Lord I can't escape, I guess I'm hHere to stay
Till someone comes along to take my place
With a different name and a different face

Chorus
Comments (155)add comment
Pretty much my favourite version of this...
mopping the floors with this tune- literally 😁 We saw Joe perform/ stumble  onstage at a joint in Cape Cod in 1980 - me with a fake ID - said we were with the band and got stage-side table to see the spastics and spit up close and personal - joyful 😄 
There have been so so so many times that I think William and the RP staff are telepathic mind readers and they go and play my favorites from back in the day as if the tracks are chosen just for me but alas it's simply that we're birds of a feather is all. Hmm, ARE you RP guys telepathic? Thanks again RP! 
 WoodieGoodpecker wrote:

All  respect for Joe Cocker but this version of the song sounds rather sucky. It sounds like Joe doing Las Vegas covers of himself. 

Joe has a great voice, and is also MO one of the only people that can cover a Beatle song better than the Beatles (with a little hep from his friends). 


The early version of this song is on the first album and it kicks ass. Also check the original version by Traffic.



I think I disagree with most of what you proclaim. 
All  respect for Joe Cocker but this version of the song sounds rather sucky. It sounds like Joe doing Las Vegas covers of himself. 

Joe has a great voice, and is also MO one of the only people that can cover a Beatle song better than the Beatles (with a little hep from his friends). 


The early version of this song is on the first album and it kicks ass. Also check the original version by Traffic.
More clown horn!
Wow, what I assume is a party favour horn is really jumping out at me on this track this morning. Either that or the way my work speakers are positioned has really changed the sound of one of the saxamaphones dong the stab on "alright".
Bill 's dropping this track after Desmond Dekker's Israelites is just one more entry in the ridiculously long catalogue of brilliant RP segues.

What connects this rudeboy from Kingston to this working-class lad from Sheffield? Open your ears, friends, and Bill will make it all clear.
This is one of my favorite albums. Too young to get to the Fillmore for this concert I saw Cocker at MSG in '73 and it sure wasn't the same. 
Any song that makes me dance in my seat while  attempting to type emails and comments such as this one, gets an instant 9. It took me the whole song to write this comment. 
 misterbearbaby wrote:
My old best friend from childhood- her younger brother was a total stoner, I mean a wasted hunk of protoplasm. One day, his wanton teenage ways led him to the middle of the Nevada desert along (he claimed) Route 375, the "Extraterrestrial Highway" - alone, penniless and feeling like he was going to die soon. He was hitching but since he looked like Charles Manson's skeleton after an amateurish exhumation, no rides, until along comes a semi-truck that picks him up. It was the road crew from Cocker's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour,1970. They hire him on as a grunt and he tours the USA with Cocker. After that drug-drenched spectacle, he actually returned to Earth and became a simple, redneck Floridian alcoholic/tweeker until that killed him in his early 50's. He had his moment though- hanging with Jim Gordon, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, Don Preston, Carl Radle,  etc etc and, of course, Cocker. R.I.P. "Inforglative Algnert." (he mumbled a lot)
 
Bittersweet story  thanks for sharing.  


 misterbearbaby wrote:
My old best friend from childhood- her younger brother was a total stoner, I mean a wasted hunk of protoplasm. One day, his wanton teenage ways led him to the middle of the Nevada desert along (he claimed) Route 375, the "Extraterrestrial Highway" - alone, penniless and feeling like he was going to die soon. He was hitching but since he looked like Charles Manson's skeleton after an amateurish exhumation, no rides, until along comes a semi-truck that picks him up. It was the road crew from Cocker's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour,1970. They hire him on as a grunt and he tours the USA with Cocker. After that drug-drenched spectacle, he actually returned to Earth and became a simple, redneck Floridian alcoholic/tweeker until that killed him in his early 50's. He had his moment though- hanging with Jim Gordon, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, Don Preston, Carl Radle,  etc etc and, of course, Cocker. R.I.P. "Inforglative Algnert." (he mumbled a lot)
 
That's one awesome story. Potential for a very punchy short film. ;-)   
Maybe I am too accustomed to the studio recording... but this concert version feels like everyone's a bit tired, making their best effort but it's the end of the evening and they are anticipating going back to their trailers to collapse.  But as i say, only because the studio track is sooooo perfect and tight and cha cha cha
awesome!
I'm not convinced that the kazoo after "feelin' alright" was such a good idea
 lemmoth wrote:
Joe was the most original cover artist in the history of rock and roll.
 
That's a good way to describe him, though to some, he's more like the first karaoke artist in rock and roll.
 Aaahhh!  Joe's Mozart Moment  : )

melzabutch wrote:
Always makes me smile and sing along.

