Well Done

I originally discovered Al Kooper because I was and still am a huge Skynyrd fan so of course as a child of about 14 I begged my mother to buy me an Al Kooper record (yes-they were records back in the day kiddies). I was terribly disappointed because he sounded nothing like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Thankfully I've grown (in more ways than one I'm afraid) and as a young adult I was sorting through my records...probably to transfer them onto tape (I was pretty progessive like that) when I rediscovered Al. And what a discovery. While I'm still not a big fan of blues or jazz Al Kooper is a legend among legends and I was thrilled to see this album available on ITunes. If you want a great behind the scenes look at the music business from the 50's on I strongly suggest you immediately track down a copy of his book 'Back Stage Passes and Backstabbing Basterds'. It's a great read with lots of stories and behind the scenes information that most of us would never be privy to without and insiders memories.

Flute Thing was originally a song by Blues Project. I have it on an LP but wanted to download it from Apple iTunes. I'll have to copy it from the LP now. (edit: I originally wrote "I guess Al Kooper owns the rights so he can do what he wants with it." on June 21, 2008. Sorry Al, I didn't know that the record company had total control. I upped the rating by one star although I'm still mad at the record company. I was frustrated that I couldn't buy Flute Thing, but today (December 30, 2010) I bought it on iTunes from the Projections album by Blues Project. I hope you get royalties. I even have Flute Thing as an outtake performance on my Blu-ray of Monterey Pop.) I don't want to pay $17 just for one song. If I wanted the whole album, I'd buy the CD, not download it from iTunes.

Nice to know your checking in on this site Al. Looking forward to sitting back and listening to this album. Any plans on releasing the New York City (your a women) album on Itunes. Still wearing out my vinyl version although the pops and crackles of vinyl give it a special touch.

Great album, witty, intelligent lyrics, good musicianship. Who could want anything more? Great live concert in Albany, NY this summer. a greatly underrated musician one of the best of our time or any time.

Ya know if it was up to me, Flute Thing would have been downloadable. I dont own the record company, ergo, I am NOT allowed to make decisions like that. I AM thankful, however. that you can still GET this album. Just remember, if it's not my record company I have nothing to say marketing-wise and thank you for WANTING to download Flute Thing in the first place. It's a remastered version.. Al Kooper

I got hooked on Al when he was with the Blues Project in 1966. Saw them for One Dollar when NYC had the Schaefer Beer festival concerts. Heard them numerous times in NYC and NJ. I bought Al's "Tubon" an earlier tube like mono synth used on the cut "His Holy Modal Majesty", at Manny's music store. The case still had all the stickers from various countries on it. I wish I still had the thing, but I believe my guitarist at the time tried to fix it as it had stopped working. I didn't realize Al's release of this album was such a preview to his work on the first "Blood, Sweat and Tears" album. I think "Well Done" does well to represent Kooper's talent as an arranger and composer. I had the pleasure to meet the drummer Roy Bloomfeld in Sonoma, California a few years back. It was a thrill to see some of those old "Blues Project" posters on one of his walls. I tried searching for some of the "Blues Project" albums on iTunes, but nothing came up.