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Al Kooper is a name I've known about forever, but don't really know that well. So, I put together a playlist of stuff he's worked on. Here's what I've got so far:

The Blues Project - Planned Obscolescence, Flanders/Kalb/Katz, Etc. , Super Sessions, Live at Town Hall, Projections
Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper - The Live Adventures of
Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
Lynyrd Skynyrd - pronounced
Paul Butterfield - In My Own Dream
Blood, Sweat & Tears - Child is Father to the Man
Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears

So, when you read bios that start like this one from amg (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/al-kooper-mn0000509524):
"Al Kooper, by rights, should be regarded as one of the giants of '60s rock, not far behind the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon in importance."
What is the legacy of this guy as performer, composer, producer? The above is clearly overblown, but his work as a sideman is solid. So, that leaves his lesser known work. I haven't read a full-bio and probably won't, but would be curious to hear if anyone around here can add anything, such as other albums to check out or FZ connections... Projections was produced by Tom Wilson... Goin' Down Louisiana on Flanders/Kalb/Katz, Etc. is also done by FZ on "An Evening with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart".

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Al Kooper does deserve a lot of praise for some of the albums he's produced, played on, or where his. The guys been/is a real talent. His name is on a lot of my record collection. Still don't know that much about him though.

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I'm getting larger as I walk away.

Yeah, Kap, I think I might keep noticing more albums that he's on. Here's another one I forgot about!

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Arkay, He played on Long Hot Summer Night on Hendrix's Electric LadyLand

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"drums are too noisy, 'n you've got no corners to hide in"

Highly Recommended.

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I can't tell when you're telling the truth.
>I'm not.
How do I know anything you've said to me is...
>You don't.

Yeah, it would be cool to compile other albums in which he did a tune or 2. Its my understanding that he worked that way with the Rolling Stones, like "You Can't Always Get What You Want".


I agree. I also think that this multi-name thing that they did on so many projects sorta fucked up his career. Look how amg lists that Super Session album:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/super-session-mw0000190678
"Bloomfield-Kooper-Stills / Mike Bloomfield / Al Kooper / Stephen Stills".
Then on "The Live Adventures of Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper", they announce that "This is Super Session with some alterations, we'll let Al Kooper explain". He then tells about various meetings of band members. Too bad they didn't just call themselves Super Session and leave it at that, people might remember the band.

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He did a Super Session-type album with Shuggie Otis in the early Seventies. I never bought it, but I wish I had.

Have you been to koopers web site? It seems to be just about everything Kooper a guy could need. I really got a kick out of Burnaholic, this is a spot on the site, very good.

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"I'm interested in the capitalistic way of life, and the reason I like it better than anything else I've seen so far is because competition produces results."

Just read Burnaholic, good read, hahaha. Makes me wonder why the site hasn't been kept up since 2011 or so it seems.

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Hey Arkay, if you're interested in Al Kooper you really might want to check out his book "Backstage Passes And Backstabbing Bastards". Hell, you might want to check it out even if you're not interested in him, it's that good. He originally wrote it in the 1970's and it was out of print for years. He recently updated it and it's available again. This guy has a million stories to tell and he tells them well. It's one of the most entertaining rock memoirs I've ever read.

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Hey, pass me the dog food.

Highly recommended. Al has a great story about producing Lynard Skynard's 1st lp ( the ONLY reason I'll even listen to it ) and bringing a Hendrix guitar with him to a session. Seems the lead guitarist from the above band , I can't remember who , bent over to pick the guitar up and Al told him something like ' you're not even worthy of the sweat that's on that guitar '.

Another gem was reading when Al heard ' This Diamond Ring ' ( a song Al wrote ) by Gary Lewis & the playboys. Al was said to be pissed. You should really hear Al's version.

' Kooper Session ' with Shuggie is incredible for a 15 yr old guitarist. Shuggie STILL rocks.

Al has to be my favorite worst singer and one of the best writer / arranger / producers in the business.

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may you have the bank account of a republican and the sex life of a democrat.

I saw Al Kooper with Joe Walsh's band on the "Ordinary Average Guy" tour at one of the sheds he shares some stories about here...
http://alkooper.com/oldcolumns05.html

Nice article Spacebro" Al's a funny guy, I'd like to read his book.

