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5/28/2018 Al Kooper 50/50
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AL KOOPER
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For more track details, click on each track.
1. A Possible Projection Of The Future 6:30A Possible Projection Of The Future
2. I Wish You Would 3:53
Championship Wrestling
3. I Stand Alone 3:42I Stand Alone
4. Bury My Body 8:56
Kooper Session
5. Be Yourself Be Real 3:26Naked Songs
6. Brand New Day 5:09
Easy Does It
7. One 2:50
I Stand Alone
8. Going Quietly Mad 3:53
New York City (Youre A Woman)
9. Sad Sad Sunshine 5:05Easy Does It
10. Come Down In Time 4:40
New York City Youre A Woman
11. Buckskin Boy 3:09
Easy Does It
12. Love Theme from The Landlord 3:07Easy Does It
13. Ooh Baby I Love You/
Love Is A Mans Best Friend 4:20New York City (Youre A Woman)
14. I Got A Woman 6:28
Easy Does It
15. The Warning (Someones On
The Cross Again) 2:59New York City (Youre A Woman)
16. Unrequited 2:47
Naked Songs
17. Whiskey Train (Live at TheLiving Room NYC) 4:55Unreleased
18 Peacock Lady 3:23Naked Songs
19 Earth Mother 5:06Unreleased
20. She Gets Me Where I Live 3:34Easy Does It
21. You Never Know Who
Your Friends Are 2:53You Never Know Who Your Friends Are
22. The Man In Me 3:41
A Possible Projection Of The Future
23. Where Were You
(When I Needed You) 3:07Naked Songs
24. New York City (Youre A Woman) 4:55New York City (Youre A Woman)
More Tracks
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For more track details, click on each track.
Previous Tracks
25. John The Baptist 3:32
New York City (Youre A Woman)
26. Living In My Own Religion 4:49Rare & Well Done
27. Camille (backing track) 2:53Unreleased
28. Mourning Glory Story 2:12You Never Know Who Your Friends Are
29. Test Drive 4:40Unreleased 3
30. I Believe To My Soul 4:27Rare & Well Done
31. Honest I Do
(Live at The Living Room NYC**) 2:56Unreleased
32. Let Your Love Shine 4:00A Possible Projection Of The Future
33. Lookin For A Home 5:48
Kooper Session
34. Lucille 3:24You Never Know Who Your Friends Are
35. Magic In My Sox 3:54You Never Know Who Your Friends Are
36. 500 Miles(Can You Hear It Now) 3:26New York City (Youre A Woman)
37.Fly On (for Levi Stubbs) 3:14A Possible Projection Of The Future
38. Dearest Darling 3:53New York City (Youre A Woman)
39. As The Years Go Passing By 6:02Naked Songs
40. Nightmare #5 (demo) 3:06Unreleased
41. Nightmare #5 3:01New York City (Youre A Woman)
42. Wrestle With This 5:22Championship Wrestling
43. Childhoods End 3:26A Possible Projection Of The Future
44. Let The Duchess No 3:19Easy Does It
45. God Sheds His Grace On Thee 2:09Easy Does It
46. I Can Love A Woman 3:24
I Stand Alone
47. Jolie 3:44Naked Songs
48. Touch The Hem Of His Garment 4:03Naked Songs
49. I Dont Know Why I Love You 3:22You Never Know Who Your Friends Are
50.Im Never Gonna Let You Down 4:36You Never Know Who Your Friends Are
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1. A Possible Projection Of The Future (Al Kooper) 6:30..... a kinda great way to start off with a Murphys
Law-stricken old Al looking back at his life from 80
years old...fortunately, back in 1971, it was a POSSIBLE
projection, and things are actually much better today
than the outcome of said sad song...
Al Kooper -all instruments except: Bass- Herbie Flowers/Guitar-Alan Parker/
Drums-Barry Morgan/ Intro narration by JohnPunter
Engineered by John Punter at Trident Studios, London UK
Click on photo to enlarge
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2. I Wish You Would (Billy Boy Arnold) 3:53.....The Atlantic Records version by John Hammond, Jr. was the
inspiration and big fave of Jeff Baxter & myself. What a treat to
play this song with these musicians... 2 much fun!!!Al Kooper - organ & synthesizers/Jeff Baxter & Elliott Randall-guitars
Bass - Neil Stubenhaus/ Drums - Bruce Gary/Harp-Fingers Taylor
Percussion-Joe Vitale/ Horns-Tower of Power/Produced, Engineered &
Mixed by Bill Szymczyk
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3. I Stand Alone (Al Kooper) 3:42.....a song in which the singer professes powerful passion
for his woman despite all the obstacles in his way...also the
genesis of my recording pseudo-soul music in
Nashville as early as 1968...
Al Kooper - keyboards/Guitars-Wayne Moss,Jerry Kennedy, Charlie Daniels
Bass-Charlie McCoy/Drums-Kenny Buttrey/BG Vocals- The Blossoms
Horns-unknown/ Horns Arranged by Al Kooper & Charlie McCoy
Recorded at Columbia Studios, Nashville by Charlie Bragg
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4. Bury My Body (Al Kooper) 8:56.....thrilled to discover 15-year-old guitar genius Shuggie Otis,
I got his parents permission to make an album with him.
It starts off like this:
Keyboards - Al Kooper/Guitar-Shuggie Otis/Bass-Stu Woods/ Drums: Wells Kelly
BG Vocals - Hilda Harris,Albertine Robinson, Eileen Gilbert, Maretha Stewart,
Melba Moore. Engineered by Roy Segal at Columbia Studios, New York City
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5. (Be Yourself) Be Real (Al Kooper) 3:26..... as a lyricist, one of my favorite openings:
Why do we try to be what we wanna be
If we can never be what we are?
And if we could find a way to enjoy every day
We would have nothing to look forward to at all.....
Keyboards,Guitars & Synths-Al Kooper/Bass-John Paul Fetta/Drums-Eddie
Barbato/BG Vox- Tasha Thomas, Linda November, Eileen Gilbert, Maretha
Stewart,Patti Austin, Albertine Robinson. Engineered by Don Puluse
at Columbia Studios, NYC
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6. Brand New Day (Al Kooper) 5:09......written for my first film score, and re-recorded for the
Easy Does It album in 1970. This was my first experiment
playing 8 different guitar tracks.
