i wouldn’t say MD&E saved Joe’s US career. It certainly boosted Leon’s profile, but it almost killed Joe. He had to take a year or so off to recover from the madness.
You’re probably right but I’m sure Cocker was committed to a huge tour in the States and had no way of financing it as the Grease Band had walked out on him.
Yes it raised Russell’s profile but the fact that Joe spent most of his waking hours having home visits from Dr Jack Daniels and hoovering up Colombia’s finest didn’t help his future career.
You’re right, I think it did start off that way, but as you say, Joe was having it large throughout and ended the tour totally burned out and went to stay with him mum in Sheffield for a few months to recover from the excess.
I think it’s fair to say that Joe’s career peaked with MD&E and despite the odd hit and burst of popularity in later years, he never really achieved such heights of fame again.
It’s widely accepted that as a career move Leon came out of it better than Joe.
Some idiot on the BBC News site seems to think that a dodgy old garage rock band made a list in 2010 and put Leon on it:
“Russell’s had a relatively brief period of stardom in the 70s which was later revived in 2010 with the help of Elton John when the two collaborated on an album called The Union.
The record took third place in a list of 2010’s best albums by the Rolling Stones.”
He rates much so higher in the canon than the Cocker/Elton association, however good. He has a remarkable legacy of southern country boogie that never fails to cheer, as well as one of off the best hell yeah good ol’ boy long white hair beard combos. Ever.
Here is the set list . @Twang et al might be interested in some nice playing by Furry Lewis on a few songs
3:20 – Will the circle be unbroken ? 6:30 – Caravan (Instrumental version of Van Morrison’s song) 9:28 – It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry (Dylan’s cover) 14:49 – Delta lady 19:50 – A song for you 24:10 – Good morning jury (Furry Lewis) 27:55 – John Henry (Furry Lewis) 30:38 – Furry’s blues (Furry Lewis) 33:10 – Amos Burke (Don Nix) 36:03 – Honky tonk women (Stones’ cover) 39:29 – Sweet Emily 42:53 – Prince of peace 46:22 – Girl from the north country (Dylan’s cover) 49:13 – Big boss man 52:14 – Crystal closet queen 55:19 – Of thee I sing
His 1970 debut solo LP is one of my favourite albums by any artist. Featuring an all-star line-up, it contains Delta Lady, Hummingbird, A Song For You and Roll Away The Stone. No relation to the Mott the Hoople song of the same name, although it does have a touch of All The Way From Memphis about it.
It’s his first solo album, but he did an album called Look Inside the Asylum Choir with Marc Benno released in 1968 in the US. I think it came out later in the UK though.
On the Elvis Costello “Spectacle” TV show EJ waxes lyrical about how Leon influenced his piano playing and championed him when Elton first visited American as an unknown singer/songwriter in 1969/70. This is what prompted the 2010 collaboration.
Almost forgot, I saw Leon in February 1971 at the Albert Hall right after the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour when he was flying high.
Support was the Grease Band, Juicy Lucy and way down at the bottom in small print Status Quo. We were on the front row next to the PA bins and I recall being deaf for days. This was only two weeks before the UK changed to decimal currency, but the prices are still listed in shillings.
It was also the first time I saw an original Gibson Explorer guitar. It was played by Leon’s guitarist Don Preston (no relation to the Zappa/Mothers member). Explorers became popular with metal bands like Metallica (and The Edge) in the 80s when they were reissued, but the original 1958 models were a commercial flop with only a handful sold, making them one of the most valuable guitars ever made.
The “Jerry Lockran” mentioned there as compere is actually Gerry Lockran a folk/blues singer who recorded and/or toured in the 60s with Long John Baldry, Alexis Korner and Duffy Power.
He shared the same manager as Joe Cocker, The Grease Band, Faces, Chris Stainton and Juicy Lucy which explains the Leon Russell gig.
I was wondering about that (JL > GL). In early Melody Maker ads his name is given as ‘Gerry Loughran’ – presumably his real name, presumably changed for an easier life. Big Pete Deuchar changed his name to Duker’ in the mid 60s (on one of his singles and his duo album as The Moonshiners on the Page One – opossibly one not even you have seen, JC?), presumably for similar reasons. John McLaughlin had endless spelling variations in 60s ads – MacLoughlin, McLocklin, etc. I’m sure there must have been other artists who simplified their names (not counting artists who Anglicised european names, like Laszlo Weissburger or whatever it was – Leslie West).
He wrote “Delta Lady.” Even in the year of “Something,” “Lay Lady Lay,” and “Honky Tonk Women,” a considerable achievement.
Note – The “compere” for the U.K. Buddy Holly tour was Des O’Connor, a fact that pretty much puts Des, seriously, on the absolute top table of Rock ‘n’ Roll, somewhere below Paul (obviously) but, sorry folks, above David.
The Mad dogs and Englishman tour that saved Joe Cocker’s US career was is one of my favourite live albums.
Yet another one goes ahead, 2016 has really been a shity year for lots of reasons
i wouldn’t say MD&E saved Joe’s US career. It certainly boosted Leon’s profile, but it almost killed Joe. He had to take a year or so off to recover from the madness.
You’re probably right but I’m sure Cocker was committed to a huge tour in the States and had no way of financing it as the Grease Band had walked out on him.
Yes it raised Russell’s profile but the fact that Joe spent most of his waking hours having home visits from Dr Jack Daniels and hoovering up Colombia’s finest didn’t help his future career.
You’re right, I think it did start off that way, but as you say, Joe was having it large throughout and ended the tour totally burned out and went to stay with him mum in Sheffield for a few months to recover from the excess.
I think it’s fair to say that Joe’s career peaked with MD&E and despite the odd hit and burst of popularity in later years, he never really achieved such heights of fame again.