Image result for joe cocker
 

 


What a powerhouse album through and through.
Anyone else hearing the Tim Buckley in this (or is it rather the Joe Cocker in Tim Buckley..)? Good all the same..
 kaybee wrote:

Now is that, capital L, small a, capital F, small o, small n, small g?  LaFong, Carl LaFong?

 
This killed me, Kaybee.  I have not heard that in years.  Gotta love WC.
I was lucky enough to catch this tour in Chapel Hill at Jubilee Weekend in 1970, one of my favorite concert memories out of thousands! Not the tightest sound but just incredible energy throughout the entire show. I had seen Joe with the Grease Band at the Fillmore earlier and he was always the consummate showman, RIP Mr. Cocker.... 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Leon Russell tinkling the ivories if I'm not mistaken.

 
According to wikipedia, it's either Leon Russell on piano or Chris Stainton. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Dogs_%26_Englishmen_(album) 

I'd like to think it was Leon rocking the Ivories here. However, there's a documentary about this tour and concert. The footage of "Feelin' Alright" isn't from the Fillmore East concert where this song was apparently recorded, but it does show Chris Stainton playing piano, and Leon on guitar, for this song. 
 Skydog wrote:
this album and the Allman Bros at Fillmore are the 2 best live albums ever
.
that is of course imho 

 
They're definitely up there, that's for sure.
Always makes me smile and sing along.

Image result for joe cocker
 
My old best friend from childhood- her younger brother was a total stoner, I mean a wasted hunk of protoplasm. One day, his wanton teenage ways led him to the middle of the Nevada desert along (he claimed) Route 375, the "Extraterrestrial Highway" - alone, penniless and feeling like he was going to die soon. He was hitching but since he looked like Charles Manson's skeleton after an amateurish exhumation, no rides, until along comes a semi-truck that picks him up. It was the road crew from Cocker's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour,1970. They hire him on as a grunt and he tours the USA with Cocker. After that drug-drenched spectacle, he actually returned to Earth and became a simple, redneck Floridian alcoholic/tweeker until that killed him in his early 50's. He had his moment though- hanging with Jim Gordon, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, Don Preston, Carl Radle,  etc etc and, of course, Cocker. R.I.P. "Inforglative Algnert." (he mumbled a lot)
Very, very good. Makes me feel alright!
 willmcnaught wrote:
Your still missed Joe! thanks for the music memories! {#Cheers}

 
True that!  I was only a kid back in the day (early 80s) when my dad partied with Cocker in Carpinteria, CA.  And yes, late 70s/early 80s parties did include the Peruvian dancing dust.

And a few years before good old Joe left us, my wife and I got to see him live at a local casino, which I rate way up there with the smaller venue shows we've seen.  He had a great energy and was literally spitting it out like a blessed madman.  He was awesome!

My other favorite memory of this is because of the Huey Lewis character in Duets hustling fools with his pre-made karaoke disk.  I met a real life example of this character during my 7 year post-college partying stretch (because 7 years of in college partying wasn't enough) when I started going to smaller bars than bigger clubs.  Anyways, the guy's name was Rick and he absolutely LOVED this song.  He sang all the common covers, esp the Duets cover. He NEVER sang the original Traffic version though, and his reasoning was interesting.  Basically, he said that it was such a great song that he just got too damn excited while singing it to make it through perfectly.  And that's exactly how Cocker's version sounds to me. 


this album and the Allman Bros at Fillmore are the 2 best live albums ever
.
that is of course imho 
Leon Russell tinkling the ivories if I'm not mistaken.
Your still missed Joe! thanks for the music memories! {#Cheers}
this is a good one, imo
This is actually a great album from A to Z
 tulfan wrote:
Does any other "vocalist" rely so heavily upon back-up singers? 
 
Roger Waters, since about 30 years ago. I suspect performing Careful with that axe, Eugene too many times took a toll on his vocal cords!


R.I.P. Joe Cocker. We will remember you.

Please follow this with Life by Dr. John!
A great album indeed, back up singers and all!
Does any other "vocalist" rely so heavily upon back-up singers? 
RP makes me feel all right all of the time. Thank you to all you RP desiples and of course the big daddy of all radio
You got to get up and dance on this one!{#Bananasplit}
Joe was/is the most original cover artist in the history of rock and roll.

Oh yeah...NOW I'm feeling all right... {#Dance}
 Lazarus wrote:


Everybody in my church loves this cover...



 
You say that to all the girls Lazarus.
Wow how in the world did I miss this one. !!?

thanks 
{#Dance}{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananapiano}{#Drummer}{#Bananasplit} need horn player con.
One of the best albums, ever, every song...


Everybody in my church loves this cover...


 vluvlu wrote:
I love me some Cocker!
 Me, too!! Er, uh... Well, you know what we mean.

I love me some Cocker!
I love this song but the backup vocals in this version don't make me feel alright.
Really fun rock-u-mentary w/some great music. If you get a chance to see it, do. 
 Webfoot wrote:
View Image

And I guess I'm not the only one. . . .
 
