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Joe Cocker — The Letter
Album: Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 921









Released: 1970
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone
I'm a-goin' home
My baby just a-wrote me a letter

I don't care how much money I gotta spend
Got to get back to my baby again
Lonely days are gone
I'm a-goin' home
My baby just a-wrote me a letter

Well, she wrote me a letter, said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back to my baby once more?
Anyway, yeah

Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone
I'm a-goin' home
My baby just a-wrote me a letter

Well, she wrote me a letter, said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back to my baby once more?
Anyway, yeah

Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone
I'm a-goin' home
My baby just a-wrote me a letter
My baby just a-wrote me a letter
Comments (141)add comment
This track is from my era - was wonderful to hear his voice appearing out of nowhere back then.  And his tracks,  all oh so different.

Miss him ðŸ˜ž

Thanks Bill ðŸ˜Ž
Posted 10 months ago by Dapps    [ Reply ]
Folk under 30 might wonder Wtf is a 'letter', but 'my baby whatsapp'd me' doesn't quite have the same romance. Maybe come the nanopocalypse when all that's digital turns to grey dust letters will come back into vogue.

A great, heartfelt song.
Posted 2 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 lucidea333 wrote:
 sun is shining today, i'm in Lisbon and i'm working at the 12 floor of a high building. Depression being killed by this song. Thank u



I am glad this works for you!!  It works for me too!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 sun is shining today, i'm in Lisbon and i'm working at the 12 floor of a high building. Depression being killed by this song. Thank u
Posted 2 years ago by lucidea333    [ Reply ]
EXCELLENT!!! ICONIC!!!
Posted 3 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 rp1125 wrote:

Every cover he's done is as good or better than the original.



Serious question: would he have a career without cover songs?
Posted 3 years ago by jwolf8609    [ Reply ]
I wonder what joe though of John Belushi’s imitation?
Posted 3 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
Digging deep today! Last comment was 9 years ago!
Posted 3 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
70 er  da war doch . was . ? . . WALDBÜHNE !Berlin ! YahMan  das war joe  echt super super fine{#Roflol}
Posted 13 years ago by mistabird    [ Reply ]
This is the 6th track Bill must have loaded onto RP (look at the song_id above)

I am betting it is one of his favourites. . .  

Posted 13 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
 rp1125 wrote:
Every cover he's done is as good or better than the original.
 

You know what, you maybe right.
Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]

This song great all versions.{#Meditate}


Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Most excellent classic, IMHO {#Cheers}
Posted 13 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
"Mad Dogs and Englishmen" came out in my most musically formative years. It's still one of my favorites even though it may not have been as influential as some of the other great groups of that day, possibly because it borrowed heavily from them.

Posted 13 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
This is a fantastic cover.  
Posted 13 years ago by lsfeder    [ Reply ]
Vanna, pick me a letter!

Posted 14 years ago by Zeito    [ Reply ]
Most enjoyable Cocker classic. A full 7.
Posted 14 years ago by Lrobby99    [ Reply ]
I like Joe and I want to like this, but the horns make me wince.
Posted 14 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
YES!!!
Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 walk wrote:

If you don't rate this 9 or 10 you don't have ears that work.


 
Or a brain, one.....

Posted 14 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]

If you don't rate this 9 or 10 you don't have ears that work.


Posted 14 years ago by walk    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
"My baby wrote me a letter" - evocative and romantic.  Can you imagine "I'm comin' home, my baby texted me a message"?  F*ckin' love those horns! 8 from the Nottingham jury.
 
{#Notworthy}


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
"My baby wrote me a letter" - evocative and romantic. Can you imagine "I'm comin' home, my baby texted me a message"? F*ckin' love those horns! 8 from the Nottingham jury.
Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Every cover he's done is as good or better than the original.
Posted 14 years ago by rp1125    [ Reply ]
 audiolizard wrote:
I think the rest of the band deserves at least as much credit as Joe for this excellent song.
 
And a damned good band it was, too - a virtual who's who of studio pros and touring greats. Rita Coolidge, Don Preston, Leon Russell, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon - the list goes on and ol.

Posted 14 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
I think the rest of the band deserves at least as much credit as Joe for this excellent song.
Posted 14 years ago by audiolizard    [ Reply ]
Mad Dogs and Englishmen!
Posted 15 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
 Stingray wrote:
WONDERFUL DRIVE...

all lost in those times!
just incredible (and I am anything but a Cocker-fan)
 
Joe is a force of nature.

