The Letter

The Zoo Crew is spinning "The Letter" by Joe Cocker from the iconic Mad Dogs & Englishmen album, and Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about this soulful track! Originally a hit by The Box Tops, Cocker’s version was recorded in 1970 during rehearsals for the chaotic Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, a whirlwind of over 40 musicians, singers, and hangers-on. The song, paired with "Space Captain" as a single, became a Top 10 hit in the U.S., showcasing Cocker’s gritty voice and the massive, gospel-infused energy of the tour. Leon Russell, the tour’s musical director, played a pivotal role in arranging the track, giving it that raw, communal vibe with a choir and horn section. In a 2015 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Rita Coolidge, a backing vocalist, recalled the tour’s “circus-like atmosphere,” with musicians like Jim Keltner and Bobby Keys adding to the mayhem. A post on X from 2023 by user @vurnt22 called the tour “legendary in its infamous excesses,” setting the “sex, drugs, & rock’n’roll bar HIGH” for the ‘70s.

Another juicy tidbit comes from the 2021 documentary Learning to Live Together, which dives into the tour’s highs and lows. The film reveals tensions between Cocker and Russell, with Cocker feeling overshadowed by Russell’s commanding presence. Despite this, "The Letter" captured the tour’s magic, with Claudia Lennear’s backing vocals cutting through, as noted by director Jesse Lauter. The song was performed live at Fillmore East, and its raw power is immortalized in both the album and the 1971 film Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Drummer Jim Gordon’s intense personal life also spilled into the tour, with a violent incident involving Coolidge, adding to the chaotic lore. Yet, as Coolidge told The Independent in 2021, “many days I wake up thinking about that music and how amazing it all was.”

Joe Cocker, born John Robert Cocker in Sheffield, England, on May 20, 1944, started his musical journey in the early 1960s. As a teenager, he was inspired by Ray Charles and skiffle, performing under the stage name Vance Arnold with his band The Avengers. By 1964, he formed The Grease Band, covering soul and blues classics. His big break came in 1968 with a soul-stirring cover of The Beatles’ "With a Little Help from My Friends", which hit number one in the UK and blew minds at Woodstock in 1969. Paul McCartney later praised Cocker’s version, saying it “totally turned the song into a soul anthem,” as noted in a 2014 tribute on Wikipedia. This success led to his 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, a defining moment despite its personal toll. Cocker’s career spanned 22 studio albums, with hits like "Up Where We Belong" earning him a 1983 Grammy.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, check out Joe Cocker’s official website for tour archives and news. His Facebook page shares tributes and fan memories, while Instagram posts vintage photos and clips. On X, the official account keeps the legacy alive with updates and fan interactions. Fans can also join the Joe Cocker Fans Facebook group for discussions and rare photos. For tribute performances, Mad Dogs and The Englishman is a fan-favorite site, boasting shows that capture Cocker’s raw energy, with one review calling it “an extraordinary performance.” Another great resource is Soundtracks of a Generation, a tribute site chronicling Cocker’s career from Woodstock to his later years.