Nope, you are not alone! And the episode where they both appeared together is a classic!
===> Cocker and Belushi LIVE!!!!

View Image

And I guess I'm not the only one. . . .
 Carl_LaFong wrote:
It seems to have gotten lost over the years that the title of the song is actually "Feelin' Alright?".  The punctuation matters because the singer is not feelin 'alright, but quite the opposite.  He asks the question of the listener, and then goes on to say that he's not feelin' too good himself. 

 
Now is that, capital L, small a, capital F, small o, small n, small g?  LaFong, Carl LaFong?


Glad Leon is now back on the scene with his piano.
Hope Dave Mason is still getting royalties for this song.
Prolly doesn't get any for playing the acoustic part on
Jimi's All along the Watchtower cause the Bobster wrote that one.

 Carl_LaFong wrote:
It seems to have gotten lost that the title of the song is "Feelin' Alright?".  The punctuation is important because the singer is not stating that he is alright, but rather asking the question of the listener and then stating that he is not feelin' too good himself.
 
Well it's not lost if you speak English, those are the lyrics of course!
It seems to have gotten lost over the years that the title of the song is actually "Feelin' Alright?".  The punctuation matters because the singer is not feelin 'alright, but quite the opposite.  He asks the question of the listener, and then goes on to say that he's not feelin' too good himself. 

{#Clap}{#Clap}{#Clap}
https://www.wayn.com/waynvideos.html?video=14355493&wci=watch
...almost left the room but couldn't leave Joe singin to nobody!
Nice!1
 Jazbo wrote:
Who's on the piano?
 
Should be Leon, not sure though.


Who's on the piano?
Had a lotta fun with this whole album in 1971 - loves me some Mad Dogs.... {#Drummer}
Released 1999? . . . I think you will find its 1970. . . I am wearing loons and have my head in the speakers.

Ain't it great?
 slartibart_O wrote:
 
Ever since I saw this episode I cannot hear Joe Cocker without thinking of this and remembering the need to piss my pants.
 forge wrote:
Man, Dave Mason sure can write some dang rock an' roll. This one, the Rare Earth version and the Grand Funk version are all friggen awesome.
 
Oh yeah, rock reached its highest point of evolution with Grand Funk Railroad.  The wild, shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner. The bone-rattling bass of Mel Schacher. The competent drum work of Don Brewer.
 nagsheadlocal wrote:

The whole story of the Mad Dogs tour will probably never be told, but it's mind-blowing enough to realize that the band, show, and song list were put together in two weeks, including rehearsals.

 

There was a movie made way back when. Of course it doesn't tell the whole story, either. But, it was a blast to watch.

 nagsheadlocal wrote:

The whole story of the Mad Dogs tour will probably never be told, but it's mind-blowing enough to realize that the band, show, and song list were put together in two weeks, including rehearsals.

 

I recall seeing something about Leon having spearheaded the effort.
 sans wrote:
Theres a great story about this tour rolling through Philadelphia and into the extremely haughty Academy of Music and, in one night, destroying the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ballet with a tribe of musicians, animals, groupies and fans.
 
The whole story of the Mad Dogs tour will probably never be told, but it's mind-blowing enough to realize that the band, show, and song list were put together in two weeks, including rehearsals.

Never was a big fan of Joe's.  I thought this was his best cover though.  Still not nearly as good as Traffic's original.
 sans wrote:
Theres a great story about this tour rolling through Philadelphia and into the extremely haughty Academy of Music and, in one night, destroying the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ballet with a tribe of musicians, animals, groupies and fans.
 
Now that's rock and roll! {#Clap}
 j7 wrote:
blah blah blah
 
I'll second that!

Ian 
 forge wrote:
Man, Dave Mason sure can write some dang rock an' roll. This one, the Rare Earth version and the Grand Funk version are all friggen awesome.
 

Traffic also did it on "best of traffic".... which incidentally wasn't a "best of" in as much as I think the tracks on that album were the only releases... know what I mean... nah, didn't think so {#Ask}
The live version has more energy.
Man, Dave Mason sure can write some dang rock an' roll. This one, the Rare Earth version and the Grand Funk version are all friggen awesome.


Theres a great story about this tour rolling through Philadelphia and into the extremely haughty Academy of Music and, in one night, destroying the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ballet with a tribe of musicians, animals, groupies and fans.
 tiare wrote:
Saw him, them live!! Gods for sure!!! As a side note, by the end of the Mad Dogs and Englishman tour, Cocker was broker than broke!!!

AND it was a sell out everywhere =how does that happen?!? Yes there were sex drugs and rock and roll, but come on, I would love to see what the take from the music industry was on this album and tour..

