Yes, he's still at it, croaking away like some ol' 60-a-day addict in need of a shave and a packet of Strepsils. But let's not be too harsh on ol' Joe. Anyone who can eke out a living in the music business decades after he first belted out a tune deserves a bit of respect. It's unlikely that many of today's pop-tarts and wannabes will still be around in two years, let alone 32.

I think it's safe to assume that most readers know of Joe Cocker and would instantly recognise the gravelly voice and rawness that is his unique style. This, however, is the appeal of Joe Cocker - no one else sounds like him, or probably wants to. He is a singer that gives it 100% every time, and this is commendable in a day and age where some artists are simply not able to deliver unless they are shrouded in overdubs, skimpy dancers, gimmicks and flashy outfits. That is the other appealing thing about Joe Cocker; there is no pretension. What you see is what you get, and hear!

Hailing from Sheffield, and most proud of it, Cocker is reknowned for taking songs already recorded and giving them a little bit of Cocker originality. It all started with The Beatles' With a Little Help From My Friends and a memorable performance at Woodstock, and the world began to take notice. This show runs a lot like a 'Greatest Hits' package and includes the monster hits You Are So Beautiful and a personal fave, The Letter. We are spared Up Where We Belong and Leave Your Hat On, but I for one missed neither. Never less than intriguing and always appearing honest and hard working, fans can be sure they’ll enjoy this, and the rest of us probably will too.

This show was recorded in Italy back in 1981, and finds Joe and the band in fine musical form, although as a stage show, well, it isn’t going to win any design awards anytime soon. Joe himself seems a little tired, but don’t worry, all of the famous Cocker trademark contortions and strained facial expressions are there for all to enjoy. The songs cover most of the styles that Joe is known for, and include his best-known hits. It’s impossible to keep a good man down, and while Joe may never again be the drawcard he once was, there will always be a place in the world of popular music for him, and those like him, who are unique and have something to offer that no one else has.

Track listing:

Sadly, this is not a great quality recording. Sure, I have seen much worse, but I have seen better. This show is presented in a full frame aspect ratio and is quite soft and fuzzy throughout. There is a decided lack of clarity throughout the whole thing, and longer shots suffer worse than close-ups. Colours are all over the place, hindered by the stage lighting, and while black levels are generally good, shadow detail is lacking.

Recorded on analogue videotape, there are numerous giveaways including the flaring and glaring that is frequently evident, and there are many pretty comets when the camera pans. There are also significant analogue tape-tracking errors that appear as jumps, distortions and horizontal lines across the screen. These are most evident in the first few minutes of the 58-minute feature.

The only other significant annoyance is the number of shots that are out of focus, but there is little that can be done about that in any transfer to DVD. There is no layer change on this single-layer disc.

The audio, like the video, is showing its age. The only option is a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix that lacks any real fidelity or stereo sound. There is some noticeable separation of some of the instruments, and lead and backing vocals are placed evenly between the front speakers. There is no signal for the rear or centre speakers, or the subwoofer.

Vocals are generally clear, though instruments are less so. There is some mild hiss in the background, more noticeable in the quieter moments. There is no problem with audio-synch. The bass levels are hardly aggressive and sound somewhat muddy, as do the drums. In summary, the audio is acceptable, though only just, but fails to sound as good as most live CDs.

The few extras included are hardly likely to sway the undecided and are basic inclusions. The photo gallery is simply five pages totaling 15 pics of Joe from various times in his career, and the discography is 30 pages listing most, if not all, of Joe’s studio albums, live albums and seemingly endless 'best of' collections.

The only other ‘extra’ is Umbrella Propaganda, that is four stills of four other DVD releases.

Joe Cocker and band put on a musically solid show, but there is not a lot to keep you glued to the screen. There are enough well known tunes to assure easy viewing, but the audio and video quality has not aged all that well. This is a long way from being the worst video and audio I have seen presented on DVD, but it won't impress anyone either. Fans will no doubt appreciate seeing the man in action, but I think the majority of punters will not miss much should they decide to give this a miss.