Hard Knocks is the twenty-first and penultimate studio album by English singer Joe Cocker, released on 1 October 2010 by Columbia Records in Europe and 24 January 2012 in the US. It features nine new songs produced by Matt Serletic plus Cocker's version of the Dixie Chicks number "I Hope", which was produced by Tony Brown. Apart from a regular CD release, the album was also released on vinyl.
The album reached number 1 on Billboards Independent Albums chart and number 2 on the same magazine's European Albums chart.
A Limited Live Edition (CD/DVD) version of the album was released in December 2010 in Europe with live tracks off the album recorded at Le Zenith in Paris in 2010.
Track listing "Hard Knocks" (Marc Broussard, Maxwell Aaron Ramsey, Shannon Sanders) – 3:24 "Get On" (Matt Serletic, Danny Myrick, Stephanie Bentley) – 3:28 "Unforgiven" (Mitch Allan, Kara DioGuardi, Nick Lachey, Dave Hodges) – 4:14 "The Fall" (Matt Serletic, Danny Myrick, Aimée Proal) – 3:49 "So It Goes" (Matt Serletic, Jeffrey Steele, Danny Myrick) – 3:21 "Runaway Train" (Ollie Marland) – 3:27 "Stay The Same" (Matt Serletic, Danny Myrick, Stephanie Bentley) – 4:39 "Thankful" (Matt Serletic, Kara DioGuardi) – 3:59 "So" (Chantal Kreviazuk, Thomas "Tawgs" Salter) – 3:56 "I Hope" (Keb' Mo', Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison) – 4:46 "Forever Changed" – 3:51 – iTunes bonus track
Limited Live Edition additional tracks "Hard Knocks" (Marc Broussard, Maxwell Aaron Ramsey, Shannon Sanders) "Get On" (Matt Serletic, Danny Myrick, Stephanie Bentley) "Unforgiven" (Mitch Allan, Kara DioGuardi, Nick Lachey, Dave Hodges) "Thankful" (Matt Serletic, Kara DioGuardi) "You Are So Beautiful" (Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher) "With a Little Help from My Friends" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
Personnel Joe Cocker – lead vocals Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards (1–9) Matt Serletic – keyboards (1–9), programming (1–9) Steve Nathan – Wurlitzer electric piano (10), synthesizers (10) Reese Wynans – acoustic piano (10) Ray Parker Jr. – guitars (1–9) Tim Pierce – guitars (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9) Joel Sherear – guitars (2, 5, 7) Tom Bukovac – electric guitar (10) Kenny Greenberg – electric guitar (10) Chris Chaney – bass (1–9) Glenn Worf – bass (10) Josh Freese – drums (1–3, 5, 7) Matt Chamberlain – drums (4, 9) Dorian Crozier – drums (6, 8) Greg Morrow – drums (10) Stevie Blacke – strings [violin, viola, and cello] (3, 4) Sheree Brown – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 9) Mabvuto Carpenter – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 9) Robyn Troup – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 9) Stephanie Bentley – backing vocals (7) Ashley Cleveland – backing vocals (10) Kim Keyes – backing vocals (10) Judson Spence – backing vocals (10)
Horn section on "Hard Knocks" and "Get On" Ron King – trumpet Jeff Babko – trombone Cleto Escobedo III – saxophones
Nine-person choir on "Thankful" Mabvuto Carpenter and Dorian Ford — male Jennifer Bailey, Kara DioGuardi, Erica Dowd, Nomisha Jackson, Renee Jackson, Robyn Troup and Niomisha Wilson — female
Production Matt Serletic – producer (1–9) Tony Brown – producer (10) Mark Dobson – recording (1–9), Pro Tools editing (1–9) Doug Trantow – recording (1–9), Pro Tools editing (1–9) Jeff Balding – engineer (10) Alex Arias – additional engineer (1–9), assistant engineer (1–9), Pro Tools assistant (1–9) Mike Leisz – assistant engineer (1–9) Chris Lord-Alge – mixing at Mix LA (Los Angeles, California) Andrew Schubert – additional mixing Brad Townsend – additional mixing Keith Armstrong – mix assistant Nik Karpen – mix assistant Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine) Ryan Corey – art direction, design Jeri Heiden – art direction, design Olaf Heine – photography Miles Siggins – photography styling Roger Davies – management Ray Neapolitan – management Lisa Garrett – management Steven Manzano – management Irene Taylor – management
Charts + Chart performance for Hard Knocks Chart (2010–2012) Peakposition Australian Albums 71
Year-end charts Chart (2010)PositionGerman Albums Chart31
Certifications
Personnel Joe Cocker – vocals Ray Parker Jr., Tim Pierce, Joel Shearer, Tom Bukovac, Kenny Greenberg – guitar Chris Chaney, Glenn Worf – bass guitar Josh Freese, Dorian Crozier, Matt Chamberlain, Greg Morrow – drums Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards Matt Serletic – keyboards, programming Steve Nathan – synthesizer, Hammond organ, piano Jeff Babko – trombone Cleto Escobedo III – saxophone Ron King – trumpet Robyn Troup, Sherree Brown, Rich King, Mabvuto Carpenter, Stephanie Bentley, Kim Keys, Ashley Cleveland, Judson Spence – backing vocals Stevie Blacke – cello, violin, viola
References