Best Al Kooper Podcasts (2024)

1
Go Ask Al: Flute Thing 8:36

2h ago8:36

8:36

In this episode Al answers questions about sheet music for Flute Thing, about Al’s old manger Sam Polley, from a nephew of Denny Cordell, a guy from Al’s old school, producer money from the Dylan days, and Al’s at Birdland as a kid. And Nilly the Dog is back in the swing of things, added a canine comment after each answer by Al.…

1
Elvis and Nilly the Dog 9:02

11d ago9:02

9:02

The last Vivino episode starts with Elvis and ends with Nilly the Dog, with lots of stuff in between.By Al Kooper

1
Simon & Dylan 7:13

14d ago7:13

7:13

We talk about the contrast between the singing styles of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan and how much Al loved playing for Dylan back in the day.By Al Kooper

1
Everly Brothers 9:29

24d ago9:29

9:29

The guys talk about the huge influence of the Everly brothers and the conversations wanders on from there...By Al Kooper

1
Calello to Sinatra 5:36

28d ago5:36

5:36

The guys talk about the great arranger Charles Calello, then move on to to about arranging in general, and about live recording vs today's multi-tracked.By Al Kooper

1
The Influence of The Band 7:04

1M ago7:04

7:04

The guys talk about how pervasive influence of The Band on everyone from Eric Clapton to Elton John, then about how John Simon produced two great albums for The Band... and one for Blood, Sweat & Tears.By Al Kooper

1
More Producers 6:55

2M ago6:55

6:55

The guys talk about producers from Phil Spector to Brian Wilson to George Martin to Al Kooper.By Al Kooper

1
Thom Bell 5:56

2M ago5:56

5:56

Al and Jimmy talk about their great admiration for the work of Thom Bell, the Philly sound legend.By Al Kooper

1
Elton, Producers, and Al's French Horn 6:34

2M ago6:34

6:34

The guys start talking about Elton John, his great producer Gus Dudgeon, other great producers and that somehow leads to Al's legendary French horn opening to the Stone's "You Can't Always Get What You Want".By Al Kooper

1
Jimi and Chicago 9:05

2M ago9:05

9:05

The guys start out talking about Jimi Hendrix which leads to other great guitar players, which leads to Terry Kath of Chicago.By Al Kooper

1
Al the Arranger... and more. 7:29

2M ago7:29

7:29

The episode starts with Al as arranger, which leads back to Blonde on Blonde and how Al was on two of the four landmark double-albums in rock history.By Al Kooper

1
Big Chuck and Little Richard 7:05

3M ago7:05

7:05

This episode starts off with Jimmy stating that Chuck Berry was the most important song writer in rock and roll history. And they go from there and talk about Little Richard and on to how Nashville sessions guys are just different than New York session guys.By Al Kooper

1
Hall of Fame and Stomach Sounds 5:50

3M ago5:50

5:50

The guys talk about Al getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the question of how to sell Al’s box set, and on from there. And Al makes some outstanding stomach sounds.By Al Kooper

1
Downloads and the Music Biz 6:01

3M ago6:01

6:01

The guys talk about the music biz today and the effect of streaming, how big time studio guys then started bands, and how amazing was Al’s Hammond organ playing with Dylan.By Al Kooper

1
Ep. 53 - Pete Best (The Beatles) 1:11:08

3M ago1:11:08

1:11:08

On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we speak with drummer Pete Best, one of only 3 living men who can rightfully claim the designation “former-Beatle”. We discuss his two year role in the band's development, which took them from teenaged amateur rockers, to road-hardened seasoned musicians – culminating with the band' signing wi…

1
Onward From Royal Teens 6:09

3M ago6:09

6:09

Jimmy traces Al’s career after the Royal Teens though songwriting and then becoming friends with Tom Wilson, which led to the day that changed Al’s life and the sound of Dylan and rock forever.By Al Kooper

1
Al and Jimmy 5: Brits vs Americans 6:36

4M ago6:36

6:36

Jimmy talks about the big difference between the young American guys who played the blues versus the Brits. And that leads to talking about Al playing keyboard for the Stones, where Mick and Keith picked up Al, while playing a Taj Mahal album in the limo.By Al Kooper

1
Al and Jimmy 4: Jimmy Reed 7:10

4M ago7:10

7:10

They talk about their love for the great blues players and Jimmy Reed in particular. (Your host specially dug this conversation since he first saw Al with the The Blues Project in Central Park where Jimmy Reed also played around 1968 or so.)By Al Kooper

1
Al and Jimmy 3: 1650 Broadway 6:49

4M ago6:49

6:49

Jimmy talks to Al about the old days writing songs at 1650 Broadway, and Al accuses Jimmy of romanticizing those days, which Jimmy admits he totally trying to do.By Al Kooper

1
Al and Jimmy 2: Icing on the Cake 6:19

4M ago6:19

6:19

Jimmy talks about how in many songs a certain instrument plays the role of the icing on the cake; it adds a certain extra beauty and how Al did that for Dylan and for so many others.By Al Kooper

