What a lovely man Billy is, and he was able to interpret Joe Cocker perfectly. Respect for both artists.

Joe Cocker, unique, original, powerful...met his music when I was in my teens, oh, those great mad dogs and englhlismen, forever in the glory!

Joel is analyzing Cocker from a players standpoint perfectly. Cocker was a stylist. He was his own mold. There was no other Cocker. He wasn't a Sinatra, but he had soul to the bone.

Great to hear Billy praising one of our English greats

Nice interview. Isn't it absolutely stunning that my former boss, Joe Cocker, is STILL not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?!?! They are so obtuse!

You don’t often hear an artist crediting another for their big break!!! Kudos to Billy. I like him.

Fantastic perspective on the magic that was my man, Joe Cocker!!

BJ is cool as a cat😎 & as modest as they come ~ good for him that he got to record a duet with Ray Charles back in the day, 'Baby Grand' was a real highlight from 'The Bridge'👏👏 Thanks for this brilliant upload, John👍

Like always: Very intelligent, very knowlagable, very interesting. I wish I would have met Billy sometimes.

Joe Cocker was absolutely incredible as very well described by Billy Joel here. his voice, Joe Cocker that is was like a band of instruments, and itself! Absolutely incredible what he could do. He truly was phenomenal. One of my favorite live performances was seven days with a whole bunch of artists including Ronnie Wood Clapton, Kenny Jones, etc. He reaches some zones in his singing that just are beyond description.

a great talent giving credit and dues to another great talent. love this and thank you for sharing it.

Mr. Joel , respect to you for your honesty and grace. I love when players , hail other players 🥰

Bill, loved hearing your stories about one of my all time favorites, Joe Cocker. I like you, loved him from the beginning. I am a 68 year old man, and the day he passed, I cried. I've always been a huge Ray Charles fan, but I am a bigger Joe Cocker fan. Thanks for bringing him back to life for a little while. Also, thanks for the nod to Leon, another very generous man that helped Joe out big time, for the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. I wish I was there for your big break through when you did Joe's songs. I would have come forward to the stage also. This kind of interview is very much appreciated.

That was wonderful

Wow, what a great interview! I hadn't heard Billy Joel speak before, what a lovely man! So interesting and heartwarming to hear such appreciation from one great musician for another. Joe Cocker was one of a kind for sure.

One of my musical heroes giving props to another one of my musical heroes. Joe always did it for the sake of the music, and it showed. Billy is the same way, humble and talented as can be. His words about Joe are so warm, so much authentic gratitude to an immensely talented man. I miss Joe Cocker so much (and Ray Charles as well), but am grateful that Billy carries on such a great musical legacy and is still out there at the top of his game. As for "You Are So Beautiful," that is one song that absolutely destroys me when I hear it, just so much raw emotion.

Excellent story and tribute to Joe

Music is a spiritual substance stream......If a person has tuned into this the power is revealed. Imitation can go so far....but the essence must be there and Joe had it and so does Billy. Its the authentic passion in singing that wins without imitation efforts not needed.

Somehow it hurts to go back to 1969 ..........

Steve Winwood was headlining Madison Square Garden - opening for Steve was Joe Cocker and his band - well - Joe stole the night - i was first row center - and i was amazed how great Joe was and he gave his all and he did have a great band - never forgot that.

It’s outrageous that Joe isn’t in the Rock Hall of Fame. Whoever’s blocking him from entry are clowns 🤡

I always like hearing billy joels stories. He reminds me of my dad and he remembers everything. A lot of older rockers cant seem to remember a thing but he does.

Understandable that Mr. Joel's recollections aren't 100% accurate, so there are a couple errors. Nicky Hopkins is not the the 'Help From My Friends' album. Nor is Leon Russell. It was recorded prior to Joe making connections in America, so Leon didn't come into the picture until the second album. A former member of Delaney & Bonnie's ban, Russell soon included other members of that band including Rita Coolidge, drummers Jim Keltner and Jim Gordon, bassist Carl Radle, and horn players Jim Price and Bobby Keys, who next went to the Stones. The one track on the album featuring Americans is 'Feeling Alright', which is done with LA session players including legendary bassist Carol Kaye. The players on the tune 'Help From My Friends' were Jimmy Page (gtr.), BJ Wilson (drums), Tommy Eyre (organ) and Chris Stainton (bass). Other musicians across the album included legendary session drummer Clem Catinni, drummer Mike Kellie of Spooky Tooth and Peter Frampton, Stevie Winwood, Henry McCulloch (Grease Band, Wings), Procol Harum's Matthew Fisher on organ, Albert Lee on guitar, and producer Tony Visconti (the Move, David Bowie...and this album) on guitar, plus others. Recording the 'Help From My Friends' track started with Winwood on guitar and Jim Capaldi drumming. After 32 takes and still failing to nail it, Visconti sent them home and brought in Page and Wilson. The former was an experienced session player accustomed to playing 6/8 arrangements and Wilson was playing such time signatures with Procol Harum, so he had no problem. Page even propositioned Wilson for what became Led Zeppelin. And Peter Grant twice invited Catinni to lunch to discuss Page's interest in have his session pal join the band, but Catinni didn't bother because he was too busy. Chris Stainton has for many years been the pianist with Eric Clapton. 'With A Little Help From My Friends' remains one of the best rock albums ever. Though largely overlooked by the rock audience, it is an enduring classic.

Loved Joe and good to hear some stories about him. I like the nod out to Leon for his arrangements He was a special guy. Sad to see them go. I'm 69 and saw them from the start. RIP Joe and Leon.

