February 5, 1944 – Alan Peter Kuperschmidt a.k.a.Al Kooper, co-creator of Blood, Sweat & Tears and Bob Dylan‘s collaborator is 76. Happy Birthday Sir |
Tracklist :
1 . w/ Friends – Something going on
2 . At Milestones
3 . w/ Friends – Morning Glory
4 . The Great Al Kooper
5 . I Can’t Keep From Crying
6 . w/ John Mayall – Get Some Dollars (Live)
7 . You Can’t Always Get What You Want / Season of the Witch (Regatta Bar, 4/4/14)
Al Kooper: A Versatile Music Icon
Al Kooper is a highly versatile and influential figure in the music industry, with a career spanning multiple genres and roles, including musician, songwriter, producer, and A&R executive.
Early Career and Influences
Kooper’s musical journey begins at a young age; at 11, he sneaks into venues to watch artists like Ray Charles and James Brown rehearse.
He starts playing musical instruments at age six, first the piano, then the guitar.
His first pop hit comes at age 14 with his band, The Royal Teens, who have a hit song called “Who Wears Short Shorts”.
He is also a songwriter early in his career, co-writing the hit “This Diamond Ring” for Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
He has a close working relationship with Gene Pitney, for whom he co-writes “I Must Be Seeing Things”.
Kooper’s early influences include R&B, Tin Pan Alley, folk, and blues.
He is a fan of artists like Brian Wilson, Rance Allen, and Ray Charles.
Key Musical Contributions and Collaborations
He is well-known for his work with Bob Dylan, most notably playing the iconic organ riff on “Like a Rolling Stone”.
He is not originally intended to play the organ on the track.
He has told this story many times, including in a Martin Scorsese film.
He considers this a watershed moment in his career.
He also plays on the entire *Blonde on Blonde* record and acts as a music director for the sessions, teaching the songs to the band.
He tours with Bob Dylan after the recording sessions.
He is present at Dylan’s controversial electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival.
He clarifies that the audience isn’t booing the electric performance but is upset at the short set.
He is a member of The Blues Project, where he pioneers the white urban blues sound.
He founds Blood, Sweat & Tears, a band that makes rock history by using horns.
He writes the horn arrangements and auditions horn players who can read and play those arrangements.
He produces the band’s first album, which is recorded in two weeks.
He is involved in the Super Session record with Stephen Stills and Michael Bloomfield.
The album is recorded as a jam session.
He and Bloomfield make two live albums from those sessions.
He works on a 5.1 mix of the Super Session album.
He has played with a wide array of artists, including Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, BB King, The Who, and George Harrison.
Production and A&R Work
He is a staff producer and A&R head at Columbia Records in the late 60s.
He spearheads the recording of the Zombies’ *Odyssey and Oracle* album.
He discovers and produces Lynyrd Skynyrd, producing their first three albums, including hits like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”.
He finds them in a club in Atlanta and is impressed by their original material and arrangements.
He signs them to his own label, Sounds of the South, which he creates for the band.
He moves to Atlanta to work with the band.
He does a lot of the engineering on the first album.
He gives a test pressing of the first Skynyrd album to Pete Townsend, leading to them opening for The Who.
He records “Sweet Home Alabama” a year before its release.
He has been featured on over 100 albums and has produced dozens of others.
Songwriting and Musical Style
His songwriting is inspired by real-life events and his emotional responses to them.
He writes “Going, Going, Gone” after being frustrated by changes in technology.
He writes “What Would You Like For Breakfast” after a late night in the studio.
He co-writes songs, calling on experts when he needs help.
He does not like the co-writing process in Nashville, which he compares to a “dentist appointment”.
He prefers to be inspired rather than working to a regiment.
He has a very versatile taste in music and is influenced by various styles.
He is open to different genres except rap.
Current Activities and Reflections
He is in a band called The Recuperator with Anton Fig, Jimmy Vivino, and Mike Merritt.
They primarily play obscure rhythm and blues and blues covers.
They are working on a live album.
He teaches at the Berklee School of Music.
He writes a weekly column called “New Music for Old People,” highlighting new releases he enjoys.
He finds new music on iTunes.
He only writes about music he likes and never writes negative reviews.
He has written an autobiography called *Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards*.
The book is about his “bizarre” life in the music industry.
He states that his favorite band of all time is Free.
He does not like telling the story about playing on “Like a Rolling Stone” because he has told it many times.