There are those that insist that "Mad Dogs & Englishmen," the 1970 record of the Joe Cocker tour, is the high point in the music career of the gravely voiced soul singer. I can see the reasons for the argument, but even with his once powerful voice worn away by alcohol abuse there is something to be said for his sense of phrasing in the later years. He still came up with a great howl on "When the Night Comes" and if I am only allowed to listen to one Joe Cocker track for the rest of eternity I am going to take the monster 9:27 long live version of "With a Little Help From My Friends" that is on "The Best of Joe Cocker." That being said, if you are talking about an entire album, then "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" is the one to go with, because Cocker live was always better than Cocker in the studio, not that this pronouncement is exactly news to anyone.

It helps to set the scene for the 1970 tour. Two years earlier Cocker had hit the top of the charts in the U.K. with his cover of the Beatles' "A Little Help From My Friends," and when he sang the song at Woodstock he made a name for himself in the colonies. Leon Russell became Cocker's musical director and provided a second hit in England with "Delta Lady." Two albums came out in 1969, "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Joe Cocker!", both of which went gold. What makes this live album so amazing is that Cocker only sings one song form his first album (and it is not even the title cut but "Feelin' Alright") and only three cuts from the second: "Bird on a Wire," "Delta Lady" and another in a series of classic Beatles coves, "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window." So out of 16 songs on the album, a dozen of them are "new" material for Cocker.

Of course such things are a lot easier when you are a cover artist rather than a singer-songwriter. This frees Cocker to come up with songs by the Rolling Stones ("Honky Tonk Woman") and Bob Dylan ("Girl From the North Country"). But whatever the songs a lot of the credit for Cocker's career and this album have to go to Leon Russell and Chris Stainton for coming up with the greatest live arrangements on the Sixties (Give me George Martin in the studio and Leon Russell). The concert was recorded at New York's Filmore East in the spring of 1970 (as a film as well as an album). There were almost two dozen musicians involved, giving a whole new meaning to Noel Coward's famous song title, and the result is the definitive mixture of rock 'n' roll soul with a big brassy sound and Russell's awesome piano playing behind Cocker's powerful vocals.

Part of the impressive result was a couple of Cocker standards in "Cry Me a River" and "The Letter." It was the cover of the later, originally by the Box Tops, that broke Cocker into the U.S. Top 10 for the first time. Other standout tracks include the slower "Superstar" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long, " along with "Give Peace a Chance." Of course, "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" went gold as well as if there are those who want to argue that Joe Cocker's first three albums were his best, it is hard to argue with them. My preference for this one as the best of the lot is based almost on much as it being a double-album as it being live, but the live part is still the key consideration.

The consistent energy level on this great recording of the outrageous Mad Dogs tour is quintessential Joe Cocker. His renditions of Cry Me a river, Delta Lady, The Letter, She Came In Through The Bathroom Window and others are definitive and find him pushing the limit while rocking the house down. Joe is backed by a virtual all-star band featuring Leon Russell, Chris Stainton, a crack horn and rhythm section, a soulful choir and many more.

This tour was incredible not only in the energetic performances Joe and his cohorts delivered every night, but also in the fact that Joe and his Mad Dog's entourage played 48 cities in 56 days! Coming off his sonic performance at Woodstock the previous summer, this was the ticket to get in 1970. Some may quibble about the recording sound, but for the sheer power of electrifying performances that cannot be matched in intensity. Joe had to recover after this tour from exhaustion as the energy exerted was genuine... a rocking joy from start to finish, this is a classic album!

Listening to Mad Dogs and Englishmen, it can be hard to believe that this was cut nearly thirty years ago, or am I just older than I care to admit. Apart from a few ropey moments, mostly courtesy of Leon Russell, this album is just sensational. The sound quality is amazing, the playing is tight, the songs are great and it just plain oozes soul. Head straight for "Drown in my own tears" and "Space Captain", rather than the more obvious well known tracks like "Delta Lady". What really amazes me about this album (and in the same category goes stuff like "Astral Weeks" and "Steve Stills 2") is just how little we have progressed. It may be 30 years old, but it is all there. You won't regret buying this, and if anyone out there knows of an album in the same style that has really advanced the plot since 1970, I'm all ears!

John H

Joe Cocker's "Maddogs And Englishmen" is without question one of the greatest live rock albums ever made. Recorded in 1970 at New York's Fillmore East, Leon Russell assembled an allstar band and choir to back up Joe on a nation wide tour that played to full venues and rave reviews. If Joe's opening rendition of "Honky Tonk Woman" does not get you off your seat nothing will! Great live cuts like "Feelin Alright[featuring awesome Leon Russel guitar work], "Cry Me A River", "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window", "Space Captain", "The Letter" and "Delta Lady" document the frenzy surrounding Joe Cocker in his young prime making this live recording along with the Allman Brothers "Live At The Fillmore" as the two greatest early 70's rock concerts ever recorded. If you have not seen the movie documentary of this tour I highly recommend you do. If you enjoyed "Woodstock", you will surely enjoy "Maddogs And Englishmen". A forty piece rock n roll band is not something you come across everyday, so sit back and enjoy this digitally remastered musical time capsule in the name of "COCKER POWER".

Here is an album that is so full of raw energy and honest emotion that it should thrill anyone who loves rocking blues. Joe's backup band may have been put together in a hurry for this tour, but Leon did a fantastic job of organizing it and provides the backbone for the high level of energy that comes through every song. Joe is one of the best blues/rock artists to come out of the sixties and this album will always be timeless as a true classic of that era. Bravo Joe and Leon!