KooperKast

In this episode Al introduces the very concept of the Kapusta album, then we hear Al calling his folks, back in the 90s. It is a whole different kind of KooperKast.

Normally we only get to hear the perfect outcome of studio sessions, but in this series of clips we hear some studio banter and some incredibly fine background singers at work, plus a few moments from live shows. These clips will put you behind the curtain, inside the biz, for a few moments. The group doing the rock-n-roll Silent Night is The Tubes ; the guy who is annoyed that his microphone was...

We talk at length about David Bromberg and Al’s participation in Dylan’s Self Portrait Album. At the end, Nilly the Dog adds a brief canine observation.

We answer questions about the infamous Kapusta Christmas albums, who did the laughing on the overture to Child is Father to the Man, how to buy Kooper music from Japan, and Al’s teaching days at Berklee. After each answer Nilly the Dog adds a brief canine rejoinder.

We go on for a while… starting from a listener’s question about  writing music for and fitting into a band. At the end, Nilly the Dog adds a brief canine retort.

We ramble from remembering Bobby Neuwirth to hanging with Dylan at Woodstock, to the great cow encounter on the road with the Blues Project. At the end, Nilly the Dog adds a brief canine summation.

We answer listener questions about whether Al still plays live, his favorite person ever to work with: Mike Bloomfield, and what Al feels  was his greatest musical achievement. (can you guess?) Nilly the Dog was not available because Nilly was off working on a new sitcom for and by dogs, so the comments after each of Al’s answers were done by the neighbor cats.

We answer listener questions about Fred Lipsius vs John Simon on keyboards doing Child is Father to the Man, and about Skynyrd before Kooper, at Muscle Shoals, and a bit about Al’s high school days. On this episode the neighborhood cats sat in for Nilly the Dog who was away on tour.

We answer a listener question about the phases of Al’s career and him playing at the 64 World’s Fair with Harvey Brooks. And on this episode the neighborhood cats sat in as commentators for Nilly the Dog who was recording a solo album.

We answer a listener question about Gateley’s Cafe and the friendship between Michael Gateley, Robert John, Lou Christie, and Al. And about a 24 hour recording session by that group of singers on Al’s 2nd album, doing Nillson’s Morning Glory Story. Of course, on this episode, Nilly the Dog’s comments after Al’s answers are dubbed into cat by the neighborhood cats.

We talk about the various Vivino brothers, including Uncle Floyd, and Stax musicians Duck Dunn and Steve Cropper. Submit questions for Al at alkooper.com on the Kooperkast page.

We talk about writing songs with Gerry Goffin, a tricky song title, and about the legendary Fred Neil. Submit questions for Al at alkooper.com on the Kooperkast page.

We talk about how Stoller and Lieber bought a great Italian song and recreated it as an English language hit. Submit questions for Al at alkooper.com on the Kooperkast page.

We talk about The Funky Faculty: Tom Stein, Larry Finn, Bob Dozema, Daryll Lowry,  and Jeff Stout; about playing guitar via synth keyboard; and about Keb Mo, the blues wizard.

We talk about the backup singers, Kathryn Russell, Curtis King, Cheryll Marshall, and… Jimmy Vivino! And about Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham and going to the Apollo with Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers as guests of Smokey Robinson.

We talk about a co-writer Sandi Stewart, about Al’s walls of CD that impressed his Aussie friend. And about delivery methods of vinyl, CD, mp3, streaming and …. playing live.

We talk about the song ION HUE, by Hal Lindis of Dire Straights, and about getting permission to record a song.

We talk about the Lil Armstrong and her band, working with Ray Charles, and meeting alto sax virtuoso Hank Crawford.

We talk about getting the audience soul clapping at the Notodden Blues festival to a ten minute version of Comin' Back In A Cadillac . And going on the road with a 14 piece group of hot players, who open the show with their version of Hey Jude .

We talk about how Black Coffee and White Chocolate became obscure albums, a cool Amazon review, and strong All Music review, how Steve Vai moved the project along and about liner notes by Rolling Stone legend Andrew Loog Oldham.

We answer listener questions about songs that close out albums, the book about the blues project call The Sound, an offer from Schnitzel Records, and did Al dig the Bossa nova? After each answer from Al, Nilly the Dog adds a brief comment of her own.

We answer a listener question about Al’s favorite band Free and how Free guitarist Paul Kossoff played an Al Kooper song on an album called Gately’s Cafe. After each answer from Al, Nilly the Dog adds a brief comment of her own.

We hear listener question and appreciations about Camille, Sharon Mitchell, being kind to a younger music dude, the important of being yourself, lost performance tapes, Max’s Kansas City and about Jews and Blacks in music. After each answer from Al, Nilly the Dog adds a brief comment of her own.

We hear listener question and appreciations about getting Al’s CDs, an Al documentary, the Blues Project at Town Hall, and Child is Father to the Man. After each answer from Al, Nilly the Dog adds a brief comment of her own.

We hear listener questions and appreciations about Nils Lofgren and Al’s 60th birthday event at his original Bar Mitzvah synagogue, a Skynard tattoo, a call for more photos. After each answer from Al, Nilly the Dog adds a brief comment of her own.