Interview with Al Kooper

Al Kooper - Musician & Producer - From Blues Project to Dylan, founder of  Blood Sweat &
Tears, to Super Sessions, to the Rolling Stones & the Tubes, Al has done it all.

Geo: I read your excellent book:Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards, that
you wrote about your early time as a musician / songwriter hanging out @1650 Broadway in New York City. The Dick Clark publishing company Sea Lark, was housed in that building. At that time, did the 45's being cut @ Cameo-Parkway (Philadelphia) have much impact on you or other writers in New York?

Al: Well, we certainly enjoyed them but they weren't as idiomatically
influential as say, Stax, Motown or Bachrach.

Geo: As a teenager, the first time I heard 'Flute Thing' on underground radio it
just blew me away! To hear a combination of Blues & Jazz was new to my Pop
ears. Was this song a connection to what you were hearing in your head that
later became Blood Sweat &Tears?

Al: Not really. I had a strong jazz intake period from 1959-1964. That was a
great time for jazz coincidentally, so the influences were stored for the
future. Flute Thing was influenced by a cadenza played by Barney Kessell.
BS&T was a direct offshoot of Maynard Ferguson's band 1960-1964, which by
the way is chronicled in it's entirety on a boxset on the reissue Mosaic label.

Geo: Were you still a member of Blues Project when they played in Philadelphia at
Town Hall in 1967 w/ Woody's Truck Stop - (Todd Rundgren was in the band then)?

Al: Yes I believe so. I think it was his farewell gig.

Geo: Do you have any memories of playing at the Quaker City Rock Festival in
Philadelphia at the Spectrum Dec. 6, 1968 w/ Sly & Family Stone, Grateful
Dead, & Iron Butterfly? (this show was put on by the Electric Factory, Creedence
Clearwater cancelled)

Al: I'm pretty sure I MC'ed that concert and did NOT perform. Larry Magid, the
promoter paid me with a coffee table I had admired on a previous visit.

Geo: On the 2000 Sony/Legacy CD re-release of Child Is Father To The Man, did
they go back to the First generation master & master from that? Do you have
any thoughts of re-mixing the album and are you happy w/ the mix today?

Al: Unfortunately, I had nothing to do with the prep on that release. However, I
am currently in my home studio remixing the original masters in 5.1 surround
sound for SONY SACD. I'm very happy with the original mix on that album
(Fred Catero-John Simon) As I peruse it today, I find it to be impeccably
engineered as well.

Geo: Who was Joey Scott, the cat who did co-arrangements w/ you on the horns for
the Super Session record?

Al: I believe it's just Joe Scott. I didn't co-arrange it either. He was a NY
arranger by way of New Jersey.

Geo: What is the 'official' release date for the digital remastered 'Super
Session' CD?

Al: 2/4/03

Geo: Also in your book Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards, you wrote that you were hired to make arrangements for the stage equipment for the Monterey Pop festival
June,1967. I just purchased the new Complete Monterey Pop festival DVD. I
noticed that many of the bands were playing these 'big' Fender amps. Did you
swing a deal w/ Fender for the Festival?
 
Al: Actually I was the assistant and Chip Monck (Woodstock,Altamont) did all the
finagling.

Geo: Glad to see that they added one of your performances to the new 'outtake'
DVD's.  How does it feel to see that performance for you today?

Al: Embarasssing and hilatious however I wish I still looked like that!

Geo: Will Philadelphia get to see Al Kooper or The Rekooperators live in 2003?

Al: Yep. I finally got a good booking agency

Check out more on Al at his web page: http://www.alkooper.com

And be sure to get a copy of his Memoirs of a Rock 'n Roll Survivor:
Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards
 

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