KooperKast
189 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsTales from the life of Al Kooper, from songwriter to playing organ for Bob Dylan to producing Lynyrd Skynyrd. Al tells about crossing paths with an amazing cast of characters in rock and beyond. Short podcasts, perfect for those 5-10 minutes time slots.
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Episodes
AM vs FM Radio
April 29, 2024 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.44 MBWe answer questions starting with one about Steven King, the shift from AM to FM for rock and its effect on song length, about the mystery of mastering songs, and about the Funky Faculty at Berklee. As always, Nilly the Dog ends each segment with her dogged thoughts.
Song Writing Teams
April 22, 2024 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.57 MBWe answer questions about the influence of the artist versus the producer in recording sessions, and about the whole process of writing songs as a words - music team, starting with This Diamond Ring. Nilly the Dog concludes each segment with some brief pooch dog thoughts.
Paul Griffin the Piano Player
April 15, 2024 14:00 - 8 minutes - 5.92 MBWe answer a question about Paul Griffin from renowned rock writer Tony Scherman, about writing charts for other musicians, a mystery question about Al’s junior high 109, and the genesis of brass in rock with Blood Sweat and Tears and Chicago. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds some brief thoughts.
Queens Redux
April 08, 2024 14:00 - 8 minutes - 5.67 MBWe cover questions including the old days in Queens with Simon, Garfunkel, and Harvey Brooks, to what if Like a Rolling Stone was a waltz. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own.
First Diamond Ring
April 01, 2024 14:00 - 7 minutes - 5.35 MBWe cover an assortment of questions from the first time Al heard This Diamond Ring on the radio to quadraphonic sound. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own..
Silvertones Redux
March 25, 2024 14:00 - 7 minutes - 5.36 MBWe cover a bunch of questions including Al’s favorite Gospel group, the Swan Silvertones, also about Felix Caviliere, and about modern music. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own..
More Skynyrd and More
March 18, 2024 14:00 - 8 minutes - 6.19 MBThis is your host, Al’s chrome plated bumper, Jon Sachs. We answer a few more Lynyrd Skynyrd questions, along with some Fender- Gibson and guitar-vs-organ talk. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own.
High Volume and Led Zep
March 11, 2024 14:00 - 9 minutes - 6.3 MBWe answers questions that raise the issue of the very loud volume of rock concerts, and what Al thinks about that. As always, Nilly the Dog ends each segment with her dogged thoughts.
Another Look at 1650 Broadway
March 04, 2024 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.35 MBWe talk about the good old not so great days at 1650 Broadway and we hear from L. Russell Brown who created a few million sellers with Al’s old songwriting pal. Nilly the Dog concludes each segment with some brief pooch dog thoughts.
Nilly and the Duck
February 26, 2024 16:00 - 6 minutes - 4.35 MBWe take a few questions about Nilly the Dog, including a startling revelation about the naked truth of her commentaries. We cover other topics, concluding with another exquisite example of Al’s duck talk. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds some brief thoughts, or at least she claims they are her thoughts and her woof.
Bloomfield Box Set - Part 1
December 26, 2023 16:00 - 8 minutes - 5.74 MBWe talk about creating the box set of Bloomfield for Columbia, about John Hammond, Bloomfield being afraid of Butterfield, about the legendary album East West, and Al doing this project out of love.
Bloomfield Box Set - Part 2
December 26, 2023 16:00 - 7 minutes - 5.03 MBWe bounce around various topics that relate the the box set, including more on East West, Bloomfield making way for Bishop, and Al’s visit to Mill Valley.
Bloomfield Box Set - Part 3
December 26, 2023 16:00 - 7 minutes - 5.08 MBWe conclude our talk about From His Head To His Heart To His Hands, the Mike Bloomfield Box set that Al Produced, and we also wander off into another Appaloosa story that shows again how deeply Al cared and cares about the music above everything.
A Hammond B3?
December 21, 2023 05:00 - 7 minutes - 5.55 MBWe answer questions under what conditions Al would accept the gift of a Hammond B3 Organ, about the Bloomfield box set, and back to playing the organ. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own..
Marching Band Al
December 14, 2023 05:00 - 6 minutes - 4.66 MBIn this episode a question reveals that Al was a proud member of his college marching band, and we talk about not getting royalties from albums you played on. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own.
A Czech Visit
December 07, 2023 05:00 - 7 minutes - 5.24 MBWe answer a question from our first Czechoslovakian listener, a question about maybe Mike Bloomfield’s old guitar, and a greeting from old friend Glober (global?) Gober. As always, Nilly the Dog ends each segment with her dogged thoughts.
