Joe Cocker: Across from Midnight

Old-Time rocker/blues man Joe Cocker is shown performing a 1997 concert at the outdoor Waldbuhn ("Stage Of The Woods") Berlin, Germany.

This is an unspectacular but decent concert by the gravel-voiced Cocker, still rocking after all these years although he's subdued from his Woodstock-era days. He just isn't animated and fun to watch as we was back then. His spastic gyrations used to be a part of his show.

Now, he just stands there and croons away like so many other performers. The good news is that he is surrounded by a solid band and a couple of animated female singers. The instrumental parts in Cocker's songs now give it the vital energy he used to have. His songs are still very listen-able, from his "Mad Dogs and Englishman" days to the present.

Give him credit: he's still introducing new material, unlike a lot of other '60s performers. One of them: "Into The Mystic"" is a very nice piece.

The capacity crowd is with him all the way and helps generate a little excitement, too. Considering how long he's been at it, it's understandable that Joe has mellowed so much. Overall: a pretty solid rock concert.