On This Day in 1968: Joe Cocker’s Bold Beatles Cover Featuring Jimmy Page Reaches No. 1 in the UK
Photo (cropped) by Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A Cover That Changed the Song
On November 6, 1968, English singer Joe Cocker reached No. 1 in the UK with his version of With a Little Help from My Friends, originally written by The Beatles. The song stood out because it wasn’t just a straight cover — Cocker and his team reworked it entirely, turning the familiar track into something new and soulful.
Cocker’s edition featured studio heavyweights: drums by B. J. Wilson of Procol Harum and guitar lines by Jimmy Page — better known as the guitarist of Led Zeppelin. The session also included organist Tommy Eyre and backing vocals, all contributing to a version that surprised listeners and critics alike.
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A Creative Reinvention
Cocker’s re-arrangement slowed the tempo, altered chords in the bridge, and introduced a long instrumental intro. The original Beatles version, sung by Ringo Starr, was brief and light-hearted; Cocker’s take grew into a soulful anthem filled with gritty vocals and gospel-style backing. When Paul McCartney first heard it, he said it was “just mind blowing, totally turned the song into a soul anthem and I was forever grateful for him for doing that.”
The cover topped the UK Singles Chart during the week of November 6-12, 1968. Meanwhile, in the U.S., it peaked at only number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Behind the Scenes of the Recording
Before Cocker recorded the song, Jimmy Page had been working as a session musician. His contribution here was part of the transition toward his soon-to-be-formed Led Zeppelin. In one online forum, a commenter wrote: “It turns out it’s Jimmy Page on guitar. And then it’s B.J. Wilson from Procol Harum on drums.”
Producer Denny Cordell and engineer Tony Visconti played key roles in crafting the new sound. They recognized that the material needed more space and emotional weight, and they surrounded Cocker with backing singers and studio musicians who could deliver that depth.
Legacy of the Cover
Though the original version by the Beatles remains widely known, Cocker’s cover lives on in its own right. It was used as the theme song for the U.S. TV show The Wonder Years from 1988 to 1993. It was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, recognizing its lasting impact.
By taking a well-known song and infusing it with gospel, soul, and rock elements, Joe Cocker turned a pop-rock tune into a deep, expressive interpretation. The involvement of Jimmy Page and B.J. Wilson helped bridge rock and soul in a way few covers had achieved at the time.
Cocker’s version stands as a reminder that covers don’t just replicate — they can reimagine and elevate. And for a moment on that week in 1968, it gave the UK a different kind of No. 1 hit.