Song Titles
November 30, 2023 05:00 - 7 minutes - 5.03 MBWe answer questions about how Al starts writing songs, about the Metropole Lounge, and about Al’s crazy shirts. Nilly the Dog concludes each segment with some brief pooch dog thoughts.
Blues Project Cow
November 24, 2023 16:00 - 8 minutes - 5.64 MBWe start with a rare bit of Donald Duck talk from Al and then about not visiting the Hall of Fame in Cleveland, being on the road vs staying in your home town, and the Cow Incident with the Blues Project. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds some brief thoughts of her own.
Kuperschmidt and Zimmerman, accounting
November 16, 2023 05:00 - 7 minutes - 5.18 MBWe answer questions about the concept of a movie version of Backstage Passes, about the lost potential of the accounting firm Kuperschmidt and Zimmerman, and we get interrupted by Nilly the Dog, who usually only speaks up after each question.
Piano Chops
November 09, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 6.5 MBWe answer questions about piano chops and about Tom Wilson and his son. After each answer, Nilly the Dog adds a wise and succinct comment of her own.
Hall of Fame
November 02, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.01 MBWe answer questions about attending the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, about writing with Gerry Goffin, and about some old grade school friends. After each answer, Nilly Dog adds a summary comment of her own.
Stills and Penn
October 26, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.34 MBWe answer questions about Bert Sommer, whether Al was the actual Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man, choosing songs for the Steve Stills side of SuperSession, and about writing with Dan Penn. After each answer, Nilly the Dog adds a dogged comment of her own.
Johnnie and Bobbie
October 16, 2023 20:00 - 8 minutes - 5.84 MBWe talk about the piano great Johnnie Johnson, Al as A&R man, then about playing with Dylan. After each answer, Nilly Dog adds a short but pithy comment of her own.
Falsetto, Claude Jeter and the Swan Silvertones
September 28, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.05 MBWe answer questions including about singing falsetto, which leads to Claude Jeter, and the Swan Silvertones. After each question Nilly the Dog adds a short but pithy comment of her own.
Blending Horns
September 21, 2023 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.52 MBWe answer questions including about blending the sound of horns when recording. After each question Nilly the Dog add a brief canine perspective.
Graham Gouldman and Bus Stop
September 14, 2023 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.8 MBWe talk about the song writer Graham Gouldman, who supplied the Hollies with some great hits, including Bus Stop – when he was only 15 years old.
Al's Top 100, Year 2000
September 07, 2023 04:00 - 8 minutes - 6.19 MBWe answer listener questions including about Al’s top 100 recordings web page, which we thought was missing but is right there on the website, listed under Al’s Diary around the year 2000. But this question has made us ponder how best to bring Als’ list further into the new century which we are working on. After each question Nilly the Dog says hello and woof.
Sweet Linda Devine + Appaloosa
August 31, 2023 14:00 - 8 minutes - 6.03 MBWe answer listener questions including about Appaloosa and Sweet Linda Devine, among the first albums Al produced for Columbia. You can also check our earlier episode – all about Appaloosa. After each question Nilly the Dog chimes in with a dog thought.
Bye to Robertson
August 23, 2023 21:00 - 9 minutes - 6.93 MBWe talk about Robbie Robertson who just passed away. Al played with him on the road with Dylan after Newport 65, then roomed with him and played with him for the Blonde on Blonde sessions in Nashville. You can also go check our four earlier episodes just about Blonde on Blonde.
Blind Willie Johnson
August 02, 2023 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.52 MBWe answer questions about co-writing with Blind Willie Johnson (and we hear a bit of Blind Willie singing), about Al’s not-happening dinner party, looking for hits, and about being famous. After the episode we play the entire Blind Willie Johnson song "I Can’t Keep from Crying Sometimes", recorded in 1928 . Nilly the Dog concludes each segment with some brief pooch dog thoughts.
Desert Island Album
July 27, 2023 16:00 - 8 minutes - 5.76 MBWe answer listener questions including: a desert island record album, writing hits versus writing songs, and another take on the Allman Brothers vs Skynyrd. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds some brief thoughts of her own.
Libby Titus
July 18, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 4.94 MBWe answer listener questions including: Libby Titus, a song of Al’s that Judy Collins once sang on TV, and putting out a single of a Phil Ochs song as an instrumental. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds some brief thoughts of her own.
Al the Mensch
July 11, 2023 13:00 - 7 minutes - 5.48 MBWe answer questions about Al being a mensch, his first solo album, the Allman Brothers vs Skynyrd, and Bob Dylan in person. Nilly the Dog concludes each segment with some brief pooch dog thoughts.