1
Al Kooper Meets Jimmy Vivino 6:00

5M ago6:00

6:00

This is first of 19 episodes where these two music buddies invited us to listen in on their music biz talk. This one starts with how they met, but like all of these, goes off into all sorts of other stuff.By Al Kooper

1
380,000 Songs 8:38

6M ago8:38

8:38

We answer listener questions about am radio in the old days, Skynyrd after Al, did Al play keyboard with the Tubes, playing with Taj Mahal, Al’s collection of 380,00 songs, and a drunk Hubert Sumlin fan who Al was really nice to. After each question Nilly the Dog adds a canine comment. You can always submit questions for Al at alkooper.com on the K…

1
Music of Bulgaria 10:34

7M ago10:34

10:34

Al has mentioned the Nonesuch album Music of Bulgaria many times in the podcast so we thought we’d devote a whole podcast to it and play some very short bits of the music in order to give listeners a glimpse of the remarkable sound and hopefully prompt many to buy the album.By Al Kooper

1
AM vs FM Radio 7:45

7M ago7:45

7:45

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Song Writing Teams 7:58

7M ago7:58

7:58

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Paul Griffin the Piano Player 8:28

7M ago8:28

8:28

We 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.…

1
Queens Redux 8:08

7M ago8:08

8:08

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
First Diamond Ring 7:39

8M ago7:39

7:39

We 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..By Al Kooper

1
Silvertones Redux 7:41

8M ago7:41

7:41

We 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..By Al Kooper

1
More Skynyrd and More 8:52

8M ago8:52

8:52

This 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.By Al Kooper

1
High Volume and Led Zep 9:03

8M ago9:03

9:03

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Another Look at 1650 Broadway 9:04

9M ago9:04

9:04

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Nilly and the Duck 6:13

9M ago6:13

6:13

We 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.…

1
Hot Sauce Episode #2 47:25

9M ago47:25

47:25

Hot Sauce Episode #2By Sarah Bodkin, Kenny Bodkin & Ian Marquez

1
Ep. 52 - Lou Gramm (formerly of FOREIGNER) 1:06:42

9M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we feature a wide-ranging, cathartic interview with LOU GRAMM, the former lead singer and principal co-songwriter for 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees Foreigner. Topics covered include his early life growing up in Rochester, a parent-defying trek to a 1965 Rolling Stones concert, the lea…

1
Ep. 51 - Jimmie Vaughan 48:55

10M ago48:55

48:55

On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, legendary Texas blues guitarist and founding member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie Vaughan talks about his life in music, starting in his early teens working with Dallas's best established bands, sharing stages with major acts like Jimi Hendrix. Jimmie discusses both his and his baby bro…

1
Hot Sauce Episode 53:04

10M ago53:04

53:04

Hot Sauce Episode: Kenny, Ian, Nathan & Dave do irreparable harm to their digestive systems with Hot Sauce.By Sarah Bodkin, Kenny Bodkin & Ian Marquez

1
Bloomfield Box Set - Part 3 7:14

11M ago7:14

7:14

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Bloomfield Box Set - Part 2 7:10

11M ago7:10

7:10

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Bloomfield Box Set - Part 1 8:13

11M ago8:13

8:13

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Chapter #9 Heartbreaker Ron Blair & Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young 16:54

11M ago16:54

16:54

Heartbreaker Ron Blair & Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil YoungBy Kenny Bodkin

1
A Hammond B3? 7:56

11M ago7:56

7:56

We 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..By Al Kooper

1
Chapter #8 Van Morrison, John Lennon Rock and Roll 18:47

11M ago18:47

18:47

Van Morrison, John Lennon Rock and RollBy Sarah Bodkin, Kenny Bodkin & Ian Marquez

1
Marching Band Al 6:36

11M ago6:36

6:36

In 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.By Al Kooper

1
Chapter #7 Mick Ronson, Springsteen & McCartney 21:09

11M ago21:09

21:09

Mick Ronson, Springsteen & McCartneyBy Sarah Bodkin, Kenny Bodkin & Ian Marquez

1
Ep. 50 – Interview With DENNY LAINE (1944 - 2023) 51:40

11M ago51:40

51:40

On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we revisit my 2007 interview with singer/guitarist DENNY LAINE, who tragically passed away this week at the age of 79. Our conversation covered his entire career including his early influences, forming his first band Denny & The Diplomats (with future Move/ELO drummer Bev Bevan), and co-foundi…

1
A Czech Visit 7:28

12M ago7:28

7:28

We 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.By Al Kooper

1
Chapter #6 Elton, John Lennon & The Foo Fighters 16:43

12M ago16:43

16:43

Elton, John Lennon & The Foo FightersBy Kenny Bodkin

1
Song Titles 7:09

12M ago7:09

7:09

We 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.By Al Kooper