Posted 15 years ago by madaxeman    [ Reply ]
WONDERFUL DRIVE...

all lost in those times!
just incredible (and I am anything but a Cocker-fan)
Posted 15 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
This is the best interpretation of this song. Straightforward, speedy, absolutely great! One of the songs i'd take on an lonely island. 10/10
Posted 15 years ago by eltom    [ Reply ]
Mad Dog & Englishmen... great party album.
Posted 15 years ago by Captn_Pea    [ Reply ]
What a voice. I remember seeing him here when he sang  barefoot and at the end came back for an encore "because there is no beer backstage." but there was was on stage. He was pretty hard to watch in those days splitting everywhere as he sang. Blowing his nose on stage (without any tissues) But close your eyes and the band was tight and he was hitting all the notes.
Posted 15 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
I would be surprised if his career is duplicated in my lifetime.
Posted 15 years ago by AMH    [ Reply ]
not enough dancing bananas for this....
Posted 15 years ago by Felix_The_Cat    [ Reply ]
Or Depeche Mode.

 vit wrote:


It would be so funny if he covered a bunch of Ray La Montagne's stuff.

 


Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
FrankMc wrote:
Somebody once said that when Cocker covered something, he owned it. This is one of those cases.


It would be so funny if he covered a bunch of Ray La Montagne's stuff.

Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
Somebody once said that when Cocker covered something, he owned it. This is one of those cases.
Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
RP track #6.  joyful. solid 8!
Posted 15 years ago by to_the_eleven    [ Reply ]
Damn. Music like this is life blood.
Posted 15 years ago by ugly    [ Reply ]
Joe Cocker makes me happy. {#Sunny}
Posted 15 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
What is there to "get"?  Joe, Leon — Play it boys!!!!!!!!  Don't need to get it — just ENJOY!
Posted 15 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
 biodiesel wrote:
Beyond comparison!
 

This is just a tribute to the POWER of MUSIC!!! 100 years ago this man would have been a "gimp", an english slumdog....we have thankfully come along,...and have a long ways to go.

Posted 15 years ago by redstorm    [ Reply ]
I wanted to rail that I hate Joe Cocker, but then I thought about the 25 minute Jethro Tull sides we occasionally hear on RP, and I concluded that the Cocker deserves a "ho hum." I'm just so angry right now. I mean...why couldn't I have won that trip to Costa Rica, dammit?
Posted 15 years ago by steve_san_carlos    [ Reply ]
i HATE joe cocker.{#Puke}
Posted 15 years ago by milchschnitte    [ Reply ]
 suddenchad wrote:


"From which this was originally from?" Sorry for my terrible grammar.
 
Yes and no. The album Mad Dogs and Englishmen was a live album, but this particular song was from a rehearsal sound check, if I recall correctly.

Interesting note...besides using Chris Stainton's Grease Band, Cocker lifted pretty much all of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett's road band (Jim Gordon, Jim Price, Bobby Keys, Carl Radle, and Rita Coolidge), for what became the Mad Dogs tour. The Bramletts were livid. They were on a break but had planned to continue touring after the immensely popular "...& Friends" tour (with Clapton, Dave Mason, and George Harrison at various times). With no touring band left, whatever momentum the Bramletts had built up virtually evaporated, tho' they had a hit with Motel Shot the following year (1971).

Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]

I'd be happy if we could just skip the Joe Cocker stuff altogether.  Not a fan...


Posted 15 years ago by GretchenOhio    [ Reply ]
See the film Mad Dogs And Englishmen - which this version is from - it's a 1970 US tour with Cocker, Leon Russell, Bobby Keyes and a raggle taggle of hippy hangers on. It's brilliant, and a kick arse band.

Posted 15 years ago by Jungle_Jim    [ Reply ]
Nice to hear this on RP.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Now THIS is a great cover, and a kick-ass live performance to boot.
Posted 16 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
 jmsmy wrote:
Hey everybody dont feel bad about airplane ticket prices. That airplane ticket in 1970 would cost more then it does now 38 years latter.
 

...you wouldn't be stuck spending three hours on each end checking in and out of the airport, though...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Hey everybody dont feel bad about airplane ticket prices. That airplane ticket in 1970 would cost more then it does now 38 years latter.
Posted 16 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
Unfortunately, in this day and age, you'd be better off with the fast train Joe, if you want to get somewhere.

(And good old American bumped me from a flight just this afternoon)
Posted 16 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
 sdn wrote:
Elocution.  It can work for you too!

 
The only singer I ever knew who had perfect elocution was Mister Rogers. Kinda says it all, no?

