Mad Dogs and Englishmen
was originally released in 1970.
According to the album’s liner
notes, Joe Cocker arrived in Los
Angeles in March 1970 with
the goal of recuperating from
several grueling months on
the road. His plans to form a
new band for the summer were
quickly dashed when his management told him they had set
up a seven-week tour to begin
in eight days. Leon Russell offered to help Cocker put a band
together and by March 13th,
ten musicians had signed on
and rehearsals had begun. The
numbers kept growing to where
a rehearsal on March 17th featured an entourage (now known
as Mad Dogs & Englishmen)
of 36 “including the musicians,
three sound men, two secretaries, three roadies, managers,
wives, lovers, assorted children,
and other animals.”
The band’s first performance
took place on May 20th. One
“The Letter”
NewJerseyStage.com
2015 - ISSUE 7
22