I hope somewhere in this world someone has built a statue of Al Kooper. He is the very essence of what a musician should be, and his intuitive organ illuminates possibly the greatest American single of the 20th century.
In 1962 the then 18 year old Al Kooper came to our sixth grade classroom and played for the class. It seems he was an alumni and had the same teacher, and was doing it as a favor for her. He played the song "Runaway" by Del Shannon, that was a huge hit in 1961. 62 years later, I still remember it vividly. What an amazingly talented man.
Loved this....met Al Kooper at the TK recording studio 1973 in South Fl....He was shy and I had no idea who he was when he asked if I wanted to go to dinner...I was so young and a bit afraid....You all know who and what I did with my life so far.....Loved seeing him again....it was just an older version same person....loved this! Wish I could get him to produce some new music with me....
Al I met you and hung out at TK Studios with Steve Alamo and I was singing with Qwen McCrae...70s ....You wanted to take me to dinner but I was shy a bit...I wish now i would have gone..Allen Jacoby in Miami mentioned you and I said you were an incredible talent...My videos are on RU-vid as a songwriter..Kitty Terry ska Kitty Woodson sang with Clapton during the 70s tour..Lets get in touch...Lets write a tune...thats what I do...Life isn't over
How cool to stumble unto this little gem. Al Kooper played The Bottomline in The Village on November 22-24, 1974. I saw him, front and center, on one of those days. It was a rock trio, drums, bass, and he played guitar. Don't ask me if I remember the set list but it was an awesome show. Great to have seen some of these people in their prime.
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Why this guy is not in the R&R HOF is a frigging mystery!? God bless Al! Love him! The jerks that forget him is a joke. Love you Al. Keep rockin’ big guy!!!
@@stroonZe1 Oh they are just coy. One day they will get embarrassed by a great playing storyteller... like another Hendrix. The real players already know.....
I heard the story for the first time last week from Steven Van Zandt on Little Steven's underground Garage - and what a great story it is! What an incredible piece of Rock n Roll history. Loved watching this interview with Al Kooper and enjoyed his tongue-in-cheek testiness, too.
Had some free time and ended up helping to organize Monterey...hanging out down south and discovers Lynyrd Skynyrd...and so much more..A great book and life.
Let me give a mighty Ah men to his book. A great title and very, very interesting. His experiences as a rock musician/ producer/ talent scout / songwriter are 2nd to none. If you like the back story to much of the music of classic rock. You will love his book.
I've heard the story, but I also bought and read his book "Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards, Memoirs of a Rock and Roll Survivor". He is one of the greats and was an eyewitness to important moments in the history of rock music.
Western Union Man (1969), one greatest hit. We hope so, but Sony Music (through Legacy Recordings) will release a album collection. Thanks Jim, I'm watchin' every weeknight this programme and I'm listenin' every weekday morning the BPR show with Margery, all on 'GBH!!!
I would like to give a shout out to Al's solo projects. The one that I suggest first is "I Stand Alone", with Al on the cover impersonating Lady Liberty. This was his second project away from Blood, Sweat & Tears, the first being "Super Session". I also recommend "You Never Really Know Who Your Friends Are", with the photo of the Chicago police doing their worst at the Democratic Convention in 1968, on the cover.(Double Album). His masterpiece for me was "Super Session". Young guitarists need to look for this album, buy it, and listen to it often. I made a wreck out of TWO copies of the vinyl, as a 16 year old, who had been playing only 4 yrs., trying to learn Mike Bloomfield's licks. But guitars aside, Kooper's B-3 renderings on this record are masterful.
Got to meet him twice. First time in a Philly club where he did a solo show. Afterward I just walked backstage and said "I've been waiting 15 years to meet you", to which he replied "well that means I've been waiting 15 years to meet YOU". Second time was for his book, which he signed for me.
@@thespiritof76.. amen brother and there are too many people running their mouths about what really happened. The bs blood oath crap funny how money changes everything huh! And Gene Odom where do I begin lol. The biggest problem is Ronnie’s widow who things she owns skynyrd. That makes me sick!
@@hilldwler420 yep. Idk of another case where a widow controls a performing group... Seems she has rights to the name and legacy of Ronnie Vandzant. RIP. BUT NOT the lives stories and enterprise of surviving band members....
You had / have an ear for talent & good music. And a real nack for recalling and telling the priceless stories in an honest light just as they happened. The best ! Those who grew up knowing him love him
Van Zant called him a city slicker but among these other choice superlatives, he's been party to some truly indelible moments in the history of rock n roll.
Doesn't matter that this was a typical shit interview by someone from the media or that Kooper seemed high or just pissed off, Al Kooper was a genius that slipped through the cracks by bad luck or whatever and never got what he really deserved as recognition. BS&T 1 was all AL KOOPER. If his style would have gone on with a band of that nature he would have been known worldwide forever. LISTEN TO HIM!!!!!
Al should , if he could, be canonized for his tact and patient tenor with this interviewer... if you see this Al ..yes it’s me Lisa.. ,,, much love and happiness... 🎸🙏🕊💜
No ones has a flatter delivery than Al. ... The Henny Youngman of music with all the sly humour. ... I spoke to Al on the phone,15-years ago(?), and he gave me nothing but, "why are you bothering me?". ... I still like the guy because Al's book 'Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards' is the greatest rock book ever written. A bible of the era. ... This is great interview right to the end. ... Next up, Al Kooper and Donald Fagen do a 10-minute interview, please expect 7-mins of silence.