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I'm getting larger as I walk away.

So, I guess I'll have to change my mind!

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

I heard an interview with Al Kooper yesterday. He will be performing in the area in a week or so. I don't think I'll be able to go. But, he had some interesting things to say.

He's recently finished a Mike Bloomfield box set that should be released in February. I think he said 3 cds and 1 dvd.

He's currently working on a box set sampler of his most famous material and never-released material. He went on a bit about the many sessions he worked on that never got released or had out-takes that never got released. Also, interesting remixed stuff, such as a band-only mix of Like a Rolling Stone.

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Al Kooper produced the first Tubes album. I think he was pretty pleased with that from what I remember.

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Love his work with Mike Bloomfield and Dylan. Haven't heard much else of his stuff, but will definitely check out any new box sets.

Mike Bloomfield Box Set From His Head to His Heart to His Hands 3 CD/ 1 DVD, put together by Al Kooper, out on Feb 4. I didn't see a tracklist for the DVD.

Disc: 1
1. I'm a Country Boy
2. Judge, Judge
3. Hammond's Rag
4. I've Got You in the Palm of My Hand
5. I've Got My Mojo Workin'
6. Like a Rolling Stone (Instrumental) - performed by Bob Dylan
7. Tombstone Blues (Alternate Chambers Brothers Version) - performed by Bob Dylan
8. Michael Speaks About Paul Butterfield
9. Born in Chicago - performed by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
10. Blues with a Feeling - performed by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
11. East-West- performed by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
12. Killing Floor- performed by The Electric Flag
13. Texas- performed by The Electric Flag
14. Susie's Shuffle (Live Jam) - performed by The Electric Flag
15. Just a Little Something (Live)- performed by The Electric Flag
16. Easy Rider- performed by The Electric Flag
Disc: 2
1. Albert's Shuffle
2. Stop
3. His Holy Modal Majesty
4. Opening Speech (Live)
5. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy) (Live) Hybrid Edit
6. Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong (Live)
7. Santana Clause (Live)
8. The Weight (Live)
9. Opening Speech (Live)
10. One Way Out (Live)
11. Her Holy Modal Highness (Live)
12. Fat Grey Cloud (Live)
13. Mary Ann (Live)
14. That's All Right (Live)
Disc: 3
1. I'm Glad I m Jewish (Live)
2. Men's Room - Spoken Word Segment from McCabe's (Live)
3. Don't You Lie to Me (Live)
4. Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had (Live) - performed by Muddy Waters
5. Gypsy Good Time (Live)
6. One Good Man- performed by Janis Joplin
7. It's About Time (Live)
8. Carmelita Skiffle (Live)
9. Darktown Strutters Ball (Live)
10. Don t Think About It Baby
11. Jockey Blues/Old Folks Boogie (Live)
12. A-Flat Boogaloo (Live)
13. Glamour Girl (Live)
14. Spoken Intro - Bob Dylan (Live)
15. The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar (Live) - performed by Bob Dylan
16. Hymn Time (Live Excerpt)

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Thanks for the heads up !

Looks like a must have for me .

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may you have the bank account of a republican and the sex life of a democrat.

Very cool! Did it say how much this was gonna cost?

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I'm getting larger as I walk away.

He played on Lace and Whiskey

with another Al Cooper

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I aint gonna squash it, and you don't need to wash it...

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

^ Not bad and free shipping, thanx manx.

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I'm getting larger as I walk away.

Updating the list...

• Al Kooper -50/50 - 50 Tracks, 50 Years,Easy Does It, You Never Know Who Your Friends Are, Soul of a Man (Live)
• Al Kooper & Shuggie Otis - Kooper Sessions
• Blood, Sweat & Tears - Child is Father to the Man, Blood, Sweat & Tears
• The Blues Project - Planned Obscolescence, Flanders/Kalb/Katz, Etc..., Super Sessions, Live at Town Hall, Projections, Reunion in Central Park, Live at the Café Au Go Go
• Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper - The Live Adventures of
• Paul Butterfield - In My Own Dream
• Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
• Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - pronounced, 2nd Helping, Nuthin' Fancy
• The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
• The Who - Who's Next

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To