Posted 16 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
 Captn_Pea wrote:
Mad Dogs and Englishman

 

Right on, fellow 'Gander!
Posted 16 years ago by DeeCee1109    [ Reply ]
Elocution.  It can work for you too!
Posted 16 years ago by sdn    [ Reply ]
burdell wrote:
I don't get Joe Cocker. I just don't. This is a great song until he opens his mouth. If J Geils was singing this and they dropped those awful background singers, this could be awesome.
That'd be something--as J Geils doesn't sing. Peter Wolf does, though. And, like Joe Cocker--he's got buckets o' soul.
Posted 16 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
He doesn't so much sing a song as upholster it.
Posted 16 years ago by daviddurham    [ Reply ]
Mad Dogs and Englishman
Posted 16 years ago by Captn_Pea    [ Reply ]
suddenchad wrote:
"From which this was originally from?" Sorry for my terrible grammar.
"But if this ever-changing world in which we live in..." -Paul McCartney, Live and Let Die.
Posted 16 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
I don't get Joe Cocker. I just don't. This is a great song until he opens his mouth. If J Geils was singing this and they dropped those awful background singers, this could be awesome.
Posted 16 years ago by burdell    [ Reply ]
I think this rolls along quite nicely. A nice take on a well written song.
Posted 16 years ago by fletch    [ Reply ]
I have never been really thrilled with Joe Cocker, some of its good.
Posted 16 years ago by cutterjudd    [ Reply ]
Sounds like someone slaughtering a sheep
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
Love the orignal version of this song. Joe however Cockered this one up in an aweful way.
Posted 16 years ago by mshaffer    [ Reply ]
Very clever segue, Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by Ropes    [ Reply ]
Would it sound as good if she "wrote me an email"?
Posted 17 years ago by sfListener    [ Reply ]
Damn, this rocks!
Posted 17 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
I can't hear Joe Cocker without remembering John Belushi doing him on SNL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cINjzu5773M
Posted 17 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
I can\'t hear Joe Cocker without remembering John Belushi doing him on SNL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cINjzu5773M
Posted 17 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
radiozep wrote:
Must be Bill's favorite song. Song ID = 6, the lowest ID in the catalog...
Hmm, now that you pointed that out, I just had to look. There's another Joe Cocker song at ID 4, (but nothing at 1-3 or 5), called "The Weight" from "The Long Voyage Home Sampler." It's never been played though.
Posted 17 years ago by MrSpaz    [ Reply ]
Must be Bill's favorite song. Song ID = 6, the lowest ID in the catalog...
Posted 17 years ago by radiozep    [ Reply ]
go, Joe! I love how he wiggles all over and sweats all over the stage!
Posted 17 years ago by Alifreckles50    [ Reply ]
suddenchad wrote:
What an awful cover. I don't mean the song, I mean the actual album cover. Yeesh. Hideous. Worst sort of late 70s/early 80s design, although I am sure it's more recent than that. Sorry, I'm nitpicking, but I wish the "Mad Dogs and Englishman" cover from which this was originally from was posted instead.
"From which this was originally from?" Sorry for my terrible grammar.
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
What an awful cover. I don't mean the song, I mean the actual album cover. Yeesh. Hideous. Worst sort of late 70s/early 80s design, although I am sure it's more recent than that. Sorry, I'm nitpicking, but I wish the "Mad Dogs and Englishman" cover from which this was originally from was posted instead.
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Welly    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
This song was written by an old schoolmate of mine, Wayne Carson, or Wayne Carson Thompson. He is the only guy from my little hometown of Walnut Grove, Missouri to make it big in the music business. He is one of the great songwriters of our era.
Posted 17 years ago by cybrbrdr    [ Reply ]
Trumps the Box Tops original by a mile. Joe never turned a bad phrase.
Posted 17 years ago by E_A_D_G    [ Reply ]
This song kills me. In a good way. Does that make sense?!
Posted 17 years ago by amandamustdance    [ Reply ]
Great cover tune (The Box Tops did the original), wonderful singer, sloppy rockin' classic live album. God love ya, Joe, Leon and the ragtag Mad Dogs. Delta Lady, from the same album is a classic too.
Posted 17 years ago by gopre    [ Reply ]
Get the man some Ex-Lax, for the love of...
Posted 17 years ago by mooseisadick    [ Reply ]
This rocks, pure and simple. A true classic!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by ramlamb57    [ Reply ]
chair dance time sh*7 I just messed up my code doing a ray charles.
Posted 17 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
meghan89 wrote:
Its a 10, it's only a 10. If you rate it less than a 10 then you have to eat worms.
I gave it a 3 because he seems sincere and I was in a charitable mood.
Posted 17 years ago by RobRyan    [ Reply ]
Man when this cover came out it was a barn-burning scorcher! It was as if Zeppelin had covered Everly Brothers.
Posted 17 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
Everytime this is played, I fall onto the floor of my office, and have a cocker-esque seizure with the little flailing claw-hands bit and grimaces!
Posted 17 years ago by MadPercolator    [ Reply ]
biodiesel wrote:
