Al Kooper- Black Coffee

[tentoze]

Artist: Al Kooper
Title: Black Coffee
Year: 2005
Label: Favored nations
Genre: Who knows- blue-eyed soul

Alright, I’m going to attempt to give a review of Al Kooper’s new release, Black Coffee as best Ican, with limited tools.

Kooper has been a huge presence in the music industry for almost 40 years, and a favorite of mine for about that long. When I heard late last year that he was putting out a new sol album, I sat in the weeds and salivated in anticipation. Now it’s here. And here is my spin on it after only two spins:

1) My Hands Are Tied- As Kooper himself relates, this song is Sticky Fingers- era Rolling Stones – the mandolin somehow fits perfectly with the unctuous soul groove. A killer opening track.

2) Am I wrong- Starts off with a Delta blues thing as played on mandolin…………..all instruments played by Al. Great tune.

3) How My Ever Gonna Get Over You- A smoky B3 organ anchors this jazzy torch song that pays homage to Ray Charles. Good stuff
4) Going, Going, Gone- More Ray Charles R&B grooving; might be the weakest cut on the album, and it’s fine.
5) Keep It To Yourself- A perfect funk groove- dark lyrics- reminds me of Humphrey Bogart walking down rainy black and white streets. Production is pristine.
6) Get ready- If there’s a hiccup on here, this is it- it’s a great cover of Smokey’s classic tune, but not sure why Al thought it needed covering once more.
7) Imaginary Lover- A grinding R&B groove. I’d like to hear Taj Mahal cover this song with his urban blues based stance.
8) Green Onion (live)- How could anyone snipe at a live version of this song with Al killing the B3?
9) Another Man’s Prize- a Dylanesque vocal performance with some superb percussion – a low-level R&B churn going on. My favorite cut here.
10) Childish Love- Al plays everything again her- the rhythm drives the lyrics- “I want to isolate original sin..”
11) Got My Ion Hue- Driving reggae-based rhythm- the horns are immaculate. The guitar solo is classic.
12) Just For A Thrill- Another smoky lounge tune, almost Dr. John-ish. Al’s French horn playing is tasty.
13) Comin Back In a Cadillac (live)- super horn section over one of those infectious funk grooves with the “diamond in the back, sunroof top….”
14) (I Want You To) Tell Me The Truth- The vocal is a very spooky channeling of Ricky Manuel. Dedicated to Ricky and Rick Danko. A fitting end to a fine, fine record.

Was it worth waiting 30 years? Damn right.

[Andyman]

Hmmmmmmmmm...........

I've been playing BS&T's "A Child is Father......." and Live Adventures LPs lately, so I just might have to check this out a bit more.

[tentoze]

Hit me, bro, and you got some........

[cableguy]

Toze how does this compair to Re-Kooperation? I love to pull that out and spin it on Sunday's....

[tentoze]

Toze how does this compair to Re-Kooperation? I love to pull that out and spin it on Sunday's....

Can't make a compo to Re-Kooperation because I've not heard it. But, Black Coffee is as good as, if not better than, anything Kooper's done that I have heard.

[Celt]

Funny...as I'm reading this, I'm listening to "For The Love Of Harry - Everybody Sings Nilsson" and the Al Kooper version of "Salmon Falls" came on, which got me to thinking about dragging out my copy of "Child Is Father...". I must check this new one out! :yes:

[Andyman]

Funny...as I'm reading this, I'm listening to "For The Love Of Harry - Everybody Sings Nilsson" and the Al Kooper version of "Salmon Falls" came on, which got me to thinking about dragging out my copy of "Child Is Father...". I must check this new one out! :yes:

That 1st BS&T is a must have for all!

[cableguy]

Can't make a compo to Re-Kooperation because I've not heard it. But, Black Coffee is as good as, if not better than, anything Kooper's done that I have heard.

Send me an address and I'll make you a copy.

