Customer Reviews

Mad Dogs & Englishmen [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1970, Joe Cocker's Maddogs and Englishmen was one of the biggest rock n roll events of the year. This rockumentary of that tour, is a time capsule not to be missed. Cocker, along with a forty piece band, which included Leon Russell, Chris Stainton, and Rita Coolidge, stormed across America in 2 1/2 months, playing to packed houses and rave reviews. The movie was made in the same format as Woodstock, utilizing split screen visual techniques. Cocker is caught in his absolute young prime belting out tunes like the "Letter", "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Space Captain", Feelin Alright, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" and "Delta Lady" just to name a few. The tour from a personal point of view, was a diaster for Joe Cocker. The tour entourage was too big to support playing 3000 seat venues. Joe and Leon Russell were not getting along by midway into the tour, and it is quite obvious in the film that Cocker was becoming very withdrawn from it all. One can see all the hanger ons who were there for a free ride sponging off of a young Joe Cocker who could not say no to any of them. That put aside, this rock film captures the frenzy, of one of the most exciting tours in rock history. This dvd picture and sound quality is good but not spectacular. Keep in mind this was filmed over 30 years ago, so this is as good as it gets from that era. Joe Cocker continues to make music and tour at the age of 60, the same cannot be said for many people who were with him during that time period. After watching this film, you will understand why Joe Cocker is truly a rock n roll survivor.

Back in the day there were two theatrical-release rock concert films--Woodstock, and Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs. If ever there was a candidate for full screen DVD digitization, this is it. Don't waste you money on the VHS scan and pan Mad Dogs. You won't get half the effect of the original film, much less the multiple screen images of the fabulous band, put through their paces by Leon Russell and Chris Stainton. In the meantime, while you're waiting for them to rescue the original print, clean it up, and stamp out the DVDs, you can get a sense of the film's great soundtrack with the Mad Dogs CD, though with a slightly different selection of songs by Joe and a supporting cast of around forty.

Entertaining and informative documentary on the way it was for this pioneer and his band. The video was originally made by the artist's recording company to boost record sales. It did not work since the video was not immediately released. It can now be view as a documentary on a band that helped start a new revolution in music and its fans. This video is definitely a must for the true music fans collection. It will make you feel alright!

Great DVD,
Have been looking for this movie for 3 years on dvd.
Have the video, but the quatily is bad .
The remastered DVD quality is a masterful work of art.
Have seen joe 3 times live, just recent at casino rama.
This DVD IS so good if you have never seen joe live you will think you have after you see this movie.

P.S. HOPE you have a D.T.S. STERO SYSTEM to here this movie it sounds great on D.T.S.
This movie is a must for all or any one who loves the old quality music from the 60s ok early 70s.
Enjoy mad dogs and englishmen it is a true gem of history from the good old day gone by.

ONE LEG NO HAIR.

While I was struggling to get recognition for the 1950's rock and roll originators on my college radio show, I still often delved into the more "contemporary" music scene of the Stones, Richie Havens, Melanie, and Joe Cocker and Leon Russell, the main stars of this movie. Their "roots" approach drew me to this documentary then and now.
The music is great, sometimes nearly-great, and there's alot of atmosphere. Close to 30 years later, the film brings out one curious point which I missed at the time - Joe Cocker's *backstage* personae - unlike his ecstatic stage image, it's totally low-key and uninteresting. For those of us used to the present day, in-depth, VH1 approach it's strange to have a superstar just blend into the dressing room wallpaper. Not one pearl of wisdom!
A big disappointment in the video is the deletion of the final scene which really underscores the whole enterprise - when it was all said and done, the tour yielded (as I recall) less than $1,000 in profit - euphoria led to depression and a bittersweet message: it's great to rock but we gotta eat, too.
Along with other rocumentaries of the time ("Gimme Shelter", "Isle of Wight", etc.), a certain after-era malaise is projected. Flower Power was really over. The manufactured sound was just around the corner.

This Brazilian version is beautiful. The sound and picture are glorious. Get this while you can....and enjoy the ride....musicianship, unabashed shenanigans, warmth of the sun, people watching, and on and on....captured in a wild style, maverick motion picture..I did not want the movie to end.

I saw this film in the theatre when it was originally released in 1970 and have been trying to get a copy ever since. It is still a remarkable music film featuring some of the best musicians at the time. Joe is at his best, fresh from Woodstock and riding a wave of hits that made him a very familiar name in Rock. The one thing that I found amusing was the language of the cover and CD label is Spanish. The film in is English so don't worry if you get this and see all the written word is in Spanish.

Nothing "glorious" about this Brazilian version of Mad Dogs. Looks and sounds like a 30 year old video tape. And where is Cry me a river? Could the best song from the soundtrack really have been omitted from the film?

I've been a great fan of Joe Cocker for almost 40 years! I'd read about this concert-tour film almost that long ago, in 'LIFE' magazine (that ought to date me right there!). It was really amazing to see Joe so young - and so thin!. How he was able to hold up, even considering his normal gravelly voice, throughout a hectic tour schedule is a mystery to me. The film is a mix of concert footage, backstage rehearsals, a brief interview or 2, done in the split-screen format that was just then coming into vogue. Not all of the songs from the companion album are shown in the film; I might have liked a little better selection of tunes. Overall, though, I am thrilled to be able to find this rare treasure!

The album Mad Dogs and Englishmen is certainly one of the best live albums of all time, but if you are reding this , you already know that. This video gives a perfect glimpse inside the workings of a truly great band, unfortunately never to play again. It could use less hotel scenes, and more performance shots, but all in all, it is a magnificent concert film. To see the double drumsets in action is certainly a treat, as is Leon Russels inspired piano playing. And of course Joe is great too. The version of "Something" with it's "shivers down my spine" organ intro was worth the investment, alone. Do yourself a favor and buy this movie, if you can find it. The DVD edition seems a long way off.