Phasing at the end courtesy of Roy Halee...
Guitars & Keyboards-Al Kooper/Bass-Stu Woods/ Drums-Rick Marotta
Horns-Unknown/ Horns arranged by Al Kooper & Charles Calello
Engineered by Don Puluse at Columbia Studios NYC
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7. One (Harry Nilsson) 2:50...by this time I had become a huge fan & friend of Harry
Nilssons. This was the second of four songs I recorded of his.An amazing singer & songwriter!
Arranged & Conducted by Jimmy Wisner/Backround Vocals by
Robert John, Mike Gately & Jim Fairs/Musicians - unknown
Engineered by Frank Laico at Columbia Studios NYC
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8. Going Quietly Mad (Al Kooper) 3:53.....extremely Beatle-influenced as it was, so begins the
three-guitar harmony solos a la Les Paul & Randy Californiasmodernization of what Les started. This became an identifying
trait of this period for me...
Keyboards, Guitar solos - Al Kooper/Verse Guitar Fills-Caleb Quaye
Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Roger Pope/Engineered by Ken Scott
at Trident Studios, London, UK
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9. Sad Sad Sunshine (Al Kooper) 5:05.......first I was taught a new acoustic guitar tuning; then George
Harrison taught us all about Indian music; and finally the end of an
all night LSD journey found me in a San Francisco motel room on the
beach where I wearily composed this song in 1966. Years later, it
appeared on the Easy Does It album...
Acoustic Guitars - Al Kooper, Keith Allson, Freddy Weller/Sitar - Al Kooper
Tabla-Milt Holland/Bass-Joe Osborne/Drums-Joe Corero Jr./Strings Arranged by
Charlie Calello/BG Vocals - Al Kooper/ Recorded at Columbia Studios,
Hollywood, CA by Sy Mitchell
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10. Come Down In Time (Elton John-Bernie Taupin) 4:40....Elton & Bernie assisted me tremendously in recording the
New York City (Youre A Woman) and A Possible Projection Of
The Future albums in the UK nd introducing me to bassista
Herbie Flowers with whom I had always wanted to record within the studio. This track was a tip of the hat to the forever
songwriting duo of Elton and Bernie....
Keyboards, mellotron, & speedy guitar solo - Al Kooper/Acoustic guitars-Louie
Shelton/Acoustic Bass-Bobby West/Electric Bass - Herbie Flowers
Percussion-Bobbi Hall Porter/Drums-Paul Humphries/BG Vox-Rita Coolidge,
Dorothy Morrison, Claudia Lennear, Donna Weiss,Julia Tilman, Lorna WillardRecorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CA by Sy Mitchell
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11. Buckskin Boy (Al Kooper) 3:09.....after delving into many volumes concerning the travails of the
American Indian, I was able to contain that acquired knowledge into
a sprawling, question-filled lyric I have always been proud of. At the
time, the rocking trio Bretheren (Stu, Tom & Rick) backed me up
majestically along with David Bromberg and the cinematicorchestrations of Charlie Calello. The guitar solo here is another
of the Al-three guitars-in harmony collection. One of my favorite
tracks I ever recorded...
Keyboards & Guitar Solo-Al Kooper/Skanky Guitar Fills - Tom Cosgrove/Rhthym
Guitar-David Bromberg/Bass-Stu Woods/ Drums- Rick Marotta/Strings & Horns
Arranged by Charlie Calello & Al Kooper/ Engineered by Glenn Kolotkin atColumbia Studios, NYC
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12. Love Theme (from the film The Landlord) (Al Kooper) 3:07.....I was priviliged that my first filmscore was for Hal Ashbys
maiden directorial effort. There were tears in my eyes when I first
watched how this particular aural landscape blended with Ashbys
vision. More 3 guitar carrying-on in the fade. Years later, this trackwas inexplicably sampled by Jay Z as well as
The Alchemist in the hip-hop world.....
Keyboards & Ending Guitar Solo - Al Kooper/Acoustic Guitars - Stu Scharff, Joe
Beck/Bass-John Miller/ Drums-Al Rogers/Percussion-George Devens/ BG Vox -
unknown/ Arranged by Charlie Calello & Al Kooper/ Engineered by Stan Tonkel
at Columbia Studios, NYC
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13. Medley: Oooh Baby I Love You/Love Is A Mans Best Friend
(Richard Parker-Al Kooper-Bob Brass-Irwin Levine) 4:20.......a cover of Fred Hughes Records hit at the time fusedWand
with a similar song I wrote with Bob Brass & Irwin Levine in theearly sixties. These west coast studio players & singers nailed
this one to the wall!!!
Piano, Organ & Wah Guitar-Al Kooper/Guitar-Louie Shelton/Bass-Bobby West
Drums-Paul Humphries/Percussion-Bobbi Hall Porter/BG Vox-Rita Coolidge,
Donna Weiss, Julia Tillman, Lorna Willard, Jesse Smith, Robbie Montgomery
Recorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CA by Robert GratzSpecial thanks - Denny Cordell
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14. I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) 6:28....I guess enough time has passed to mention that I was extremely
influenced tempo-wise by the Gerry Goffin produced Freddy Scott
cover. But arrangement-wise, Charlie Calello & I went to our ownplace - paying tribute to a Ray Charles ballad; which this was
NOT, originally....
Piano, vibraphone-Al Kooper/Bass-Stu Woods/Drums-Rick Marotta/Alto sax-
Fred Lipsius/Arranged by Charlie Calello & Al Kooper/Engineered by
Don Puluse at Columbia Studios, NYC
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15. The Warning (Someones On The Cross Again)
(Al Kooper-Phyliss Major) 2:59...Phyliss & I collaborated on about ten songs on which she was
the lyricist. The gospel side of me enjoyed her Biblical research and
topics, and Vanetta Fields step-out vocals in the choruses. I was
thrilled to be able to get the sound I heard in my head onto tape and
out to all of you....
