"Civilized Man" is Joe Cocker's ninth studio album, released in May 1984 as his first for the Capitol label. The album features a mix of covers and original tracks, including a rendition of Squeeze's 1981 hit "Tempted" and The Drifters' 1959 classic "There Goes My Baby."
The recording sessions for the album were split between two locations:
Side A was recorded at Village Recorders in Los Angeles, produced by Gary Katz, and features members of Toto (Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, and David Paich) as the backing band.
Side B was recorded in Nashville, produced by Stewart Levine, and includes prominent session musicians such as David Briggs, Reggie Young, and Larrie Londin.
The album also features a guest appearance by Joe Cocker's former bandmate Jim Keltner on "Long Drag Off a Cigarette."
Civilized Man marked a shift in Cocker's music style, embracing a more modern production approach and technology, continuing the trend started with Sheffield Steel. The album was well-received in Europe and showcased Cocker's evolution into a more contemporary sound.