It’s widely accepted that as a career move Leon came out of it better than Joe.
Some idiot on the BBC News site seems to think that a dodgy old garage rock band made a list in 2010 and put Leon on it:
“Russell’s had a relatively brief period of stardom in the 70s which was later revived in 2010 with the help of Elton John when the two collaborated on an album called The Union.
The record took third place in a list of 2010’s best albums by the Rolling Stones.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37968017
You absolutely cannot beat the thoroughness of someone with a 2.1 in English from a UK university.
He rates much so higher in the canon than the Cocker/Elton association, however good. He has a remarkable legacy of southern country boogie that never fails to cheer, as well as one of off the best hell yeah good ol’ boy long white hair beard combos. Ever.
Another one.
2017 will be more of the same, unfortunately. Our old heroes are running out of road and we need to get used to it.
Saw him a few years ago on a double bill with Little Feat post Lowell obvs.
He could hardly walk and clearly in ill health.
Here is how to remember some sessions in Tanglewood sessions in the time of the Cocker tour.
Marvellous clip.
You just don’t see facial hair like that sax player anymore. Except possibly in Shoreditch.
He ought to have been sponsored by the sunglasses company too
So that’s where the Shelter People photo comes from…
Here is the set list . @Twang et al might be interested in some nice playing by Furry Lewis on a few songs
3:20 – Will the circle be unbroken ? 6:30 – Caravan (Instrumental version of Van Morrison’s song) 9:28 – It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry (Dylan’s cover) 14:49 – Delta lady 19:50 – A song for you 24:10 – Good morning jury (Furry Lewis) 27:55 – John Henry (Furry Lewis) 30:38 – Furry’s blues (Furry Lewis) 33:10 – Amos Burke (Don Nix) 36:03 – Honky tonk women (Stones’ cover) 39:29 – Sweet Emily 42:53 – Prince of peace 46:22 – Girl from the north country (Dylan’s cover) 49:13 – Big boss man 52:14 – Crystal closet queen 55:19 – Of thee I sing
Here’s another clip of Leon, from the Concert for Bangladesh rehearsals I think.
A song so good it was covered by BB.King. From his 1970 debut LP, this is Hummingbird.
Also covered by Duffy Power, b-side to his 1970 CBS single ‘Hell Hound’ – both tracks fabulous. Alas, neither is on YouTube.
Leon and JJ Cale were very well regarded session men.
coincidentally was just watching that on my phone. That backless guitar is er, interesting
Russell and J J Cale went way back to Tulsa in the mid-50s, where they were in a band called the Starlighters along with Chuck Blackwell.
His 1970 debut solo LP is one of my favourite albums by any artist. Featuring an all-star line-up, it contains Delta Lady, Hummingbird, A Song For You and Roll Away The Stone. No relation to the Mott the Hoople song of the same name, although it does have a touch of All The Way From Memphis about it.
http://i.imgur.com/blEWmdZ.gif
Also includes I Put A Spell On You. No, not that one.
You sure that is his first. I’ve got an Aussie pressing, Astor label I think of him doing gospel and traditional country – looks older.
Can’t locate it at the moment.
It’s his first solo album, but he did an album called Look Inside the Asylum Choir with Marc Benno released in 1968 in the US. I think it came out later in the UK though.
On the Elvis Costello “Spectacle” TV show EJ waxes lyrical about how Leon influenced his piano playing and championed him when Elton first visited American as an unknown singer/songwriter in 1969/70. This is what prompted the 2010 collaboration.
Some great Leon stories here. I never knew he played on Mr. Tambourine Man
Almost forgot, I saw Leon in February 1971 at the Albert Hall right after the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour when he was flying high.
Support was the Grease Band, Juicy Lucy and way down at the bottom in small print Status Quo. We were on the front row next to the PA bins and I recall being deaf for days. This was only two weeks before the UK changed to decimal currency, but the prices are still listed in shillings.
It was also the first time I saw an original Gibson Explorer guitar. It was played by Leon’s guitarist Don Preston (no relation to the Zappa/Mothers member). Explorers became popular with metal bands like Metallica (and The Edge) in the 80s when they were reissued, but the original 1958 models were a commercial flop with only a handful sold, making them one of the most valuable guitars ever made.
http://i.imgur.com/0wnE8x9.jpg
Compere! How often do you get that these days?!
The “Jerry Lockran” mentioned there as compere is actually Gerry Lockran a folk/blues singer who recorded and/or toured in the 60s with Long John Baldry, Alexis Korner and Duffy Power.
He shared the same manager as Joe Cocker, The Grease Band, Faces, Chris Stainton and Juicy Lucy which explains the Leon Russell gig.
I was wondering about that (JL > GL). In early Melody Maker ads his name is given as ‘Gerry Loughran’ – presumably his real name, presumably changed for an easier life. Big Pete Deuchar changed his name to Duker’ in the mid 60s (on one of his singles and his duo album as The Moonshiners on the Page One – opossibly one not even you have seen, JC?), presumably for similar reasons. John McLaughlin had endless spelling variations in 60s ads – MacLoughlin, McLocklin, etc. I’m sure there must have been other artists who simplified their names (not counting artists who Anglicised european names, like Laszlo Weissburger or whatever it was – Leslie West).
I thought you may have encountered Gerry during your Duffy Power research, Colin.
No. never did.
He wrote “Delta Lady.” Even in the year of “Something,” “Lay Lady Lay,” and “Honky Tonk Women,” a considerable achievement.
Note – The “compere” for the U.K. Buddy Holly tour was Des O’Connor, a fact that pretty much puts Des, seriously, on the absolute top table of Rock ‘n’ Roll, somewhere below Paul (obviously) but, sorry folks, above David.