The interviewer tried to get at one interesting question I wish he'd have articulated better. Al is known so much for what he's done with other people: Bob Dylan, Stephen Stills, Mike Bloomfield, Shuggie Otis, Lynyrd Skynyrd, et al. But none of his own records did anything. He was around at interesting moments in rock history, but his own solo career never happened -- and he put out a lot of records under his own name. Wonder how he feels about that? (FWIW, Al's music was very formative for me in my early years -- my early bands played a LOT of Blues Project & BS&T. Fascinating guy -- just never was widely-known to the record-buying public.)
And it wasn't because his solo efforts weren't great either. My only issue would be that his voice isn't necessarily the strongest, but musically all his album were pretty solid. My favorites were You Never Know Who Your Friends Are, New York City and Naked Songs.
AL KOOPER - NEW YORK CITY is a masterpiece. Blood Sweat & Tears , he added soul LYNYRD SKYNYRD , who better to discover arguably the Greatest Band Ever! Sooo much Everything!! ...and asking Kooper a tired old question like that, is like asking Liberace about his rings.
Amazing guy, Al Kooper. Was hoping to hear him talk about the great Lynyrd Skynyrd early years. Shame on that reporter for not asking questions about them.
The interviewer "hated the second Blood, Sweat, and Tears"?? Well it only won Grammy record album of the year. One does not have to "hate it" if one liked the first one with Kooper. In fact, both are super albums in different ways.
This host could be me. I agree with everything he said. My freshman roommates in college loved the first BS&T album. When the second came out, and I heard David Clayton-Thomas, I was traumatized. I'm still recovering. Al seems a bit spaced out, but who wouldn't be? Excuse me while I go listen the The Child is Father to the Man for the 4 millionth time.
Almost forgot...this is when you were doing "We Three Music" ...ring a bell I am sure... anyway, good wishes to you and hope all your dreams come true. You do desire a place in music history.
Why do interviewers think that being obnoxious and many times just flat out rude to their guest is what the guest secretly wants? There are clIps of guests being interviewed by some "self anointed gods gift to news media" types that when the stupid questions start, the guest politely stands up, then walks out of the studio. Huge props to all those that have reacted in that manner!!! 👌👍👍🇺🇸
I have no idea why this is the first time I ever come across an interview with AL Kooper, considering that he was the legend that he was in the Rock scene already when I was in my early teens and I am now almost 64. The fact that I had never seen an article or interview of Al Kooper all these years until now , it intensified his legendary image for me. One thing is sure, his hair looks better now than when he had the crazy wet look hair back in the days
Why isn’t he in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? He’s had an incredibly versatile and interesting career and life. Broke my heart when he left BS&T. He did not have a great voice, it I believed every note and word he sang…the man feels what he sings. I’m currently reading his autobiography, and loving it; but it pisses me off how he got burned so much in the sucky music business. Love this man!
AL KOOPER is a tremendous legend that you cannot compare with STING into the musical horizons in creativity.KOOPER was a pioneer established innovator when STING was NOBODY.I write this because I;m very pissed that many fuckers put STING as a genius when AL KOOPER US THE REAL GENIUS that was born in a period of time full of changes:The 60s.
AL KOOPER IS A TRUE GENIUS, no question. Here, from the album 'I Stand Alone'....this track has no comparison to another song anywhere ever: m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0Vtc1ndrU4M.html
Just finished watching this interview. To Mr. Al Kooper : I have been a music collector for almost 60 years. I have never heard of the story of how you came to play on any of Bob Dylan's music.
The interviewer should seriously consider retiring and entering into a life of contemplation. For while Rock'n Roll will never die, the coroner actually came by with its death certificate a few decades ago.
The guy has been sick for several years and he has always told things the way they are. If he's sick of telling the same stories over and over, then so be it. Al Kooper does not owe anyone anything.
I have heard Al tell the Dylan story before, I dont remember where it came from, it may have been on a late night radio program)long ago. . he told it like he loved that moment & said they were playing along & someone said hey let the pro organ player play it .. & Dylan said No .. I like the way this guy (AK) is playing it. AK said the irony of the situation(he not being able to play the organ at all) but Dylan liking what he was doing ..."was not lost on him(AK) .. AK told the story gushingly & in very good humor. at that time.
Al’s podcast “Koopercast” is absolutely fantastic and gives insight into the legendary recordings Al did and people in the music business-both good and bad.
Stop. Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield is the greatest track of all time. The only thing I was surprised about in this interview was that he was still alive. Nice one Alphonse.
I was friends with Al when we were around 20/21 years old when we lived in Forest Hills, Queens. One day I was visiting and he played a song for me on his dinky home organ ...it went on forever. If memory serves I said it could never be a hit single because those days singles had to be three minutes or less.......worst prediction ever.
Once your toes have uncurled from this interview with Al, here's another one you can actually enjoy. It is longer, more wide ranging, and overall a much pleasanter experience, thanks to genial, well-informed NPR interviewer Teri Gross. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XAP_ZKR5X_Y.html
This host (Jim Braude) currently co-hosts a radio show in Boston and he's just as terrible there as he was here - mildly obnoxious, constantly interrupting or "correcting" (he's frequently wrong) his female co-host Margery Eagan... it's cringeworthy radio and is basically a daily, three-hour black hole in WGBH's schedule. His behavior here just confirmed my feelings - the fact that he felt compelled to poll his co-workers about Mr. Kooper's story is incredibly childish and unprofessional.
