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 Billboard's 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.
Contents
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)
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
Charts
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