Piano, Organ, Harmonium, Horn Arrangement-Al Kooper, Guitar-Louie Shelton/
Pedal Steel-Sneeky Pete/Bass-Carol Kaye/Drums-Paul Humphries/ Vocal Solos-
Vanetta Fields(!)/ BG Vox- Rita Coolidge, Clydie King, Donna Weiss, Julia Tillman,Edna Wright, Maxine Willard, Jay Siegel,Robert John, Mike Gately/ Recorded at
Columbia Studios Hollywood, CA by Brian Ross-Myring
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16. Unrequited (Al Kooper) 2:47..... a biography of an affair I had with a woman who was in an
open marriage. Covered wonderfully by Lynn Christopher shortly
thereafter, but sadly out of print today. Musically influenced by
Bachrach, Nilsson & Jim Webb......
Piano-Al Kooper/all other personell unknown/Arranged by Jimmy Wisner
Recorded by Frank Laico at Columbia Studios, NYC
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17. Whiskey Train (live at the Living Room NYC) -
(Robin Trower-Keith Reid) 4:55
......A Procol Harum obscurity loved by boomer guitarists.Usually played as an encore by my current rockabilly trio
captured here in 2006....
Electric Guitar-Al Kooper/Bass-Jesse Williams/Drums-Larry Finn/
Recorded Live by Steve Rosenthal
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18. Peacock Lady (Al Kooper) 3:23.....maybe the most folkie track I ever recorded. BIG help from
Stu Scharff, Maruga, and the always correct Jimmy Wisner.For all you folked-up fans out there....
Rhthym & gut-string guitar, harpsichord, Arp synthesizer (flute) Fender Bass-Al
Kooper/ lead acoustic gut-string guitar-Stu Scharff/clay & tuned hand drums-
Maruga/String Arrangement by Jimmy Wisner/ Recorded at Columbia Studios,
NYC by Don Puluse
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19. Earth Mother (Al Kooper) 5:06...One of my favorite lyrics I ever wrote. A Jackson Browne-sound-
ing ballad dedicated to a folksinging old friend. Never released be-
cause the term earth mother got square by the time I finished the
track, but I kinda love it today and Im glad its finally released......
Piano, Organ-Al Kooper/Guitars-Reggie Young,Steve Gibson/Pedal Steel-Pete
Drake/ Bass-Mike Leech/Drums-Kenny Buttrey/ Background Vocals- Ron Hicklin
Singers/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, Nashville, TN by Neil Wilburn & Holly-
wood, CA by Sy Mitchell
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20. She Gets Me Where I Live (Al Kooper) 3:34.....My first Wrecking Crew session as an artist. Pretty amazing
evening. Jimmy Haskells arrangement was spot on and NOT easy
for trumpeters. Pretty commercial for me but of course, not a hit.....Acoustic Guitar, Organ-Al Kooper + The Wrecking Crew - Nylon String Guitar
Tommy Tedesco/12 String Guitar-Louie Shelton/Piano-Larry Knechtel
Bass-Lyle Ritz/Drums-Earl Palmer/Strings & Horns Arranged by Jimmy Haskell
Recorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CA by Brian Ross-Myring
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21. You Never Know Who Your Friends Are (Al Kooper) 2:53........the hardest I ever TRIED to have a hit single. Lotsa bells &
whistles, Beach Boy & Beatle stuff, and the three guitars in harmony
in the fade. Lucky for me my mantra has always been: if you dontexpect anything, youre never disappointed....but a fer sure fun
listen nowadays....
Piano-Frank Owens/Guitars-Ralph Casale,Stu Scharff/ End Guitarsolo-Al Koop-
er/Synthesizer-Walter Sear/Bass-John Miller/Drums-Al Rogers/BG Vox-Mike
Gately,Robert John, Lou Christie/ Arranged by Al Kooper & Charles Calello/
Horns-unknown/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, NYC by Don Puluse
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22. The Man In Me (Bob Dylan) 3:41....I played on Bobs version of this, but later came up with this
arrangement including falsetto vocals and a George Harrison-likesolo. Dylanheads should enjoy this....
Organ,Mellotron, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Solos, - Al Kooper/Acoustic &
Electric Guitar-Alan Parker/Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Barry Morgan
Recorded at Air Studios, London, UK by John Punter.
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23. Where Were You (When I Needed You)
(Al Kooper-Irwin Levine) 3:07....some New York-style R&B written there by Irwin & I in 1963.
Covered unsuccessfully by a few soulsingers back then, but servedup brand new with THAT organ ten years later.......
Keyboards,Wah-Wah Guitar, Finger Snaps-Al Kooper/Rhthym Guitar-Frank Riban-
do/Bass-John Paul Fetta/Drums-Eddie Barbato/BG Vox- Tasha Thomas, Linda No-
vember, Eileen Gilbert, Maretha Stewart,Patti Austin, Albertine Robinson/String
Arrangement-Jimmy Wisner/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, NYC by Don Puluse
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24. New York City (Youre A Woman) (Al Kooper) 4:55....I was attempting to write a mini-symphony and this was the in-
tro. I wanted to capture what Manhattan was all about, musically &
lyrically. I wrote hours of instrumental passages and movers lost theenvelopes when I moved from downtown to uptown. I guess this is
all thats left. Bass players will enjoy the uniqueness of Herbie
Flowers on this track....
Piano , Organ, Mellotron, All Guitars-Al Kooper/Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Rog-
er Pope/BG Vox- Liza Strike, Barry St. John, Claudia Linnear, Linda Lewis/ Engi-
neered by Ken Scott at Trident Studios, London, UK
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25. John The Baptist (Al Kooper-Phyllis Major) 3:32...another biblically inspired lyric by Ms. Major complemented
by a Band-inspired arrangement. Ironically covered by
Blood Sweat & Tears.....
