KooperKast
191 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days 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
Easy Does It - 1
July 23, 2021 01:00 - 8 minutes - 5.98 MBEpisode 1 about Al's 1970 solo DOUBLE album, Easy Does It. Al talks about how Easy Does It became a double album, how Columbia Records let Al do his thing, and how weed contributed to the amazing piano intro to I Got a Woman.
I Stand Alone Part 2
June 28, 2021 19:00 - 8 minutes - 5.71 MBAl talks about some of the specific songs on his first solo album and how this album might have gotten lost among all the other big selling albums he brought out, from Blood Sweat and Tears first album through the various SuperSessions albums.
I Stand Alone Part 1
June 28, 2021 19:00 - 8 minutes - 5.94 MBAl talks about making his first solo album, including wrangling a 14 piece string section, horns, and much more.
Harry Nilsson
June 16, 2021 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.49 MBAl talks about his great affection for Harry Nilsson and his sadness over Harry's decline into alcohol and drug abuse. We also talk a bit about the tribute album, For the Love of Harry, which Al co-produced.
Demos and Weed
May 11, 2021 02:00 - 9 minutes - 6.64 MBAl talks about making demos with Jimmy Radcliffe, who had the best weed, and running recording sessions with studio pros while still a teenager.
1650 Broadway vs the Brill Building
May 11, 2021 02:00 - 5 minutes - 3.92 MBAl talks about the three great New York music buildings and his connections with two of them.
Gene Pitney
May 11, 2021 02:00 - 5 minutes - 3.97 MBAl talks about being at the first demo that Gene Pitney did for Alan Schroeder, Pitney’s unique talent, and his surprising overseas career.
Song Factory
May 11, 2021 02:00 - 7 minutes - 5.28 MBAl talks about how Dick Clark had to sell his music publishing businesses and how Al went to work for the people that bought them.
Brass, Levine, and Kooper
May 11, 2021 02:00 - 8 minutes - 5.95 MBIn this episode, Al talks about writing with Brass and Levine, This Diamond Ring, and being in the Northeast Blackout while on Mescaline.
The Royal Teens
May 11, 2021 02:00 - 8 minutes - 6.05 MBAl talks about how he got into the Royal Teens, the Bob Gaudio Royal Teens connection to the Four Seasons, the Charlie Collelo connection, and getting into the 1650 Broadway music scene.
The Zombies
March 31, 2021 20:00 - 6 minutes - 3.28 MBOn his first day at work, Al Kooper argued with his new boss to release the Zombie's Odessey and Oracle album in the United States. Hear Al tell the story live, years later, at a Zombies celebration concert in England.
Bass Virtuoso Herbie Flowers
March 31, 2021 20:00 - 5 minutes - 3.99 MBAl talks about his admiration for the bass playing of Herbie Flowers, whose most famous playing is Walk on the Wild Side, but who played on countless hits.
The Tubes, Part 2: Outrageous Onstage
March 09, 2021 03:00 - 6 minutes - 4.25 MBAl tells about the recording process and the Tube's theatrical stage shows.
The Tubes, Part 1: Getting Involved
March 09, 2021 03:00 - 5 minutes - 4.08 MBAl tells how he came to produce the first album by The Tubes, and bringing Dominic Frontiere to add arrangements.
Simon and Garfunkel, Part Two, NY and LA
March 03, 2021 18:00 - 5 minutes - 3.72 MBAl tells some amazing stories about connecting with Simon and Garfunkel in New York and LA.
Simon and Garfunkel, Part One, Early Days
March 03, 2021 17:00 - 6 minutes - 4.76 MBAl talks about running into Simon and Garfunkle since they were teens – in Queens.
Blonde on Blonde Part 3, The Songs
February 10, 2021 18:00 - 9 minutes - 6.88 MBIn this episode, Al talks about some of the songs and how they came to sound the way they do.
Blonde on Blonde Part 4, Looking Back
February 10, 2021 18:00 - 5 minutes - 4.04 MBIn this episode, Al tells the Elvis’ bodyguard story and looks back at that great Nashville experience.
Blonde on Blonde Part 2, The Nashville Scene
February 10, 2021 18:00 - 6 minutes - 4.85 MBIn this episode, Al talks about how the sessions worked and how he brought the songs from Dylan to the Nashville cats.
Blonde on Blonde, Part 1: Getting There
February 10, 2021 18:00 - 5 minutes - 3.72 MBIn this episode, Al talks about the transition from NY to Nashville, barely getting there, and how Bob Johnston set the stage.
Lunch and Guitar with Jimi Hendrix
February 02, 2021 17:00 - 6 minutes - 4.18 MBAl talks about his friendly relationship with Jimi Hendrix and how he still has a meal he calls "A Jimi Hendrix". Plus the famous Hendrix gift guitar that he had to sell.
You Can't Always Get What You Want but Mick and Keith did with Al Kooper
February 02, 2021 17:00 - 6 minutes - 4.54 MBAl tells how Mick Jagger called him up to play keyboards on a new song and he flew to England for the session. Then he suggested adding a French horn intro, which the Stones loved and put his credit on the single. Articles have been written about that intro.
