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72% Critic Match
Joe Cocker: Mad Dog with Soul
7.2 / 10• 2017• 1h 30m•NR• English
DocumentaryMusic
Storyline
The turbulent life of soul and blues singer, the late Joe Cocker. A former gas fitter from Sheffield, catapulted to world stardom in 1969 at Woodstock with his legendary performance of the Beatles song, "A Little Help from My Friends". But in the early 1970s, Joe Cocker's inner demons nearly killed him. Overcoming his struggles with alcohol and drugs, he rebuilt his reputation as "one of the great primal rock and roll vocalists of all time" (Billy Joel's description). The film mixes Joe Cocker's own words, with rare archive. His wife (Pam Cocker) & family, friends and the legendary songwriters and musicians he collaborated with, tell Joe Cocker's story. The film has raw, historic, electric performance footage throughout. Extensive interviews of key people through his life include: Pam Cocker, Ben Fong-Torres (Rolling Stone magazine editor), Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, Billy Joel, Rita Coolidge, Deric Dyer, Glyn Johns, and numerous others.
Cast & Crew
Joe Cocker
Self (archive footage)
Lead
Pam Cocker
Self : Joe Cocker's wife
Vic Cocker
Self : Joe Cocker's brother
Rita Coolidge
Self
Billy Joel
Self
Randy Newman
Self
Jimmy Webb
Self
Ben Fong-Torres
Self
What People Are Saying
4.0
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. John Edginton's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
4.0
“Every frame feels alive. Joe Cocker: Mad Dog with Soul is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”