Beyond comparison!
I agree.... not in a good way.
Posted 17 years ago by RobRyan    [ Reply ]
I still love this after all these years!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by dixiedeb    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
The only musician's name funnier than "Cocker" is "Cockburn". Hehe, "cockburn".
I always thought the name Englebert Humperdinck was droll.
Posted 17 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
The master of covers....
Posted 18 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
The only musician's name funnier than "Cocker" is "Cockburn". Hehe, "cockburn".
YOUR HUMOUR SUCKS PG!
Posted 18 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
Quite good, but I prefer the original Box Tops version. Then again, apart from the lyrics they're almost completely different.
Posted 18 years ago by DrLex    [ Reply ]
hip o select has relesed a 5 or six CD box set of mad dogs and englishmen-its on y christmas list!
Posted 18 years ago by MCKY    [ Reply ]
pure emotion!
Posted 18 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
JC always make a good song better,this one even more so because it is Live.I promise to buy 10 RP Tshirts on the spot if Bill announce 24hr Live Music Only!
Posted 18 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
Fantastic!
Posted 18 years ago by carbonatom    [ Reply ]
The number of people who could carry off a career by singing mostly covers is about as long as the list of white guys who can sing with soul and not sound ridiculous. Joe Cocker succeeds on both counts.
Posted 18 years ago by Gribnif    [ Reply ]
"thewiseking" Heh, sarcasm, right?
Posted 18 years ago by MtnGoat    [ Reply ]
insane energy here
Posted 18 years ago by ndfan75    [ Reply ]
I'm loyal to the Boxtops version, but this is pretty good, too.
Posted 18 years ago by ampersand    [ Reply ]
Beyond comparison!
Posted 18 years ago by biodiesel    [ Reply ]
simpleCypher wrote:
Does this song ever get old?
Yep.
Posted 18 years ago by ladybinnath    [ Reply ]
thewiseking wrote:
very dated 70s shtick. raspy white guy tryin to sound black. strictly for the boomers
He's "trying" to sound like himself - learn your musical history. And I'm not a boomer, just someone who appreciates all kinds of music. He's also the inspiration for one the funniest skits ever performed on Saturday Night Live - that alone earns him a place in pop culture history!
Posted 18 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
The only musician's name funnier than "Cocker" is "Cockburn". Hehe, "cockburn".
Posted 18 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
meghan89 wrote:
Its a 10, it's only a 10. If you rate it less than a 10 then you have to eat worms.
I ain't eating no worms. Up to a 10 as I draw the ire of my co-workers for blasting this song as loud as my little Dell will handle....
Posted 18 years ago by cattgirl813    [ Reply ]
This song should be heard in the context of the original live album (Mad Dogs and Englishmen). Along with Live at Leeds and Allman Bros at Fillmore, one of the all-time greatest live albums ever.
Posted 18 years ago by Nor-Cal    [ Reply ]
thewiseking wrote:
very dated 70s shtick. raspy white guy tryin to sound black. strictly for the boomers
His voice has always been like that. He's not 'trying to sound..' anything except himself.
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
Its a 10, it's only a 10. If you rate it less than a 10 then you have to eat worms.
Posted 18 years ago by meghan89    [ Reply ]
Joe Cocker. This man is the consumate artist at performing the songs of others in a manner that makes them truely unique and original. I dig his stuff!
Posted 18 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
this guy is the man! can a man get some "space captain?"
Posted 19 years ago by Wisecrowe    [ Reply ]
Death_to_Clear_Channel wrote:
Dude, my speechlessness to your comment should be enough of a hint for you to never post again.
I suggest you keep your speechlessness to yourself. This is a great song, arrangement and performance.
Posted 19 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Glad Cocker didn't do the jet-plane sounds with his mouth like in the original. Of course, if he had've, spit would've gone all over the front row.
Posted 19 years ago by Essbee    [ Reply ]
oppy wrote:
Saw him open for Tina Turner's farewell tour. He was better than ever! My life long dream was to be one of Joe Cocker's back up singers...
Dude, my speechlessness to your comment should be enough of a hint for you to never post again.
Posted 19 years ago by Death_to_Clear_Channel    [ Reply ]
He simply is great !
Posted 19 years ago by rolf    [ Reply ]
Saw him open for Tina Turner's farewell tour. He was better than ever! My life long dream was to be one of Joe Cocker's back up singers...
Posted 19 years ago by oppy    [ Reply ]
This is about the only "Cocker Song" I can tolerate. He really needs to find some of his own material to sing. Living a life of performing other people's songs is what you do while playing in your high school garage band.
Posted 19 years ago by Death_to_Clear_Channel    [ Reply ]
very dated 70s shtick. raspy white guy tryin to sound black. strictly for the boomers
Posted 19 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Bill, out of curiosity, is this your favorite song? It has an song_id of '6', the lowest ID with an actual song attached to it.
Posted 19 years ago by radiozep    [ Reply ]
Wow, I'd never heard this version of this song. Rock on Joe!
Posted 19 years ago by truk77    [ Reply ]