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The following CDs are among the first 12 releases in A&M;’s new “Classics” series.

“Joe Cocker.” A&M; (AAD). This 13-song/51-minute entry showcases one of the most compelling singers of the modern pop era. Cocker was as close to a male Janis Joplin as rock has produced, and Bud Scoppa’s liner notes capture well the frequently absorbing qualities of this gritty, blues-based singer’s intensely dramatic style. Recalling the first time he heard Cocker sing “Feeling Alright,” Scoppa found it hard to tell if the Englishman was “in control of the song” or possessed by it. The tracks, recorded between 1968 and 1976, include “Delta Lady” and “The Letter.” ****