I could listen to Billy stories all night long...his subtle imitations 😂👏

I’m a big fan of both Billy Joel and Joe Cocker. I really enjoyed this. Thank you!!!

So glad he brought up Steve Winwood. :))

.... and hats off to Billy. Generous to a fault. I can't think of another musician of his stature who would be so candid to credit another as such a massive influence.

I like the respect.

You are a Legend Billy...also..RIP JC

Joe Cocker, Billy Joel , Phil Collins , Sting, Al Jarreau , John Lennon. Ray Charles ....James brown and Little Richard and Paul McCartney and .....Grigory Leps all have this authentic passion in the singing.

What an interview, fabulous insights by a fine artist of a greater one.

Thanx 4 the plug 4 THE GREASE BAND. Chris and the lads appreciate the accolade, even if not named. Joe was this amazing, gifted guy who loved the performance to a good song." With a little help" propelled his talent 2 the world. I'd love 2 hear u do a rendition of "HITCHCOCK RAILWAY", Billy. PEACE

Billy Joel has been pushing for years to get Joe Cocker inducted into the R&R Hall of fame and for some reason, the powers that be have resisted this every year and never seem to be inclined to give an explanation as to why.....or why not. Some people have suggested it's because he didn't write any of his own songs, but so what? Ray Charles didn't write very many songs either, but he's in there. The truth is, he did co-write songs with Chris Stainton in the early years. Just off the top of my head, here's some of them: "Sandpaper Cadillac", "Change in Louise", "Marjorine", "High Time We Went". Then there was "Born Thru Indifference" with Richard Tee and a killer slow blues he wrote with Tony Joe White, "High Lonesome Blues". So, IMHO, that argument just doesn't hold water and the R&R Hall of Shame should come clean with the real reason.

That i so interesting. Love all you guys!

Do you have a great weekend?I sure do you have Mr.Edginton!

well said--from one great musician of another

Fantastic interview. I really enjoyed it! ❤❤❤

Ray Charles is my all time favorite. Joe Cocker has the guts and soul of Ray Charles

Thank you. Always great to hear about his influences !

The rabbit hole got me here. I’m glad it did. Great interview.

Actually Leon did not play on that track, or the album, unless he is uncredited. Leon is on the second album.

I did a cover of Don't go changing once. I like that song.

Billy Joel greatest singer songwriter ever! Been a diehard fan for over 42 years and counting 😀😀

Great piece. And it looks incredible. Seriously. Looks like a million dollars

I question the reference of him playing with Stuff and them 'not knowing who he is'. Stuff (Gadd, Dupree, Gale, Richard Tee) wasn't a band until 1975, a couple years after 'Piano Man' and other big hits.

Joe Cocker wasn't Welsh LOL HE WAS FROM SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

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Imitation is the best form of flattery.Joe is a legend. RIP JOE. GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.👑👑👑👑

They believed in you and it made all the difference !

"Plunmba".... I always love hearing that New York accent. They make up their own words 😂.

Its total b******* when Billy says he got signed because of the Joe Cocker songs. I've heard that recording and Billy had the crowd in his hands long before he did the Cocker stuff. Total humility.

No Joel, Joe Cocker was english as a matter of fact (from Sheffield). I think you are mistaken with Tom Jones who is actually welsh.

Joel really nailed it in describing Joe's insanely unique throat full of gravel vocal style.

Joe wasn't Welsh Mr Joel he was born and bread in Sheffield South Yorkshire England

Have Billy and Joe ever performed together?

wales LOL !!! he's from down the road where I live pal SHEFFIELD

Joe’s family was pissed at Billy when he told his MSG audience that Joe was diagnosed with cancer. The news hadn’t been made public and suddenly everybody knew.

What's the rivalry between the two parts of the country. Does this go back to the English, Scottish, Irish wars.

​ @JOHN EDGINTON DOCUMENTARIES Pay no attention to any complaints about the lower sound volume on your questions. The sound was fine. People just like to bitch. You did an excellent job of NOT making the interview all about the interviewer, as opposed to how Charlie Rose always blathered endlessly at high volume in order to keep the focus on himself. (I actually used to yell at the TV for him to STFU up so I could concentrate on his guests. I am SO glad he got fired.) The fact that Billy Joel gave so many interesting answers to your questions was in part due to your quiet approach. I never knew he could be so articulate, thoughtful, & generous with praise for other artists before watching your low key interview.

Would be nice to hear the questions... Technical problems? No review before publishing to KZfaq?

What's up with the Mariner's hat?

Joe Cocker was very much not Welsh! Born in Sheffield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The early 70s is all about LEON RUSSELL.

I don’t really think being from Wales has any impact on whether or not you have a deep, raspy voice. More importantly though, I think if you asked 100 hundred people who had the best voice of all time, they’d all give you a different answer. One of them may very well say Billy Joel!

Steve Marriott?

Bobby Whitlock was another, at the same time.

A Welsh skinny English guy from Sheffield😂Do they teach geography in the US😂

Dunno if he's mentioned Elton here. There is no comparison. Bill composed and wrote all his lyrics. Come on.. He's uncomparable.

Joe should have been put in the hall of fame before he died.. now it has dolly and m&m..lol its turned into a joke

Joe Cocker.. didn't write songs,played no instruments, didn't produce or arrange.. barely seemed to have a "voice"...never made a bad record, almost 40 years.. because he had a soul the size of this world and the next.