Piano, Organ, Acoustic Guitar -Al Kooper/Electric Guitar-Louie Shelton/Bass-Carol Kaye/ Percussion-Bobbi Hall Porter/Drums-Paul Humphries/BG Vox-Rita
Coolidge,Vanetta Fields,Clydie King, Donna Weiss, Julia Tillman, Edna Wright,
Maxine Willard, Robert John, Mike Gately, Jay Siegel/ Horn Arrangement by Jim-
my Haskell/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood CA by Brian Ross Myring
& NYC by Don Puluse
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26. Living In My Own Religion (Al Kooper) 4:49...it took me seven tries to write th song explaining my spirituality;is
i.e., that I am a man of God, but not a religion-follower. Finally,
after all those attempts, it came out just the way I hoped it would.One sings better when one is praising the Lord, ya know....
All Instruments by Al Kooper/BG Vox by Etta Britt, John Cowan & Bill Lloyd
Recorded by Gary Laney at Sound Emporium Studios, Nashville, TN.
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27. Camille (backing track) (Al Kooper-Tony Powers) 2:53........inspired by an Iber overture and written for the first Blood
Sweat & Tears album, this was finally recorded (with vocal) on my
first solo album, I Stand Alone. Here, one gets to hear the intricacies
of this early Calello-Kooper arrangement...
Organ,Piano-Al Kooper/Guitars-Hugh McCracken, Ralph Casale, Stu Scharff/ Bass-
John Miller/ Drums-Johnny Cresci/Arranged by Charlie Calello & Al Kooper
Strings, Horns, BG Vocalists-unknown/ Recorded by Fred Catero at
Columbia Studios, NYC
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28. Mourning Glory Story (Harry Nilsson) 2:12...With the exception of the horns, this session started at 10 AM
on a Tuesday and went straight through to 10 AM the next day.
The hard parts were the vocal arrangements. The horns were re-
corded prior to the rest of the track - too bad no photos were takenWednesday morning at 10:01 AM.....
Piano-Al Kooper/Voices -Lou Christie, Robert John, Mike Gately, Charlie
Calello,Al Kooper/Saxes: George Young, Sol Schlinger, Seldon Powell, Joe Far-
rell/Trumpets: Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Marvin Stamm/Trombones: Ray Desio,
Jimmy Knepper, Bill Watrous, Tony Studd/Voices & Horns Arranged by Al Kooper
& Charlie Calello/ Recorded by Don Puluse at Columbia Studios, NYC
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29. Test Drive (Al Kooper) 4:40.....I actually recorded the track BEFORE I wrote the finished
song, which is very rare. This was done in 1986, in betweenscoring the NBC-TV series Crime Story I enlisted the services
of the always amazing Buzzy Feiten on lead guitar to complete
this Prince tribute.....
All Instruments & Voices - Al Kooper except Lead Guitar - Buzzy Feiten (!!)/ Re-
corded at The Slammer, N. Hollywood, CA by Richard US MacIntosh
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30. I Believe To My Soul (Ray Charles) 4:27.......Originally the b side of Ray Charles Im Movin On, when I was
barely in my teens, this was a life-changer for me and probably for
young Bobby Zimmerman who appropriated the intro to each verse
for Ballad Of A Thin Man. Add two dollops of Mick Taylor in his primeand a new groove and a little in-studio yakking before & after...
Keyboards & wah-wah guitar-Al Kooper/Lead Guitar-Mick Taylor/Bass-Bobby
West/Drums-Paul Humphries/ BG Vox - The Blossoms/ Recorded at Columbia Stu-
dios, Hollywood, CA by Robert Gratz & Air Studios, London, UK by John Punter
Mixed By Bill Szymczyk & Al Kooper at Reflection Sound, Charlotte NC
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31. Honest I Do (Live At The Living Room NYC) (Jimmy Reed) 2:56.......another oldie from my childhood, Jimmy Reed made raw
simplicity an art form. I can listen to hours of Jimmy Reed nowadays
to clear my ears of bad music, when it occasionally crosses my path.Here I am live, with my rockabilly trio, spreading the simplicity
gospel in 2006.....
Guitar - Al Kooper/Bass & BG Vocal-Jesse Williams/Drums-Larry Finn/ Produced
by Al Kooper & Steve Rosenthal/ Engineered Live by Steve Rosenthal
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32. Let Your Love Shine (Al Kooper) 4:00...Id be lying if I said this wasnt influenced by the After The Gold
Rush album.A smiling tribute to Neil, a year before I produced the
defamatory Young smear Sweet Home Alabama............Piano, Organ,Electric Guitars & Solos-Al Kooper/ Acoustic Guitars-Alan Parker
Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Barry Morgan/Backup Vocals-Mike Gately, Robert
John, Lou Christie/Recorded at Air Studios, London, UK by John Punter
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33. Lookin For A Home (Edward Forehand) 5:48.........While listening to Gloria & George Coleman play jazz in a
seedy bar in Jamaica, Queens in the early 60s, someone popped a
nickel in the jukebox and unleashed Little Busters version of this
song. Bought the 45 the next day,and teamed up with 15-year-old Shuggie Otis in 69 to allow him to scream on this version. In
the 70s my father became the lawyer for blind Little Buster. Small
world........
Keyboards - Al Kooper/Guitar-Shuggie Otis/Bass-Stu Woods/Drums: Wells
Kelly/BG Vocals - Hilda Harris,Albertine Robinson, Eileen Gilbert, Maretha
Stewart,Melba Moore/ Recorded at Columbia Stdios, NYC by Roy Segal
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34. Lucille (Al Kooper) 3:24...what if the Beach Boys and The Four Seasons teamed up on a
track ? That was the concept I had for this songs arrangement.
Having Charlie Calello onboard didnt hurt, as he arranged all the
Four Season singles originally. The Brian Wilson stuff we emulatedto the best of our abilities....
Organ & Celeste-Al Kooper/Guitar- Yuma Cracken/Bass-Jerry Jemmott / Drums-
Buddy Salzman/Arranged by Charlie Calello & Al Kooper/Backup Vocals-Mike
Gately, Robert John, Lou Christie/Recorded at Columbia Studios,
NYC by Don Puluse
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35. Magic In My Sox (Al Kooper) 3:54.......One of the craziest songs (musically AND lyrically) I ever wrote.
