Black Coffee

Al Kooper

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• Original Release Date: July 12, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B0009U5G0K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,583 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
While at Berklee, Al Kooper assembled a new band comprised entirely of fellow instructors. Appropriately dubbing them The Funky Faculty, Al began to perform regularly with his scholarly pals, both in the U.S. and abroad. The Funky Faculty appears on several of the studio recordings on Black Coffee, Al cutting the band live without overdubs to preserve the spontaneity of their intuitive interactions. For Black Coffee, Al selected nine originals and five cover songs to include on the album, reworking those covers in his own inimitable style. Together, the 14 tracks flawlessly represent the state of his musicality in 2005. The harsh realities of life are all dealt with lyrically here, hence the album title. "My Hands Are Tied" "Keep It To Yourself." "Going, Going Gone," "Imaginary Lover," "Another Man's Prize" and "(I Want You To) Tell Me The Truth" all deal with neo-dark situations that many can relate to. Al's choice of cover songs also opens a window into the world of sounds that have touched him throughout his long, storied career, from Motown legends the Temptations ("Get Ready") to the classy blues revivalist Keb' Mo' ("Am I Wrong") to the genius himself, Ray Charles ("Just For A Thrill"). Al, in fact, considers Black Coffee to be his finest overall collection of material since that legendary first Blood, Sweat and Tears album so many decades ago. He gets no argument there. Black Coffee is not just a remarkable re-entry, it's a zenith. Everything that Al Kooper has accomplished, everything he has learned as a jack-of-all-trades, he brings to a boil on this phenomenal new CD. But singling out highlights from Black Coffee remains a near impossibility. As Al puts it, "I made the record I wanted to make and I'm very pleased with it. To me that's what success means."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Kooper's Glorious Return To Form, August 5, 2005

By	Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Al Kooper, along with Leon Russell, belong to that select group musician-composers whose mark in Rock ... in popular music, really, is indelible although they never reached star status.
His resume has been impressive, just think of his organ riff in Like A Rolling Stone, or Blood, Sweat & Tears' first album -a band he actually founded- or his legendary jams with Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills. The man is not just part of Rock's history, he helped writing it.
Yet, for many years his presence and influence has been limited, in part due to his frustration and disdain for the music business -to give you a picture of it, let's just say that his autobiography is called "Back Stage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards- as well as due to limited and less than stellar output.
This last statement, fortunately, must be read in past tense. Kooper new album, Black Coffee, has changed that with its set of self-penned beauties and strong covers. This is Mr. Kooper's glorious return to form.
Among the best songs here are the laid back R&B of opener "My Hands Are Tied," three killer ballads -"How My Ever Gonna Get Over You," "Imaginary Lover" and
and the Gospel-like " (I Want You To) Tell Me The Truth"- and the slow burner "Keep It To Yourself" which may remind you of Boz Scaggs. The great tunes don't end there yet, to avoid your attention, I will.
Last but not least mention must be made of the Funky Faculty, the band mainly counting on Al's fellow instructors at Berklee School of Music -where Kooper taught for a few years until 2001- and the extraordinary back-up singers. Their skill, soul and tight connection with this music made this music shine, particularly Bob Douzema on guitar and Daryl Lowery on some smoking alto sax.
This is a special album, equally capable to make you groove and move you deeply, in turn ready to get the party going or provide the sound of an intimate moment. For me, "Black Coffee" a shoe-in for the "best of 05" list.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent CD By Al, July 15, 2005

By	F. Scragg "jazzbass" (Staten Island, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just saw Al Kooper & the Funky Faculty at B.B. Kings in NY. Al & the Funky Faculty performed a number of songs from this cd at the show and the crowd enjoyed them all.

I had to purchase this cd because the songs are excellent. On the cd you are treated to two live recordings, "Green Onions" and "Comin' Back In A Cadillac". He even does a cover of "Get Ready". (I'm sure that you will be singing along with this song and tapping your feet.)This cd has differnt styles on it and I really enjoy all the songs.

I have been a fan of Al's since the Super Sessions and I am sure that you will enjoy this cd.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How To Wear Out A CD, July 12, 2005

By	D. Sean Brickell (gorgeous Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm reminded of so many memories listening to this CD: The soulful sound. Perfectly-imperfect vocals. Air-tight band.

The difference through the years is that I used to wear out a new Koop record within two weeks of purchasing it. Come to think of it, I might well wear this sucker out in CD format as well. It's gonna be played that frequently.

With his staggering repertoire, Mr. Koop enjoyed a catalogue of 30 years from which to chose these songs. Doing so must have been like picking amongst your favorite children. The love and care are obvious, the impossibility of such an assignment notwithstanding.

Let's pray radio somehow figures out where to program this musical treasure. While we're at it, let's hope for a tour of small clubs in a city nearby. Moreover, I sure hope you can't wear out a CD from repeated listenings.