Still Another Hall of Fame Chat
June 29, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.66 MBWe talk about how many other Jews might be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (a lot more than you think, look it up, some surprises…) The wacky Alice Cooper and Al Kooper intersection, and a possible Hall of Fame reunion of Al with his buddies Bernie Taupin and Elton John.
Yet Another Hall of Fame Chat
June 22, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.47 MBWe talk about topics ranging from the Tommy Flanders cab ride to Al’s ongoing popularity in Japan and maybe that Japan is the best place to get certain Al Kooper albums.
Another Hall of Fame Chat
June 08, 2023 19:00 - 10 minutes - 7.55 MBWe talk about the breadth of Al’s career, starting out as a 14 year old, leading to a career if over half a century in music. We touch on how he might have stayed as a planet in Dylan’s solar system, but he wanted to be at the center of his own creative life, which took him then to things like Blood Sweat and Tears and Supersession and a lot more.
Hall of Fame Chat ONE
May 10, 2023 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.51 MBWe talk to Al about getting The Call from the Rock and Roll Hall of fame and how he never expected it, but it makes him genuinely happy.
Go Ask Al - Queens
April 26, 2023 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.53 MBWe answer questions about the idea of Kooper movie, about maybe not sending Al your demos, life in Queens in the old days, and a short interview with Nilly the Dog who is our canine commentator.
Go Ask Al - Under the Red Sky?
April 19, 2023 04:00 - 13 minutes - 9.23 MBWe answer questions about working on Dylan’s album Under the Red Sky, Al getting tweaked with musical feedback from Dylan, life around Clive Davis at Columbia, and the great percussionist Bobbie Hall. Of course, Nilly the Dog follows each segment with canine input of her own.
Go Ask Al - Gary Rossington
April 12, 2023 04:00 - 13 minutes - 9.6 MBWe answer questions about Gary Rossington and Lynyrd Skynyrd. As always, Nilly the Dog ends each segment with her dogged thoughts.rossi
Go Ask Al - Ron Wood and Jimmy Reed
March 29, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.8 MBWe answer questions about Willy Clark and Clarence Reid, the Ron Wood tribute concert to Jimmy Reed, and the sound of soul music in the 70s. Nilly the Dog concludes each segment with some brief pooch dog thoughts.
Go Ask Al - How Not To Play This Diamond Ring
March 24, 2023 16:00 - 9 minutes - 6.59 MBWe answer listener questions including: how not to go about playing This Diamond Ring, how Al might want to be remembered, the infamous phone call with Mom and Dad, and about doing one of his solo albums as a live concert. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds some brief thoughts of her own.
Go Ask Al - Freddy Henry, Silvertone
March 08, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 6.19 MBWe answer questions about Freddy Henry, the firing of Tom Wilson, Al’s original Silvertone guitar, and that mystery song at the end of the movie King of the Corner. After each segment Nilly the Dog barks a brief comment of her own.
Go Ask Al - Van Zant - Bloomfield
March 01, 2023 15:00 - 8 minutes - 5.96 MBWe answer listener questions including: what first made Al focus on Ronnie Van Zant, about playing keyboards for Skynyrd, performing as his own act versus being in a festival, and about the passing of Mike Bloomfield. After each segment Nilly the Dog adds a brief comment of her own.
Go Ask Al #40
February 13, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 6.18 MBWe answer – and don’t answer – some strange ones, including a mystery song of Al’s from the movie King of the Corner, composing with Charlie Colello and the weird endings of the two Crime Story seasons.
Go Ask Al #39
February 06, 2023 14:00 - 8 minutes - 5.92 MBThis episode covers listener questions about: Al being grumpy, Al’s role in New Morning which leads to thoughts about producing, which leads to more thoughts about Lynyrd Skynyrd. After each segment, Nilly the Dog adds a brief thought of her own.
Touring Japan
January 28, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 6.36 MBWe talk about touring, particularly about Japan where Al was very popular, so much so he had to wear a mask to get into the venue without being mobbed.
Another Look at Blonde on Blonde
January 21, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.62 MBAnother look at Blonde on Blonde. We look a little closer at the role that Al played in the making of the epic Bob Dylan album.
Odds and Ends
January 15, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.34 MBThis episode is three segments that were too short to go out on their own. First Al talks about how one of his favorite musical ideas didn’t make it to New Morning, but will be included on his box set. Then we goof on the idea of a mashup of remaining Beatles and Stones. And then Al talks about how he is back in contact with Judy Collins, a dear friend of his for many years. After each segment, Nilly the Dog adds a brief thought of her own.
Surround Sound
December 08, 2022 05:00 - 12 minutes - 8.49 MBWe talk about Surround Sound, rock stories, songwriting, and just a bunch of things. Nilly the Dog comments after each segment.