Powered by one of the best arrangement collaborations, this
definitely doesnt sound much like anybody elses work....
and thats what its all about sometimes......Organ, Piano,Guitar Solos, Wah Wah Guitar-Al Kooper/Rhythm Guitar-Hugh Mc-
Cracken/Bass-Chuck Rainey/Drums-Al Rogers/ Saxes: George Young, Sol Schlinger,
Seldon Powell, Joe Farrell/Trumpets: Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Marvin Stamm
Trombones: Ray Desio, Jimmy Knepper, Bill Watrous, Tony Studd/Arranged by Al
Kooper & Charlie Calello/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, NYC by Glenn Kolotkin
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36. 500 Miles (Can You Hear It Now) (adptd&arrngd-Al Kooper) 3:26.....folk songs can b soulful if youre in the right frame of mind.
A rare (outside of the group Chicago) guitar solo by Terry Kath
who,contractually at the time, had to do it on the sly; and wonderful
wailing by Rita Coolidge in the fade......
Organ, Piano, Mellotron-Al Kooper/Guitar-Louie Shelton/Guitar Solo-Terry Kath/
Bass-Bobby West/Drums-Paul Humphries/Percussion-Bobbi Hall Porter/Ending
Vocal Solo-Rita Coolidge/BG Vocals-Julia Tillman, Edna Woods, Lorna Willard, Rob-
bie Montgomery, Jesse Smith, Donna Weiss, Rita Coolidge/ Recorded at Columbia
Studios, Hollywood, CA by Robert Gratz
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37. Fly On (for Levi Stubbs) (Al Kooper) 3:14....songwriting very influenced by the 4 Tops. One of my fantasies
was that they might record it someday. There are few better
compliments to a songwriter than to have hadLevi sing your song.....
Electric Guitar, Mellotron, Piano, Organ, Arp Synthesizer-Al Kooper/ Acoustic
Guitar-Alan Parker/Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Barry Morgan/BG Vox-Claudia
Linnear,Linda Lewis, Mike Gately, Robert John/ Recorded at Air Studios, London
UK by John Punter
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38. Dearest Darling (Elias McDaniel) 3:53...there must always be at least one Bo Diddely tune no matter
what. A bizarre arrangement in relation to the Diddelyness of it,
but it trucks on nonetheless. Again, what wonderful players
and singers to work with!Piano, Organ, wah wah & lead Guitar, horn arrangement-Al Kooper/Bass-
Carol Kaye/ Guitar- Louie Shelton/Percussion-Bobbi Hall Porter/Drums-Paul
Humphries/BG Vox-Rita Coolidge, Vanetta Fields, Clydie King, Donna Weiss, Julia
Tillman, Edna Wright, Maxine Willard/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood,
CA by Robert Gratz
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39. As The Years Go Passing By (Don Malone) 6:02....an actual live jam, warts and all, not planned to be on an album,
and then overdubbed with piano, organ and voices. Recorded with
my live band at the time aka Frankie & Johnny. A great keepsake for
us and hopefully you...
Organ,Piano,Lead Guitar-AlKooper/Rhthym Guitar-Frank Ribando/Bass-John
Paul Fetta/Drums-Eddie Barbato/BG Vox- Tasha Thomas, Linda November, Eileen
Gilbert, Maretha Stewart,Patti Austin, Albertine Robinson/ Recorded at Columbia
Studios New York City by Glenn Kolotkin
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40. Nightmare#5 Demo (Al Kooper) 3:06......I would usually rush into the nearest studio to record demos
when I finished a few new songs. This was an actual dream I had 3nights in a row when I was 16 years old. It was quite memorable and
I was amazed I could get it into songform so easily.....
All instruments- Al Kooper except Drums-Roy Markowitz. Recorded at Electric
Lady Studios, NYC by Kim King
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41. Nightmare#5 (Al Kooper) 3:01....The main difference, other than better sound between the demo
& master (here) is the amazing bass playing of Herbie Flowers and
the great English drum sound of engineer Ken Scott. I probably singit better here as well.....
Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Acoustic Guitar-Al Kooper/Acoustic 12-String Guitar-
Caleb Quaye/Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Roger Pope/ Recorded at Trident Stu-
dios, London UK by Ken Scott
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42. Wrestle With This (Al Kooper) 5:22 ...actually the shell arrangement of a song that never survived.
I submitted this to the World Wrestling Federation for theme song
consideration. Im still waiting for a call back.....Clavinet, Fender Rhodes Piano, Lead Guitar (verses)-Al Kooper/ Rhythm Guitar
& Guitar Synthesizer solos-Jeff Baxter/Bass-Neil Stubenhaus/Drums -Vince Co-
liauta / Horns-Tower of Power/Percussion - Steve Forman/Horns Arranged by
Al Kooper & Charlie Calello/Recorded At Rudy Records, Hollywood, CA by Bill
Szymczyk, who also produced.
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43. Childhoods End (Al Kooper) 3:26......a sad song about growing up. I still believe that the core brain-
stance of each senior citizen never exceeds 27 years of age and that
none of us actually see our true image in the mirror.......Electric Guitar, Mellotron, Piano, Organ, Arp Synthesizer-Al Kooper/ Acoustic
Guitar-Alan Parker/Bass-Herbie Flowers/Drums-Barry Morgan / BG Vox-Claudia
Lennear,Linda Lewis,Barry St. John, Liza Strike, Mike Gately, Robert John/ Record-
ed at Air Studio, London, UK by John Punter
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44. Let The Duchess No (Jim Roberts-John Gregory) 3:19....Seatrain was a Blues Project spin-off band led by bassist Andy
Kulberg. This song was in their live show at the time and I took a
shine to it. In hindsight, this is most remembered (by me) for the
piano solo played right at Ray Charles....Piano, Organ, - Al Kooper/Guitars -Wayne Moss & Charlie Daniels/ Bass - Charlie
McCoy/ Drums- Kenny Butty/ Pedal Steel - Pete Drake / BG Vocals - The Blossoms/
Strings Arranged by Charles Calello/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, Nashville, TN
by Neil Wilburn
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45. God Sheds His Grace On Thee (Al Kooper) 2:09....a fear tone poem spurred on by the reigning Nixon
administration. Sounded like it was written yesterday as the econo-
my began to crumble in the last days of the Bush administration......a nervous closer for the Easy Does It album...
