Mad Dogs & Englishmen (Dlx) [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Joe Cocker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000B8I896
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,881 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #75 in Music > Rock > Blues Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The rock & roll road show never really caught on, which is surprising given that Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen revue showed tour dogs how it's done. Recorded live at New York's Fillmore East in the spring of 1970, this set (as well as a film of the same name) documents a slapdash extravaganza (the whole thing was conceived, organized, and abandoned over the course of two months) that overflows with big, brassy, rockin' soul. Front and center is Joe Cocker, a spastically charismatic Brit soul shouter. The bandleader is Leon Russell, playing some of the best rock piano ever waxed. And the crack company (boasting 21 singers and players) features the Rolling Stones' future horn section and Derek & the Dominoes' rhythm-section-in-waiting. Cocker shines on "Cry Me a River," "Give Peace a Chance," "The Letter," and a slew of other covers that benefit greatly from the volcanic arrangements whipped up by Russell and Chris Stainton. It may have been the Ray Charles revue for the Woodstock Generation, but, shockingly, the Genius himself hasn't made too many records that surpass this one. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

In the pantheon of classic live albums as well as concert films, Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen is near the top, alongside Woodstock and The Last Waltz in defining the spirit of a generation. The tour, album and film catapulted Cocker, Leon Russell, and Rita Coolidge to stardom. Now, for the first time, the album, originally issued in 1970, is heard with previously unreleased tracks and studio cuts. The two-CD Mad Dogs & Englishmen: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition reveals in full for the first time the repertoire of the craziest, loudest, longest rock 'n' roll circus to have ever hit America. Along with already-legendary performances of "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," "The Letter," "Delta Lady," "Bird on a Wire," "Cry Me a River," "Feelin' Alright," "Let's Go Get Stoned," and "Space Captain" are seven previously unreleased live performances (whose inclusion now reflects the actual sequence of the show's set list) and four rare studio recordings.

The debuting live performances are of Cocker's "The Weight," "Something," "Darling Be Home Soon," and "With a Little Help from My Friends"; Leon Russell's "Hummingbird" and "Dixie Lullaby"; and Don Preston's "Further On up the Road." In addition, Claudia Lennear's performance of "Let It Be," a single B-side, makes its album premiere. That recording, as well as Rita Coolidge's "Superstar," were taped at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium; the other performances took place earlier at the Fillmore East. Added too are the studio singles sessions of Russell's "The Ballad of Mad Dogs & Englishmen," the previously unreleased "Warm-Up Jam" (including "Under My Thumb"); the album debut and stereo debut of the single B-side "Space Captain" as well as "The Letter."

The tour rolled across America, from Detroit to New York to California, from March to May 1970. With Cocker in his prime, driven by a phenomenal band; ringmaster Russell; three drummers; horn section; 10-strong choir; wives, lovers and children; film crew; roadies; and a black-and-white-spotted dog, the tour was one of the greatest and most colorful in history. Thirty-five years later, the excitement of Mad Dogs & Englishmen remains.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Rock Reissue Of The Year!, October 19, 2005

By 

Anthony Accordino (Massapequa Park, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mad Dogs & Englishmen (Dlx) (Audio CD)

With the release of the 35th anniversary edition of Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen, the original version as great as it was, has now become obsolete. This delux edition, is packed with top notch bonus material that never made it to the original 2 album set in 1970. Cocker is phenominal on such bonus tunes like "The Weight", "Something, "Darling Be Home Soon", and of course his trademark "With A little Help From my Friends". All the above mentioned bonus tunes are further enhanced by the gospel drive of the space choir. The original version of "Delta Lady", is also extended with a third encore verse only seen in the movie. Add to that, a wonderful version of "Let It Be", by Claudia Lennear, taken from the actual movie, as well as 2 cuts by Leon Russell Hummingbird", and "Dixie Lullaby, and you can't help but feel the power of one of rocks greatest tours ever. The disc also has lots more verbal interaction with Joe and Leon, as well as an introduction by what sounds like promoter Bill Graham at the Fillmore East in New York. Also of note is the inclusion of studio versions of "The Letter" and "Space Captain", that were recorded just prior to the tour. Joe never sounded better on these rare takes, which are also presented for the first time in stereo. "Space Captain", is also an alternate version that has never been heard before. What makes this set so special, is the bonus material is all quality, with no filler that often plagues releases with bonus material. The cd ends fittingly with Leon Russell's "Ballad Of Mad Dogs and Englishmen", which also played during the end credits of the movie. The 24 page booklet is also a treat. Great new liner notes by J.P. Bean, Joe Cocker's biographer, along with photo's and information on each song only enhance this cd to elite status among reissue packages. Finally, I can't say enough about the remastering and sound quality of this recording, which far exceeds any prior edition, including those gold disc versions. If you are a Joe Cocker fan, you haven't heard Mad Dogs and Englishmen until this delux edition is part of your collection.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cocker's Best, October 28, 2005

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mad Dogs & Englishmen (Dlx) (Audio CD)

Joe Cocker's live album, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, is his crowning achievement. Originally released as an elaborate double album, the music inside brilliantly captured the energy of Mr. Cocker's mesmerizing live shows. Backed by an amazing band lead by Leon Russell, the performances sizzle. The album is made up entirely of cover songs, several of which are Beatles songs. Mr. Cocker makes songs like "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" and "Let It Be" his own. "Cry Me A River" and "The Letter" (Mr. Cocker's first top ten single) burn with intensity while Rita Coolidge's version of "Superstar" is as haunting and heartbreakingly beautiful as any song ever recorded. This deluxe edition finally gives the album the packaging and sound it so richly deserves. There are eleven bonus tracks that add depth to the original and "The Weight" stands out amongst these extras.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars worth EVERY penny and then some, December 2, 2005

By 

Benjamin J. Fowle (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mad Dogs & Englishmen (Dlx) (Audio CD)

I initially balked at the outrageous price of 27 dollars for this cd set but let me tell you rest assured that this is a bargain considering the quality of this album.

The sound qaulity is absolutely phenomenal and the bonus material is not filler. I have not heard other versions of this record but on this set everything is crystal clear and none of the musicians (and there were a lot of them) get lost in the mix. The Weight is my favorite song included and it is a previously unreleased track. It is shocking that a track as powerful as this one went so long without being released.

Kudos to whoever put this set together because the packaging is flawless. If you are going to buy mad dogs and englishmen this is the edition to own.

LONG LIVE COCKER POWER