Al Kooper - Classic or Dud?

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I'm not gonna be in LA for a few weeks yet so I had to miss the Koop's "intimate" solo appearance at McCabe's (dammit), but on November 15 I get to see the self-styled White Plains Drifter in White Plains, with a full band! So I win. We all win.

This is the thread where (a) we talk about Al Kooper's career (b) Elvis Telecom regales us with stories from the show he just went to.

Annouschka Magnatech (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 27 September 2003 07:30 (twenty-two years ago)

http://alkooper.com/images/standalone.jpeg

Annouschka Magnatech (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 27 September 2003 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Answering question (a) first...

Kooper is like the Adam Weishaupt/Bavarian Illuminati of rock and roll - always turning up somewhere when you least expect it. There's the big Dylan, Bloomfield, and Lynyrd Skynrd connections of course, and he wrote songs/been covered by everyone, but he also produced The Tubes, Green On Red, and a billion others, wrote songs for the Shangri-Las. Bottom line: Ultra-classic

Oh, and the Beastie Boys sampled him. Again, classic

Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 27 September 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

And let me just say that his madcap swirly carnival-style cover of "Making Plans For Nigel" outdoes the Pee Wee soundtrack BY FAR.

Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 27 September 2003 09:01 (twenty-two years ago)

The Dylan & Bloomfield related stuff, plus Blood, Sweat & Tears's early songs I've heard, mostly.
Of the solo Kooper, I've got only Act Like Nothing's Wrong - and it don't impress me much... no, make it 'not at all'.

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Saturday, 27 September 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

As a producer/arranger/bandleader (in terms of distinctiveness, ability, visionary zaniness, consistent perversity) I'd put Kooper in a league with Rundgren and Lynne. Child Is Father To The Man is flat-out stunning '60s experimentalist pastiche; and the solo albums I've heard (the New York City one's my favorite so far) are more low-key and goofball but really musically accomplished and focused. Dunno why this guy isn't considered anything more than a second-tier legend, or a hired hand, or whatever.

Annouschka Magnatech (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 27 September 2003 20:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Plus French horn on "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Classic.

Adam Harrison-Friday, Saturday, 27 September 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...
i wonder if you are really a friend of mine......what a songwriter

dave doty, Thursday, 12 February 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

al kooper = hubba hubba

M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

http://63.211.17.227/00/amg/cov200/drd500/d514/d51464760k7.jpg

Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 12 February 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

What kind of debate is this? Al is a classic whether you're a big fan or not! To the person who said they weren't impressed by the solo "Act Like...." you should get Live - Soul of A Man and then decide what you're impressed by.

chris haggerty, Sunday, 15 February 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

A belated thanks for the recommendation, but ...I'm going to order actually teh New York City You're A Woman alb, in (literally) a minute.

(Still don't like Act Like ..., tho)

t**t, Thursday, 19 July 2007 19:50 (eighteen years ago)

al kooper = hubba hubba

-- M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, February 12, 2004 6:04 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Link

haha i like finding posts i don't remember like this. i need to chill.

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 19 July 2007 20:17 (eighteen years ago)

Kooper's a big Deerhoof fan. He's cool.

Of course, he's also famously responsible for Odessey and Oracle getting a U.S. release, and for insisting on "Butcher's Tale" as the first single.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 20 July 2007 08:17 (eighteen years ago)

That's right, I was let out a little "woah" when I read that q&a in Mojo where he bigged up Deerhoof. What other 60s era rocker would do that?

Butcher's Tale is an odd choice of single. Brilliant song, but pretty harrowing! Still, I like the way his mind works.

Stew, Friday, 20 July 2007 08:37 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, same here, definitely. Good style.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 20 July 2007 08:45 (eighteen years ago)

Al also played a gig on guitar for Deep Purple in the '70s when Blackmore was having one of his "episodes". This guy's like the Forrest Gump of rock.

Bill Magill, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:44 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards is back in print and update with new stuff. He'll be at Book Soup in LA on Jan 13.
http://www.booksoup.com/Details.asp?ProductID=938

Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Monday, 5 January 2009 07:54 (sixteen years ago)

Coming to Seattle for a show on the 15th, I wanna say.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 5 January 2009 08:06 (sixteen years ago)

An LA Times report on that Book Soup appearance:

Kooper spoke about playing on the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want." He was supposed to have been on vacation when he got cornered on London's High Street by a very enthusiastic Brian Jones. Kooper caved.

"After we were done recording it," Kooper said, "they pulled up these two trucks full of food. It was like someone was getting married. I was very impressed. I had dinner and dessert."

Asked about his feelings on the record industry's current state, Kooper replied, "It's dying, and I'm enjoying watching it die. I hope that I live long enough to attend each and every record company’s funeral."

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 January 2009 03:35 (sixteen years ago)

This guy's like the Forrest Gump of rock.

Hahah, the blog post I just linked calls him the Zelig of rock. Both apply.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 January 2009 03:36 (sixteen years ago)

Ha.

Michael Shelley did a good interview with him on WFMU but I can't seem to find the podcast right now.

lemmy tristano (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 15 January 2009 03:40 (sixteen years ago)

Al has a kind of self-deprecation that is rare and refreshing for a famous musician.

lemmy tristano (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 15 January 2009 03:42 (sixteen years ago)


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