Review:

on 2011-07-18 CharlesMartel Said:

I always thought that the Beatles original was a little insipid. I never much cared for the album it came off and Ringo's voice never really had the power, the range or the technical proficiency to carry off anything remotely challenging. Ringo-sung songs were always the weakest part of any Beatles album anyway.

Imagine the surprise when this insipid little ballad was reworked by a former Sheffield steel worker called Joe Cocker a year or so later. First off the, quiet-loud-quiet format was worked into the body of the song. Then slot in a couple of crashing guitar chords as the song goes to the refrain; add a gospel backing choir and white man who is the closest thing yet to singing soul like a black man, and you are onto something.

Without doubt, this is one cover which far exceeds the original in every respect. I am not sure what the Beatles thought of it but if they had any sense they would have lauded it as such. As far as I am concerned, this is THE definitive version of the song.
Rating: 8/10