Some things are best left alone. One of today’s top live bands, Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB), had success revisiting the rock classic, Layla, but Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (Live at Lockn’) just doesn’t rise to the same level as the 1970 original. Even with the presence of the original bandleader and co-producer Leon Russell, the effort falls short simply because the late Joe Cocker’s overriding presence is irreplaceable. Surely, the band succeeds at creating the community vibe of the original, and those unfamiliar with the original will likely consider this yet another fine effort by the Tedeschi-Trucks band.
The original album had a burgeoning cast of 21 musicians and singers. This effort has 20 on stage at times. To their credit, TTB doesn’t completely replicate the original’s setlist or sequence. Missing are “Honky Tonk Women,” “Cry Me a River,” “Give Peace a Chance,” and, quizzically, one that would be squarely in their wheelhouse, “Blue Medley: “I’ll Drown in My Own Tears, ”When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.” These others- “Darling Be Home Soon,” “The Weight,” “Dixie Lullaby,” and “The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen” were included on the 2005 Deluxe version, with Russell singing the latter two well here as did on the original.
TTB’s 12-piece ensemble with Russell invited original Mad Dogs members such as Rita Coolidge, Claudia Lennear, and Chris Stainton, along with a diverse group of special guests including Doyle Bramhall II, Chris Robinson, Warren Haynes, Anders Osborne, and Dave Mason. By contrast, notable musicians on the original were Carl Radle and Jim Gordon, later contributors to Layla, as well as drummer Jim Keltner and tenor saxophonist Bobby Keys. The original had a choir numbering ten, while the TTB version, given the size of their core unit, was probably about the same. Realize that this concert took place ten years ago and is only being released now. (yes, a gap filler between studio albums).
While Joe Cocker was the lead vocalist on every track in the original 2-LP set, music from the original soundtrack of the film of the tour, TTB approaches the lead vocalist democratically. The band’s usual lead, Susan Tedesch, is only featured alone twice, but paired with others on four tracks. Derek Trucks is his typically brilliant self, delivering the instrumental breaks on slide guitar. The arrangements differ considerably on many tracks, some successful and others less so.
Susan does a commendable job on the leadoff “The Letter” and the Ray Charles chestnut “Let’s Go Get Stoned.” Dave Mason and Anders Osborne hold their own on “Feelin’ Alright,” but this version doesn’t measure up to Cocker’s take nor Mason’s original when he was a band member of Traffic. “Girl from the North Country,” featuring Lennear, and “Bird on the Wire,” featuring Coolidge and Bramhall II, fall especially flat. “Delta Lady,” which was a showstopper for Cocker, doesn’t come close with John Bell in the lead. On the other hand, the inclusion of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Darling Be Home Soon” rings with emotion, as rendered by Susan and Bramhall II. Likewise for “Space Captain” by Susan and Robinson. Multiple singers deliver “The Weight” and “With a Little Help From My Friends,” conjuring the community spirit of the original with its large choir.
Overall, kudos for trying, but a segment of we six-decade plus music fans will forever favor to the original while still holding TTB in high esteem as one of today’s best bands.
