This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen is a live album by Joe Cocker, released in 1970. The album's title is drawn from the 1931 Noël Coward song of the same name and Leon Russell's "Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen". Only four songs of the 16 on the original album were drawn from his first two studio albums. Besides the contributions of bandmate and musical director Leon Russell, it draws equally from rock (the Rolling Stones, Traffic, Bob Dylan, the Beatles) and soul (Ray Charles, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, The Box Tops). Accompanying Cocker is a choir, a three-piece horn section and several drummers. The single "The Letter"/"Space Captain", recorded during rehearsals, was released to coincide with the tour. The album yielded the single "Cry Me a River"/"Give Peace a Chance." "Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen"/"Let It Be" was a single from the movie soundtrack that featured Leon Russell and Claudia Lennear. The Leon Russell song was also released on his album Leon Russell and the Shelter People. In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Bruce Eder praised the album for the unique sound created by the unconventionally large rock band. He noted that Cocker's creative presence on the album was drowned out by that of Russell, but held that this was not a bad thing. Kevin Perry, writing Cocker's obituary in the NME, described the album as a classic and one of two things (the other his cover of "With a Little Help from My Friends") that first brought Cocker his fame.
I think it's good for its time but a bit weak for the passage of time due to the very marked rhythms of that time, which makes it very niche if you're looking for that in particular. 2.5 stars
It's Joe Cocker doing his thing for like an hour. It's not bad, but it's not really that exciting. 3/5.
Oh, I was so glad to see this one. I was kicking myself a little for not submitting it. Truly amazing this didn't make the original list. Besides being one of the all time best live rock albums, this is just such an engaging, satisfying listen. What a great, collaborative vibe from a group of artists who are clearly having the time of their lives playing music they love. If you have a friend who hates listening to live albums, give them this one. The songs here are soulful, expressive, and packed with earnest emotion you just don't hear much in music anymore. It's a testament to Joe Cocker's charisma as a performer that he breathes such life into familiar songs and truly makes them his own. No other artist has that kind of skill, and Cocker does it with ease. Cocker is supported by a top notch band, including a powerful horn section and the brilliant Leon Russell on piano. Even the backing vocalists match Cocker's energy and serve it back twofold. What a delight, every note of it. Fave Songs: Cry Me a River, The Letter, Bird on the Wire, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Delta Lady, Feelin' Alright, Let's Go Get Stoned, Superstar, Space Captain
Good stuff, though I would have loved to see "With a Little Help from My Friends" here instead. 3 4
Kind of surprised this album wasn't on the original list. Iconic. 4 stars.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Honky tonk woman, Cry me a river, Superstar, Give peace a chance, Space Captain, The letter, Delta lady
Cool live album