Super Session Part 1
January 25, 2021 01:00 - 6 minutes - 2.74 MBAl talks about getting Mike Bloomfield to work on Super Session, then replacing him with Steve Stills on the 2nd day.
Super Session Part 2
January 25, 2021 01:00 - 4 minutes - 1.98 MBAl talks about his great friendship with Mike Bloomfield over the years and how Bloomfield's periodic no-shows was just never an issue for Al. This episode also includes a few stories about Supersession Live concerts.
Greenwich Village 1965
January 18, 2021 02:00 - 8 minutes - 3.58 MBAl Kooper tells of hanging with Dylan before and after the infamous Newport Folk Festival, the Greenwich Village scene in 1965, with Jack Elliot, on the road with Dylan in LA, Alice Ochs, giving way to The Band as Dylan's road band. The photo is by legendary programmer and pilot Phil Greenspun.
The Newport Episode - 1965
January 12, 2021 16:00 - 5 minutes - 2.41 MBHear Al tell about how he played with Mimi and Dick Fariña and then with Bob Dylan at the infamous 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
Brian Wilson and The Beachboys
December 22, 2020 16:00 - 6 minutes - 4.73 MBAl Kooper talks about visiting Brian Wilson and hearing Pet Sounds before it was release, giving Brian a gift, friendship with Carl Wilson, and general appreciation for the Beach Boys.
Maynard Ferguson
December 22, 2020 16:00 - 3 minutes - 2.66 MBAl Kooper talks about visiting Birdland as a youth, and sitting close in the kid's section, becoming close to the band members and later hiring them as session musicians.
Dionne Warwick
December 22, 2020 16:00 - 5 minutes - 3.72 MBAl Kooper talks about hearing Dionne Warwick as a youngster and his love for her work , working with her sisters, and his great respect for the work of Burt Bachrach.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Part 1
December 15, 2020 06:00 - 10 minutes - 7.2 MBAl moves to Atlanta and hears Lynyrd Skynyrd play, signs them to his new label, and produces their first record. He runs into Pete Townshend of The Who, tells them about Skynyrd, and they end up going on a major tour, opening for the Who.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Part 2
December 15, 2020 06:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBSkynyrd becomes a major success, with Sweet Home Alabama in the top 10 as a single from the 2nd album. But things get difficult making the 3rd album, with a rival in the studio. Then a few years later, a tragic plane crash.
Child Is Father to the Man
December 04, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5.41 MBAl fills us in on a number of factors about the iconic record, producer John Simon, the origin of the album cover, and a bit about BB. King.
George Martin
December 04, 2020 15:00 - 3 minutes - 2.38 MBAl talks about renting George Martin’s studio in London and getting some gentle and welcome advice from George, also about a legendary meeting of George Martin with Brian Wilson.
Appaloosa
December 04, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 1.94 MBIn this very short but intriguing Appaloosa episode we hear about Al’s first project as producer after Blood Sweat and Tears. But Al had 2 members of Blood Sweat and Tears play on the Appaloosa album, which is an interesting side story.
George Harrison
December 04, 2020 15:00 - 5 minutes - 3.87 MBAl tells about playing on George's solo album the day after Lennon was shot, and a surprise visit in LA some years later.
The Blues Project
November 25, 2020 16:00 - 9 minutes - 3.82 MBAl gets a call from Danny Kalb about coming to a jam session... thus starts a new chapter in Al's career. Until Al wanted to add horns...
Sending Joni Mitchell to Newport with Judy Collins
November 23, 2020 23:00 - 4 minutes - 1.66 MBIn 1967, Joni Mitchell broke up with Blues Project drummer Roy Blumenfeld and she ran into Al Kooper at a bar that night. Al walked her home and Joni sang some songs for him. He was so impressed with her music that he called friend Judy Collins at 2am to get her to take Joni to the Newport Folks Festival the next day. Judy said yes, but grumbled about being woken up. Joni's appearance at Newport kickstarted her career and Al helped her get a record contract. But you have to hear Al tell it.
The Like A Rolling Stone Story
November 16, 2020 21:00 - 5 minutes - 2.27 MBA little different take on the famous Like A Rolling Stone session where Al met Bloomfield and became Dylan's organ player. The episode starts with Al and Frank Zappa chasing the same woman, who became Gail Zappa.
Randy California
November 16, 2020 20:00 - 3 minutes - 1.42 MBAl talks about getting Deep Purple to hire his favorite guitar player and how it really didn't work out; then the same fellows shows up in a bizarre incident. Just another chapter the the life of the Zelig of Rock, Al Kooper.
Tom Petty
November 16, 2020 18:00 - 3 minutes - 1.61 MBHow Denny Cordell got Al to play on early Tom Petty sessions, resulting in The Heartbreakers going on the road the first time opening for Al's act, which was a very large band with horns and backup singers. Al sat in with the Heartbreakers on a few Petty songs to help generate some buzz.
Al's Upcoming CD of Demo Recording and More
November 10, 2020 23:00 - 11 minutes - 4.62 MBAl tells about his upcoming CD of demo recording going back to the 1960's and since then. He then launches into a great story about where on of the songs came from, the result of an epic quest to find Little Beaver, the great R&B guitarist.