KooperKast

Al answers questions about playing in Norway and going to a Norwegian hospital,   the 1967 benefit at Ccafe AU GO GO,   playing at Shea stadium, and miraculous use of the word proselytize in a song. As always, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment

Al answers questions about playing the Farfisa organ, arriving in a wheelchair at the Central Park Blues Project Reunion, and would he play live on Zoom. As always, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

 Al answers questions about producing Rick Nelson, about Leon Russel, what is Yahuptiz, and drugs of the 60s,   As always, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al talks about key moments in rock history, thoughts on the Loving Spoonful, . As always, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al talks about an incredibly strange Tom Wilson album, Batman and Robin by The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale that involved the Blues Project, and Sun R.  Also a question about Albert Grossman, and did Al play on Freebird. As always, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al talks about what session musicians have most impressed him, the Miles Davis story, seeing Supersession selling in a store, and about recording live. As always, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al answers a question from Roger about Bill Graham and the Fillmore East and West that turns into a whole episode of its own. After each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al answers four questions: does Al listen to new music, following which we go off track on Joni Mitchell and Grace Slick, who singing along on Day of the Locusts, what about the Velvet Underground, and the 50th birthday 3-day bash.  Of course, after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al answers questions about the most talented people he ever encountered, about keeping lots of instruments… and then we wandered into a focusing on Al’s diabetes tests and how they ruin his fingers for guitar. And yes,  after each of Al’s answers, Nilly the dog adds a brief comment.

Al talks about a tiny gig that listener Max loved, Al’s playing on Hendrix’ Long Hot Summer, Skynyrd and drugs, which was interrupted by Nilly the dog who could not wait till the end of Al’s answer to get involved.  

This is the first Go Ask Al episode with some great questions about the song Touch the Hem of His Garment, Best Concerts he ever gave, Favorite Albums, Rock and Rock Hall of Fame, and Al’s Health and ability to go out and play.

In our 2nd episode of Go Ask Al, we have questions about mysterious etching on album vinyl, the Landlord soundtrack, Barry Goldberg on Supersession, the legendary Kapusta albums, the Sharon Mitchell story, and the mysterious Swallow the Roach Question.

In this episode of Go Ask Al we have questions about Al and Dylan as musical primitives, Dylan saying hi to Al’s parents, great session musicians, and a good story about I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know that snuck in on its own.

Al talks about the arduous makeup effort for the album cover and the concept behind the album.

Al talks about the songs on the album and gives us a nice little story about running into Smokey Robinson, whose song Swept For You Baby  Al covered on this album. 

Al talks about such wide ranging topics as Jolie, the daughter of Quincy Jones to Richard Greene the bluegrass fiddler.

Al talks about doing a John Prine song, meeting Prine later in Nashville, Hammond organ jealousy, and even a nice little Linda Rondstadt tale.

Al talks about everything from his new box set to touring in Japan.

Al talks about his appreciation for the recently passed Charlie Watts and also for Ringo, who is still out there banging away.

Al talks about playing on shows with Chuck Berry in the 50s and then backing him up with the Blues Project in the 60s, and just how difficult it was to play for the great Chuck Berry.

Al talks about going to visit blues great Johnny Otis and his son Shuggie in California and getting them to agree for Shuggie to go to NY and record an album with Al. The album took just a weekend; it contains some great music and some great, great blues guitar by Shuggie Otis who was only 15.

Al talks about going to London to work with bass player Herbie Flowers, who he connected with through his friend Elton John, co-writing with Phyllis Major, bass playing legend Carol Kaye in LA, and about working with session players.

Al talks about turning the folk song 500 miles into rock with a secret guitar solo by Terry Kath of Chicago and stellar scat singing by Rita Coolidge. 

Al talks about getting that high vocal sound like the Beatles were using, a crazy song to his mother, and a song based on an actual nightmare with great steel guitar by Sneaky Pete and great scat singing by Vanetta Fields.

Al talks about working with the great photographer Richard Avedon for the cover photos for this album.