Joe Cocker to release Hard Knocks

After more than 40 years in the music business, Joe Cocker is still one of the most successful and popular artists worldwide. Many of his 21 studio albums and 4 live albums have achieved multiplatinum status around the world, including Australia. His releases have received Grammy Awards, Golden Globes, and Academy Awards. In 2007 he was handed the “Order of the British Empire (OBE).

October 2010 sees the long awaited release of Joe Cocker’s first album for the Sony Music label entitled “Hard Knocks“ The album was produced by Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty, Rob Thomas, Collective Soul, Carlos Santana) and also includes nine brand new songs plus Cocker’s version of the Dixie Chicks song “I Hope” produced by Nashville legend Tony Brown.

Joe Cocker will also start touring again as he launches his album to an international audience. Joe has announced a major European Arena tour, his first since 2007 that will start on the 9th of October at Oberhausen’s Arena, Germany with further territories to be announced in the coming months.

Willy Ehmann, Senior Vice President Sony Music Domestic GSA: “Joe Cocker is back with an impressive album ‘Hard Knocks’. We are looking forward to the collaboration with one of the greatest voices of the past four decades.” 

Markus Hartmann, Content / A&R Consultant Starwatch: "Joe Cocker has one of the most distinctive voices in the business. The countless gold and platinum awards are testament to his worldwide success. I am convinced that the millions of his fans will embrace his new album. It’s fantastic and a great honour for us to have a living legend like Joe on our label.”

Joe Cocker is one of music’s true living legends.  His gritty voice and particular performance style has made him one of music’s most recognisable figures.  Some of his biggest songs include Up Where we Belong, with Jennifer Warne which earned him a Grammy in 1983, You Are So Beautiful, Unchain My Heart and You Can Leave Your Hat On (featured in the hit movie 9½ Weeks). 

 The album ‘Hard Knocks’ will be released in Australia on the 1st October, 2010.