MAD DOG COCKER AND HIS ENGLISHMEN WERE LUCKY THEY DIDN'T GET SPRUNG AT DENPASAR AIRPORT

https://youtu.be/ga9oBogL2V4?si=4McNreon5wZkyq7n

In some ways dismissed by the very reluctant genius and the journeymen's band who were responsible for creating it, JOE COCKER'S MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN remains one of only a few albums recorded in the Woodstock era that is still worthy of influencing rock, blues and white soul artists of today. 

Released in 1970 at the height of flower power, this live mostly covers album features mass choir backing as well as a few drummers. 

By the time Cocker and his travelling band performed the shows which provided the songs for the album, tensions within Mad Dog camp were at breaking point, which on some tracks in particular are obvious because of the rather autonomous improvisations of every band member which fuel the album. 

Guitarist Leon Russell especially is off doing his own jam within a group setting, very inspiring in places but it tended to muddy the overall sound. 

The choice of songs by Mad Dog and his englishmen for the record was certainly big name stuff - HONKY TONK WOMAN by Jagger/Richards, WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY BABY by Issac Hayes, SHE CAME IN THROUGH THE BATHROOM WINDOW by team Beatles Lennon/ McCartney, I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG by Otis Redding and the biggest of them all BIRD ON A WIRE by Leonard Cohen, as well as other big name covers. 

Cocker in interviews has always basically reviled this recording as something he created while high as a kite on dope and completely hit and miss. 

But no matter how much Cocker likes his comeback 1980`s output more, MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMAN, for all its clang and bump imperfection, will always be Cocker's definitive recording regardless of how much weed went into recording it. Good thing Cocker stayed away from Bali and Kerobokan Prison.