# With A Little Help From My Friends - you prefer the Beatles, or Joe Cocker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820 "2015-06-18T02:36:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/1 "2015-06-18T02:36:36Z")
Pick your favorite version of _With A Little Help From My Friends_. Joe Cocker or the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/2 "2015-06-18T02:40:32Z")
It’s not even close imho. Joe Cocker’s version is an musical anthem for my Generation. The Beatles version is so detached and oddly emotionless. Never understood why they weren’t feeling the powerful words they were singing. How could they have missed that in their own song? I often wondered what Paul’s reaction was to Joe Cocker’s version. Did Paul and John feel like they missed an opportunity on this song? btw, Joe reworked the crap out of Little Help. Changed the time signature. Changed the Chords. A total rework and it turned out spectacular. imho > **[With a Little Help from My Friends](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_a_Little_Help_from_My_Friends)** > > "With a Little Help from My Friends" is a song recorded by English rock band the Beatles for their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was written primarily by Paul McCartney with contributions from John Lennon, and is sung by drummer Ringo Starr (as Sgt. Pepper singer Billy Shears), his lead vocal for the album. As the second track on the album, it segues from the applause on the title track. > A subsequent recording of the track by Joe Cocker became a success in 1968—topping ... > [@](#): > > English singer Joe Cocker’s version of “With a Little Help from My Friends” was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction (featuring drums by Procol Harum’s B.J. Wilson, guitar lines from Jimmy Page, and organ by Tommy Eyre). ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/3 "2015-06-18T02:42:01Z")
What about [John Belushi’s version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSk6o5x5HlM), which even Joe Crocker said he thought it was originally John lip syncing to his own song? But of the two, I’d have to go with Joe Cocker. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/4 "2015-06-18T02:57:58Z")
I’d forgotten about John Belushi’s impersonation of Joe Cocker. He nailed it. Incredible talent. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/5 "2015-06-18T02:58:22Z")
The Beatle’s version sounds like a little placeholder they put between tracks in _Sgt. Pepper_ while they were looking for a whole song. Cocker made it a whole song. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/6 "2015-06-18T03:04:41Z")
I’ve seen songwriter’s performing their songs and they weren’t nearly as good as the star that made it a hit. The songwriter just didn’t fully see the potential of what could be done. That’s why a lot of great songwriters never make it to the big time as performers. But the Beatles were amazingly talented performers. I guess Paul and John didn’t put enough thought into the production since this song was for Ringo. They had their hands full with all the other great songs on Sgt Pepper. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/7 "2015-06-18T03:31:43Z")
Joe Cocker is one of my favorites. I prefer the Beattles version of this song, however. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/8 "2015-06-18T03:35:05Z")
Cocker’s version is overwrought. The Beatles knew very well what they were doing with their version. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/9 "2015-06-18T05:57:47Z")
The Beatles version is quite good. I hear it whenever I play my Sgt Pepper album. I rarely hear the Beatle’s Little Help as a stand alone song unless my oldies station plays it. If Cocker had never covered it the Beatles version would be ok. Much like No Where Man and Norwegian Wood. Good songs that I enjoy, but they aren’t Beatles songs I play very often. They are best savored occasionally on special days. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/10 "2015-06-18T06:20:32Z")
Joe’s version is good, but it is a little painful. Some real sorrow in that song. Ringo makes it kind of fun and sincere. Vapid, but fun. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/11 "2015-06-18T06:32:57Z")
This song is about loneliness as is the whole Pepper album. To have Ringo, the homely one sing it was genius. The Backing vocals illustrating the theme, the “turn out the lights” line, all perfect. It fits in well as the second cut on one of the great works of recorded sound: How could Joes version compare? Love Joe, but it’s overwrought, not as catchy, lacks context, and is not his own work. That’s it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/12 "2015-06-18T06:38:34Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Cocker’s version is overwrought. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/13 "2015-06-18T06:40:46Z")
Yeah, Cocker’s version is over-wroght, over-sentimental, whatever, but I love it. I’ll go for Cocker’s interpretation on this one. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/14 "2015-06-18T08:51:56Z")
I think the Beatles version is better, more sincere in a way because of the understated low key quality of the song, having Ringo sing it just worked perfect for this song. Cocker’s version is good too but his ostentatious singing for some reason just seems like a virtuoso guitar player showing off or something, tone it down a bit. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/15 "2015-06-18T09:18:05Z")
I prefer the version that _doesn’t_ sound like it’s being sung by a drunk, maudlin hobo in an alley (this is also how i feel about Johnny Cash’s version of _Hurt_). Cocker’s version sounds like the friends in question are Mr Bottle and Mr Needle. Ringo sounds like he actually _has_ friends. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/16 "2015-06-18T09:25:29Z")
I hate Joe Cocker. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/17 "2015-06-18T09:47:53Z")
You really can’t compare them…they are two totally different songs, that just happen to have the same words (but none of the same emotions). Joe Cocker sounds like he cares about…something. The Beatles sound like they just needed to add 3 minutes onto an album But for me, what ruins Cocker’s version isn’t his voice–it’s the visuals. In the movie of Woodstock, the guy jerks his body around in such weird, uncontrollable spasms. It looks so disturbing you forget about the music. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/18 "2015-06-18T15:01:27Z")
Joe Cocker…by a mile. I love the Beatles, but their version of the song was rather music hall-ish, whereas Cocker put his heart and soul into it. Over the top? Yeah, probably. But such passion! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/19 "2015-06-18T15:14:16Z")
I can’t help wondering how many people are voting for the version they first became familiar with. For me, very often (though not always) when I hear more than one version of the same song, the one I heard first is the one that sticks in my mind as the way the song’s _supposed_ to sound. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820/20 "2015-06-18T15:24:53Z")
I probably heard Cocker’s version first. It got a lot of radio play in the early 70’s. He was on the great tv shows like Midnight Special and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert. The Beatles had already shifted to the oldies stations when I was in high school in 1977-80. I almost never heard the Beatles until several years after college and I switched my dial to the oldies stations. Couldn’t stand New Wave and gave up on Top 40 radio. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-you-prefer-the-beatles-or-joe-cocker/722820.md?page=2)