The Wrecking Crew - Guitars- Tommy Tedesco, Louie Shelton/Piano-Larry
Knechtel/Bass-Lyle Ritz/Drums-Earl Palmer/Arranged by Jimmy Haskell & Al
Kooper/ Recorded at Columbia Studios Hollywood, CA by Sy Mitchell
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46. I Can Love A Woman (Al Kooper) 3:24....A love song the way you hope it will come out. One of those
that takes less than two hours and spills out with no obstacles.
The middle instrumental is a tribute to Beach Boy Brian & Pet
Sounds..........
Organ,Police Car-Al Kooper/Piano-Paul Griffin/ Guitars-Hugh McCracken, Ralph
Casale, Stu Scharff/ Bass-Chuck Rainey/Drums-Johnny Cresci/Arranged by Charlie
Calello & Al Kooper/ Recorded at Columbia Studios, NYC by Fred Catero
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47. Jolie (Al Kooper) 3:44.....I had a short affair with Quincy Jones daughter. I chronicled it in
a song and played it for her. After it was recorded, she made me play
it for Quincy. He listened intently and when it ended he said: I feel
like Im peepin thru the keyhole!....Willie Mitchell picked it up for an
Al Green session, but a new song by Al knocked it off the date.Musically, I kinda wrote it for Al Green.......
Acoustic Piano,Mellotron, Arp Synthesizer-Al Kooper+ The Atlanta Rhythm Sec-
tion - Wurlitzer Piano-Dean Daughtry/Guitars-Barry Bailey, J.R. Cobb/Bass-Paul
Goddard/Drums-Robert Nix/BG Vox- Tasha Thomas, Linda November, Eileen Gil-
bert, Maretha Stewart,Patti Austin, Albertine Robinson/ Recorded at Studio One,
Doraville, GA by Rodney Mills/Voices recorded in NYC by Don Puluse
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48. Touch The Hem Of His Garment (Sam Cooke) 4:03 .... I ended up one somg short for the Naked Songs album. So, late
one night, I tried this out, all by myself and left it as it was.
A gospel fan, I loved the Soul Stirrers when Sam Cooke & Johnnie
Taylor were in the group on the Specialty label....
Piano, Organ, all voices - Al Kooper/Recorded at Studio One, Doraville, GA
by Rodney Mills
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49. I Dont Know Why I Love You
(Hunter-Hardaway-Wonder-Riser) 3:22....an amazing composition originally recorded by Stevie Wonder.
I always wanted to record it and here was my chance with
the band of my choice...Guitar Solo, Organ-Al Kooper/Guitars-Eric Gale,Cornell Dupree/Electric Piano-
Paul Griffin/Bass-Chuck Rainey/Drums-Bernard Purdie/Percussion-George De-
vens/ Saxes: George Young, Sol Schlinger, Seldon Powell, Joe Farrell/Trumpets:
Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Marvin Stamm/Trombones: Ray Desio, Jimmy Knep-
per, Bill Watrous, Tony Studd/Strings-unknown/Arranged by Al Kooper & Charlie
Calello/Recorded at Columbia Studios, NYC by Stan Tonkel
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50. Im Never Gonna Let You Down (Al Kooper) 4: 36....Another raging love song - a great album closer. At the end the
song, the background singers are singing: ..this is the end of the
album, trumpet solo by Marvin, etc..Also a great sax solo byJoe Farrell. God surely blessed me by allowing me to collaborate
with all the legendary players and engineers he sent my way over
the course of this fifty year career....so far.....
Organ-Al Kooper/Piano-Frank Owens /Guitars-Eric Gale, Hugh McCracken, Ralph
Casale/Bass-Jerry Jemmott/ Drums-Al Rogers/Percussion-George Devens/Back-
ground Vocals-Toni Wine, Linda November,Albertine Robinson, Melba Moore/
Saxes: George Young, Sol Schlinger, Seldon Powell, Joe Farrell/Trumpets: Bernie
Glow, Ernie Royal, Marvin Stamm/Trombones: Ray Desio, Jimmy Knepper, Bill Wa-trous, Tony Studd/Sax Solo-Joe Farrell/Trumpet Solo-Marvin Stamm/Strings-un-
known/Arranged by Charlie Calello & Al Kooper/Recorded at Columbia Studios,
NYC by Frank Laico
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This is what I though Id look like
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: HORN-GRINER PHOTO
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...and this is what I actually look like
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Photo Credit: GUY WEBSTER
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Shuggie Otis at the kooper session
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: SONY RECORDS
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Al w/ Bernie Taupin in the early 70s
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Al shows Frank Owens why he hired Frank
to play piano on this song
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: SONY RECORDS
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The Easy Does It band live At the Bitter End NYC 1970
w/ Stu Woods on bass & Rick Marotta on drums
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Tie-dyed and mystified with
Landlord director Hal Ashby - 1969
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: AL KOOPER COLLECTION
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Al & Charlie Calello making arrangements
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Photo Credit: SONY RECORDS
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The actual person being discussed in this song
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Photo Credit: AL KOOPER COLLECTION
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BACKROWLEFTTORIGHT: SANDYSPEISER, HAROLDKOMISAR, EDLEE, GIORGIOGOMELSKY,MIKEGATELY, SANDY
(WALLYGOLDSSECRETARY), LLOYDZIFF, UNIDENTIFIEDLAD, UBIDENTIFIEDMAN, JAMESFOURATT.
FRONTROW: TWOMIDGETSACTUALLYFROMTHECASTOFTHEWIZARDOFOZ MOVIE, ANDALWHOWASTIEDUPATTHEMOMENT
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: SONY RECORDS
Photo from the singles sleeve
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King of The Bass, wide-eyed Herbie Flowers rolls along...
