Feature Song: “The Letter”
If you recognize Joe Cocker and Leon Russell from their hastily thrown together 1970 US tour that led to the double album Mad Dogs & Englishmen, give yourself two brownie points. Score another two points if you knew that the all-star band for the tour was put together by Leon Russell. However, you only get the gold star if you remember that the song “The Letter,” which they performed on the tour, is actually a cover. The song was written by Wayne Carson (an American country musician, songwriter, and producer) and was first recorded in 1967 by “The Box Tops.” It was the group’s first and most successful single, reaching number one on the record charts in both the United States and Canada.
The Box Tops were an American rock band formed in Memphis in 1967. Starting out as “The Devilles” before changing their name, they were composed of founding member Danny Smithe (drums, background vocal), John Evans (guitar, keyboards, vocal), Alex Chilton (lead vocal, guitar), Bill Cunningham (bass guitar, keyboards, background vocal), and Gary Talley (lead guitar, electric sitar, bass, background vocal). The name change was the result of them not wanting any confusion with another band recording at the time, “The Devilles” of New York. This lineup was together until 1970, and they had a few more successful songs such as “Cry Like a Baby,” “Choo Choo Train,” and “Soul Deep.” At the time, they were considered to be a blue-eyed soul group. They performed a mix of current soul music, pop tunes, and songs written by their producers Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, and Chips Moman.
John Robert “Joe” Cocker OBE (1944-2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. If you have ever seen him live or seen footage of any of his concerts, especially the early ones, you will no doubt know that the above is a bit of an understatement! It is not surprising that he would cover “The Letter,” as lead singer Alex Chilton for The Box Tops had a similar gruff and raspy voice, which is especially noteworthy, as he was only 16 at the time of recording. Cocker had a long and successful career with many memorable performances of cover songs. His versions of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends” from his first album brought him to near instant stardom, reaching number 1 in the UK in 1968. His second album featured another Beatles song: “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window,” had similar success as the first. His 1974 recording of “You Are So Beautiful” (Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher), reached number five in the US and became his signature song. He release a total of 22 studio albums over a 43-year recording career.
Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges, 1942-2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and roll, country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock, blues rock, folk, surf, and Tulsa sound. Yes, that is a very impressive list of styles. Russell collaborated with many notable artists and recorded at least 31 albums and 430 songs. His 2010 collaboration with Elton John produced the album “The Union,” which I have listened to many, many times. He wrote “Delta Lady,” recorded by Joe Cocker and, as I mentioned above, organized, and performed with Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour in 1970. During that tour, Shelter Records released his 1970 solo album “Leon Russell,” which included the first recording of “A Song For You.” This has become one of his best-known songs and for good reason. Over the years, I owned two copies of this album because I wore out the grooves on the first purchase! To say that “A Song For You” is my favorite song of all time might be a bit of an over-statement, but it is definitely in my top five. This album also included the aforementioned “Delta Lady,” “I Put a Spell On You,” and “Give Peace A Chance.” A 1970 interview with Rolling Stone magazine opened with a characterization of his sound as “those driving, lurchy, churchy, rock and roll songs.” I have never heard of a sound being referred to as “lurchy,” so this seems like a good place to end. Enjoy the original followed by the cover.
The Box Tops. “The Letter” 1967
Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, and friends. “The Letter.” Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, 1970.
Bonus performance by one of my favorites the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Live at Gathering of the Vibes, July 2015.
Los Angeles 2023
Some great renditions of the song to today. I like the TTB but I’ve never heard them do The Letter. I have another friend you was really into that Mad Dogs live album as well. Talented pair for sure. I’ll be expecting my gold star in the mail, thank you 😂
I’ll send it with the cheque😂.
Oh yea forgot about that!! I’m a patient man North but someday they’ll stop snail mail altogether!
All three versions you shared are fantastic, always a sign of a well-written song. And Alex Chilton sure had an amazingly mature-sounding voice for such a young guy.
He sure did.