Album Review: Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs & Englishmen (1970)

Joe Cocker does write his own songs.  But it isn't in that capacity, of course, that he is best known for.  When we think of Joe Cocker, we think of  a raspy-voiced covers artist.   And it's a role that he excels in.  That's why he was so much loved.  Covering Beatles songs is what he is undoubtedly most famous for, but of course, he's covered much more than just Lennon-McCartney numbers.  Mad Dogs & Englishmen, a live album from 1970, contains many of the staple Cocker covers, but also features guest artists, including Rita Coolidge and her uncanny rendition of  "Superstar", a song perhaps best known for being performed by The Carpenters.  Stylistically, I will admit that this album is rather repetitive musically speaking, but not that it matters.  Most of the songs here still sound brilliant, and Cocker sounds as if he's singing them with heartfelt enthusiasm.  Not bad, given that the album was a recording of a purportedly rushed tour.  Leon Russell was perhaps the weakest point for me on this album, but even then I couldn't complain too much about him - I do think "Dixie Lullaby" is a great song, even if some of his others sounded a little too drained and paced for my liking.   A great cover of Bob Dylan's "Girl From the North Country", "Cry Me a River", "The Letter" and an excellent rendition of The Band's "The Weight" are my favorites on this record, but in spite of the overall monotony of the album, the vast majority of the songs here are certainly commendable and worth taking the time to listen to.  In conclusion, I can safely say that this is one of the better live albums that I have heard in a long time.  A-