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Screamin Buzzy Feiten needs no test drive
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Photo Credit: GARY NICHAMIN
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My usual NYC femme fatales: Maretha Stewart, Melba Moore, Albertine Robinson,
Hilda Harris & Eileen Gilbert get ready put down amazing vocals on
Looking 4 A Home
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Shuggie Otis finds a home
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Photo Credit: SONY RECORDS
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Charlie Callelo
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Photo Credit: AL KOOPER COLLECTION
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Here I am convincing Kris Kristofferom to let go of Rita Coolidge long enough
for her to sing the fade in 500 Miles. I did it, she hit it, and he lit it..
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: AL KOOPER COLLECTION
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Al & Bill Szymczyk reminisce about working together on Championship
Wrestling reversing their roles in this photo
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Trombonist Ray Desio, Charlie Calello, Al & Frank Owens change what is necessary
during the recording of Im Never Gonna Let You Down, 1968 NYC
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Recording Where Were You with my live band:
Frank Ribando, Eddie Barbato & John Paul Fetta 1972 NYC
BACK TO SONG CREDIT
Photo Credit: AL KOOPER COLLECTION
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50 50tracks years NOTES TRACKS PHOTOS DISCOGRAPHY CREDITSCOMPILATION PRODUCED BY AL KOOPER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: BRUCE DICKINSON & JOHN JACKSON
PROJECT DIRECTOR: ADAM BLOCK
REMASTERED AT SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK STUDIOS,SOMERVILLE, MA
BY DAVE ROBERTS & AL KOOPER
ORIGINAL TRACKS PRODUCED BYAL KOOPER
I WISH YOU WOULD & WRESTLE WITH THIS PRODUCED BY BILL SZYMCZYKMASTERS TRANSFERRED AT BATTERY STUDIOS BYMARIA TRIANA
ART DIRECTION: AL KOOPER
DESIGN BY TATIANA MARCUSIAN & ROB CARTER
BOOKLET COVER DESIGN BY TATIANA MARCUSIAN & AL KOOPER
DIGITAL BOOKLET ASSISTANCE:ROB CARTER
LINER NOTESBY JAMES ISAACS & BOB LEFSETZ
SPECIAL THANKSAdam Block, Tom Cording, Randy Haecker, Bruce Dickinson, both John Jacksons, Allan Tucker, Charles Calello,
Tatiana Marcusian, Rob Carter,James Isaacs, Susan Monosson, Bob Lefsetz, Sam Gomez, Che Williams, Jamie Bush,
Arthur Levy, Thom Jurek, Mike Goldsmith, Phil Antoinades, Nimbit, Dave Coffin, Rebecca Rist, Darren Salmieri,
Donna Kloepfer, Mike Kull, Courtney Smith. ,Mark Ostow, and all the musicians and photographers containedherein without whom this particular compilation would not exist..
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CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN SUPER SESSIONTHE LIVE ADVENTURES OF
MIKE BLOOMFIELD & AL KOOPER I STAND ALONE KOOPER SESSION
EASY DOES IT
LOST FILIMORE CONCERT 50/50ALS BIG DEAL
NAKED SONGS
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
A POSSIBLE PROJECTIONOF THE FUTURENEW YORK CITY(YOURE A WOMAN)YOU NEVER KNOW WHOYOUR FRIENDS ARE
RARE AND WELL DONE
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JAMES ISAACS
1 2 3 4 5So, you think you know Al Kooper?
If you are a longtime fan you know that
Kooper broke into big-time rocknroll at
age 14, when he joined the Royal Teens,
whose Short Shorts gave him a leg up in
the music business. And if youre a childof the 60s you are well aware that Kooper
helped create Bob Dylans hard, radically
new rock nroll sound (and, by extension,
what came to be known as folk rock
)_when he played the organ on Dylans
epochal single, Like a Rolling Stone.
You also are acquainted with Kooperswork with the Blues Project, and that
he founded the pioneering jazz-rock
band Blood, Sweat & Tears. And it might
come as no surprise that he co-wrote
the 1965 chart-topper This Diamond
Ring for Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
More Kooper achievements that might
ring a bell: came up with the concept of
Super Session, and produced the hit
LP on which he co-starred with guitar-
ists Michael Bloomfield and Stephen
Stills; recorded as a sideman with, among
many, many others, Jimi Hendrix, theRolling Stones, the Who, George Har-
rison, BB King, Tom Petty and The Who.
And if you own certain discs by Bob Dylan,
Lynyrd Skynyrd (a Kooper discovery), the
Tubes and Rick Nelson then you know that
Koopers producing credits are formidable.
But THIS you really should know:
Musician/producer/memoirist/prolific
recording artist Al Kooper has self-com-
piled the best of his Columbia Records solo
career. Most of the songs in this compila-
tion - appropriately titled 50/50 for the
number of songs in the package and the
half-century Kooper has been at the fore-
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front of the music industry. Previously un-
available digitally in the United States pri-
or to this release, Kooper took great care
to locate the original master tapes of each
song and in his home studio transferred
them carefully to utilize the latest technol-
ogy, in order to bring the sound up to date.
Creatively, they are untouched and standup proudly on their own merits. For the first
time, the listener can evaluate Als compar-
atively early tracks by todays standards.
As a songwriter, Koopers body of work
pays homage to its influences, yet intelli-
gently transforms them. Koopers ear for
talent led him to cover other songwrit-
ers material, many quite early in their
careers (Elton John and Harry Nilsson).
Rounding out 50/50 are 15 numbers
written by other artists such as songs
by the aforementioned John and Nils-
son alongside legendary figures such as
Bob Dylan, Jimmy Reed, Sam Cooke, Bo
Diddely, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.
Thirty-five songs were written or co-
written by Al decades ago and they eas-
ily stand up to any of todays noted song-
writers. Ask musicians in their 20s what
the chords are to Buckskin Boy, Unre-
quited Magic In My Socks or Im Never
Gonna Let You Down and they surely will
be as flummoxed as if you had asked themto essay the harmonic structure of Lau-
ra, Tenderly or Dave Brubecks The
Duke. No wonder Donny Hathaway, The
Beastie Boys, Keely Smith, Gene Pitney,
Carmen MacRae, Lorraine Ellison, The Sta-
ple Singers, Pat Boone, Bobby Vee, Rufus,
Ten Years After, Roger McGuinn, Leo Sayer,
Jay-Z , Marc Broussard and many others
have all recorded Kooper compositions.