[jonman]

I'm glad to hear Koopers still out there doing it. I used to have a great doble album by him I have been looking for. I don't remember the title though. Maybe some one knowledgeable like tentoze could help/ I think it might have been called Easy Does it, as that is one of the tunes that stick in my mind. It also had God Bless the Buckskin Boy and A Rose and a Baby Ruth.

[tentoze]

Sounds like Easy Does It to me. I have it on vinyl back in FL. Good stuff.

[jonman]

Sounds like Easy Does It to me. I have it on vinyl back in FL. Good stuff.
I had a hunch you would know. I see you listen to a wide variety of stuff. Thanks for affirming my vauge memory. Now I know what to look for.

[tentoze]

For way too long, none of Kooper's back-catalogue was available on ceedee. Sony (I think) finally got the rights to transfer it in Japan, so most of it is available now as imports- pricey, but the cd version of I Stand Alone was well worth the price to me a couple of years ago when it finally came available. I likes me some Al Kooper.

[jonman]

I know what you mean. Kooper is a great tallent. It has been a long time since I heard any of Koopers solo stuff, though I do have some of the Blood Sweat and Tears stuff. Where did you get his latest? Surely not a Walmart find eh?

[danj]

Toze how does this compair to Re-Kooperation? I love to pull that out and spin it on Sunday's....

REKOOPERATION is, except for one song, all instrumental and is Al's homage to the blues and soul he listened to as a young man. It's a great record that's been frequently on my playlist for quite a while now.

BLACK COFFEE is different. It's a lot of Al looking back on his life and career and where he is, musically, as an artist in his early 60s. It's a fine showcase of his versatility and he's backed by a fine band.

Both are very good efforts but very different. I like them both and can't pick a favorite.

AL KOOPER records in my collection = 9

AL KOOPER records in my personal top 10 = 2
SUPER SESSION
CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN

AL KOOPER is not in the R&R Hall of Fame. Why? Did he do or say something that pissed off Jann Wenner? If so, Mr. Wenner should get over it and realize that NOT having Kooper inducted into the R&RHoF is a travesty. He's certainly AT LEAST as deserving as BLONDIE and Elvis Costello.

[cableguy]

Thanks for the reviews and compair/contrast.
ReKooperation is one funky cool record......
now I have to hear this Black Coffee..... :yes:

[abpeep]

For way too long, none of Kooper's back-catalogue was available on ceedee. Sony (I think) finally got the rights to transfer it in Japan, so most of it is available now as imports- pricey, but the cd version of I Stand Alone was well worth the price to me a couple of years ago when it finally came available. I likes me some Al Kooper.
Picked up I Stand Alone on CD a couple of weeks back. I did hold out until I could get it for a fairly reasonable price but now wish I hadn't been so tight. Besides being a wonderful album, the CD sounds very good - neither of my old LPs sound nearly so good. I have listened to this CD all the way through any number of times and thoroughly enjoy it.

Black Coffee is definitely worth a listen - some really great organ work in there.

Alan

[tentoze]

After getting the I Stand Alone remaster, I actually thought (and still do) that the bottom was rolled of in the Sony remaster mix. I even wrote an email to Kooper expressing that feeling and wondering out loud if it would ever see another remaster, NEVER expecting to get a response. A few days later, he actually responded, explaining that Sony Japan did the entire thing, and he wasn't involved. Something about the rights not belonging to him anymore, and that it wouldn't get any work by him in his lifetime due to those issues. He also DID say that he was just glad that the Sony remaster was out there for people who want it. I agree, and it does sound very, very good.

[pk5555]

So I'm a little late with my two cents worth but here it is. After first listen I thought it was good exept for tracks 10 & 11 I think it was those two. But I thought at first they didn't fit in with the other tracks. My thought is it sounded like some good blues alittle like Steely Dan with a blues twist. After listening a couple more times tracks 10 & 11 grew on me. I have to say I wish I had this on Vinyl.