 

Maybe 'cuz there were, like, 78 people in the band?
sarahbean26 wrote:
waukegan...I was there. briefly...at the friggin beach ...why is it so friggin hard to type a friggin message on this friggin computer Oh ...was here in 1966 during bootcamp at usn greatlakes experience....hey I was only 17...good training though....can still tie a square knot
the only hyper-mental case at Woodstock (1969) with a little help from his friends.... rock rules
MisterVErb wrote:
...one of the first albums I listened to. Thanks, Mom!!!
you're welcome. now clean up your room.
...one of the first albums I listened to. Thanks, Mom!!!
Saw him, them live!! Gods for sure!!! As a side note, by the end of the Mad Dogs and Englishman tour, Cocker was broker than broke!!! AND it was a sell out everywhere =how does that happen?!? Yes there were sex drugs and rock and roll, but come on, I would love to see what the take from the music industry was on this album and tour..
Yes, Mr. Belushi's SNL rendition of this is an absolute fricking classic. A rival to Mr. Cocker if I may say so myself.
YEAH!
dmax wrote:
But, there's no drum machine to make sure it's in perfect time! And, they forgot to run the vocals through a pitch corrector! And where's the beautiful half-naked girl in the video lip synching to the lead vocal? This has nothing to do with today's music.
Had given this my standard 3 Classic Rock rating. Saw this and moved it up to 5.
daveesh wrote:
The time Joe and Belushi doing Joe did a duet cracked me up.
Blech. This one is well past its prime. A sore thumb, emphasized by cheesy backup singers and poor production.
dbm86698 wrote:
This tune was used on an award winning AADAC commercial. It showed teenage kids partying their arses off, then hurling in toilets, over fenders, on each other. AADAC stands for 'Alberta Alcahol and Drug Abuse Commission". "not feelin' too good myself" fits really great on this one!
Damn, that's good.
Wasn't that long Tull bit enough 70's for another hour or so?
WonderLizard wrote:
Interesting that we laud jazz and classical artists for applying their own interpretations and creativity to something originally done by someone else--think Beethoven or Ellington, but we can't seem to cut rockers the same slack. Sad indeed.
I like many rock "reinterpretations" - Bonnie Rait covering "Burning Down the House" or "It's All Over Now Baby Blue," Hendrix covering "All Along the Watchtower" or Johnny Winter covering "Highway 61 Revisited," the list goes on and on. But I agree that I've never heard Joe Cocker that didn't basically... uh... suck.
Saw J Cocker and MadDogs & Emen the spring of 1970, at SUNY New Paltz. Was an outdoor concert with a host of other acts "Jefferson Airplane-Youngbloods, etc. Absolutely fantastic, they must of had 60 people on stage... what a sound!!!
The drums and the piano are fab in this song. Unfortunately this was used in an ad for cat food or something, in the USA, sometime back. Ads should maybe go back to writing their own cheesy jingles instead of ruining contemporary music for people of any generation.
Amazing song. Not to mention the album cover!
Sweet Jesus, what a smokin' version this is...
daveesh wrote:
One of the most classic SNL skits ever...thx for the memory....
It is time.. My ears feel better...
Yeah. Puttin' on the groove.
Just what I needed. Thx Bill
Makes me want to dance like Snoopy !!
This song goes on forever, not in a good way.
GOOD F***ING SONG
SlimJim128 wrote: I've yet to hear Joe cover anything that wasn't better done by the original artist. Definitely not one of my favs, this guy needs to be buried in the bargin bin of history.
WonderLizard wrote:
Interesting that we laud jazz and classical artists for applying their own interpretations and creativity to something originally done by someone else--think Beethoven or Ellington, but we can't seem to cut rockers the same slack. Sad indeed.
I don't mind remakes that are different and interesting interpretations, and this is definitely a different interpretation, but the Traffic version is by far superior.
Love that choir!
Luvin it up here in the north country, great tunes, this is one of Joe's best if not the best.
There is definitely a New Year's party breaking out in the right speaker
Veritas wrote:
Please please please, someone upload a live version sans the plastic party horn. That "quack" on the chorus ruins this otherwise great song.
I agree, except for the plea to upload and the word "great". If you want to hear this song, tune to one of the dozen classic rock stations in your town that play this daily.
Please please please, someone upload a live version sans the plastic party horn. That "quack" on the chorus ruins this otherwise great song.
Couple of drinks and this song will have me dancing around my house and feelin alright. \:D/ :sunny.gif:
Although I give this a 9, I've heard him do better live performances of the song. The version on the Woodstock '94 CD is far superior.
This definately feels alright... ...and it reminds me of the time when I was relatively new to RP!!! Mustabeen one of the first tracks I ever heard on RP :grouphug.gif:
Saw and heard Joe Cocker do this with Mad Dogs and Englishmen Spring of 1970 SUNY New Paltz. Also there were Jefferson Airplane, Youngbloods, Stone the Crows and many more. Great concert weekend.