As a lyricist, Kooper is able to recount sto-
ries eloquently such as Nightmare #5
Peacock Lady, Earth Mother or Living In
My Own Religion with the skill and grace
recalling those of his fabled influences.
His fans ARE his fans because they eas-
ily relate to his tales the way he tells em.
JAMES ISAACS
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Providing musical assistance on these
tracks is a mini Whos Who of the past four
decades. Mick Taylor and Terry Kath, re-
spectively, rip off some searing solos. Su-
perstar studio musicians, the usually un-
credited and unknown geniuses that made
Brian Wilson, Burt Bachrach, Bob Dylan,
Phil Spector, and Motown shine on vinyl allthose years ago are also present. Kooper
would travel great distances to use cer-
tain brilliant players such as bassist Her-
bie Flowers in the UK, pedal steeler Pete
Drake in Nashville, guitarist Little Beaver
in Florida, and drummer Earl Palmer in Los
Angeles. And lets not overlook LAs Wreck-
ing Crew on a couple of these included
goodies. Many of todays studio stalwartsstarted out on these Kooper sessions like
drummers Rick Marotta and Vinnie Coliau-
ta, the latter of whom Kooper snatched out
of school at age twenty to go on the road
for the first time. In Koopers hometown
of New York, regular pickers on his dates
were keyboardists Paul Griffin and Frank
Owens, guitarists Eric Gale, Hugh McCrack-en and Al Gorgoni, bassists Chuck Rainey
and Jerry Jemmott and drummers Bernard
Pretty Purdie and Al Rogers. These musi-
cians relished the arrangements of Kooper
and Charles Calello, his most frequent ar-
ranging collaborator. In addition, Kooper
sometimes employed uber-arrangers Jim-
my Wiz Wisner and Jimmy Haskell. The
personnel of all tracks are included in detail,whenever possible, in this digital anthology.
Finally, Kooper was one of the first to self-
produce his recordings, beginning here with
I Stand Alone, his first solo album, and con-
tinuing up to the present. His mentors, John
Simon, Jerry Ragavoy, Brian Wilson and Steve
Alaimo remain good friends and fans today.
50/50 is a must-have for the Kooper
Kompleatist. Its all here, and its Al here in
all his undiscovered, new-sounding glory.
And you thought you knew Al Kooper . . .
James Isaacs
December 2008
JAMES IS ACSA
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Back in the day every time I saw that Super
Session record, I spun it. I didnt own it. I
couldnt afford it. But I needed I -Stand Alone.
You see I purchased that first BS&T album from a
kid in Social Studies class. Used. Its a masterpiece.People remember I Love You More Than Youll
Ever Know, Al has to play it at every gig, but my
absolute favorite is the closer, So Much Love...
More than enough to last a whole life through
And its all for you!
I HAD to buy Als first solo record, I Stand
Alone. I needed more of THIS!
There was an overture, that seemed to pick up
where the Underture from that first BS&T
album left off. Then came those swinging
horns, a groove people south of the Mason-
Dixon Line thought no white boy could pull
off, and soulfully Al sang...I STAND ALONE!
Dont we all.
Maybe you listened to your records at parties. I
played mine in my bedroom. They elated me, they
made me believe a better life was coming.
But it wasnt only the title track. There was a cover of
One that cut Three Dog Nights hit version of theNilsson song to shreds - I was converted. I had my
mother mail I Stand Alone to me that summer I
spent in Chicago. I had to play it for Paul, the frat rat
in the basement who ended up becoming a famous
AIDS doctor. Thats what you do with your favorite
records, you play them for everybody you know.
I purchased You Never Know Your Friends Are
the day it came out. At E.J. Korvette in Trumbull,
Connecticut. Time goes by so slowly now, while
we contemplate where all the great records went,
albums that we ripped the shrinkwrap off of and
played for a week straight to decode their essence.
Magic In My Sox was the record what was left of
BS&T wished they could cut. The cover of Mourn-
ing Glory Story has got the haunting feel from
that first BS&T effort. Dont forget, this was YEARS
before Harry Nilsson broke through on his own.
Al knew all the great cuts. Hell, youve got to loveANYBODY who covers Traffics Coloured Rain.
.....a few words from Bob Lefsetz...BOB LEFSETZ
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I finally went to college. There was no Amazon.
com, I had no automobile, I was hours from Kor-
vettes. A dedicated record collector like myself
couldnt pay full price for an album. But I forked
over my money for Als 1970 release Easy Does
It at the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury, Ver-
mont. I needed it. When I listen to Brand New Day
now it brings me right back there. Literally right to
the record bins in the back of that establishment.You remember purchasing important records.
And how could a New Yorker be so prescient
as to move to Hot Lanta and sign one of the
best southern rock bands ever, the one with
the perennial top three track, Free Bird?
Al doesnt get enough credit, nor royalties, for
making the first three Lynyrd Skynyrd albums.
But he was still a deity in my book. I remembermoving to L.A. and seeing him drive his Excalibur
down Sunset. Not long thereafter I saw him shop-
ping for records at Tower close to midnight. Thats
Al. Always in the right place, at the right time.
And all the players he worked with on the
tunes in this package. Everybody from
Tommy Tedesco to Herbie Flowers. He mar-
vels that he got these gods to play with him.
But in my book Al Kooper is a god. My heart skipped
a beat when I first saw his name in my e-mail inbox.
Al may not contemplate his place in rock history, but
in my world he will never be forgotten. Hes Top Ten.
Now youve got pristine versions of these classic
tracks. Revel in their sonic purity, bathe in their au-
ral greatness, marvel at the incredible work of this
living legend. I AM!
Bob Lefsetzs internet blogs are read by the entire
music industry and then some. Bob doesnt hold
back and praises and skewers those that deserve
his kindesses or rantings.
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
If you would like to subscribe to the Lefsetz Letter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
BOB LEFSETZ
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