Rare & Well Done: Greatest & Obscure 64-01 [Original recording remastered]

Al Kooper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005OAK9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,678 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Al Kooper's soulful stew of blues, gospel, rock, and jazz is as American as baseball--and every bit as ironic, allegorical, surprising, and downright fun. Though best known as a sideman (that's his trademark organ riff on Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone"), songwriter (Gary Lewis's "This Diamond Ring"), band founder (the Blues Project, Blood, Sweat & Tears), and producer (everyone from B.B. King to Joe Ely to Lynyrd Skynyrd), this revealing double-disc anthology explores Kooper's rich and diverse career as a performer. Rare offers up demos, outtakes, and other rarities that wind from his first '60s single through three decades and a madly eclectic array of projects that include a down-tempo revisitation of Ann Peebles's "I Can't Stand the Rain," XTC's "Making Plans for Nigel" done as a 1900's English music-hall number (and rejected for a tribute album as too obtuse!), a glorious, pioneering horn-band take on "Hey Jude," a soundtrack outtake from the Crime Story TV series, and a couple of decades' worth of songs rife with his always unpredictable blues and pop instincts. Well Done collects better-known solo tracks and recordings from Blood, Sweat & Tears, the bestselling Super Session ("Albert's Shuffle"), and the Blues Project. Veteran journalist Jaan Uhelszki's notes manage the not-inconsiderable feat of both concisely chronicling and underscoring the import of Kooper's largely unsung legacy. This is a multidisc anthology that not only lives up to the medium's usually unfulfilled potential, but may just leave you craving more. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For a good time, log on to ..., September 25, 2001

By 

Lewis Rose (North Potomac, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rare & Well Done: Greatest & Obscure 64-01 (Audio CD)

This CD is really 2 separate CDs marketed together. The first CD, "Rare" is a collection of previously unreleased tracks spanning all of Al Kooper's career. The second CD, "Well Done", is sort of a greatest hits collection. Hard core fans of Al Kooper are likely to already own much of the material covered in Well Done, although it is great to have them in one disc, and will focus on the "Rare" tracks. New Kooper fans will probably want to listen first to the "Well Done" tracks. The entire collection of 33 songs highlights the musical influences on Al's songwriting, including Brian Wilson, James Brown, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, XTC, Dylan and others.

Rare

This CD starts with a new studio version of I Can't Quit Her, with Al playing all of the instruments. I can understand how playing this song for 34 years may cause Al to want to record a new version. Still, I thought the BS&T version was pretty close to perfect and loved the version on Soul of a Man more than the 2001 version. I really enjoy listening to the 1964 demo of Somethin' Goin On, which Al writes was heavily influenced by James Brown At the Apollo. Other highlights for me on the Rare disc are an absolutely killer version of Ray Charles' "I Believe in My Soul" from 1970 with Mick Taylor, a bluesy "Nuthin' I Wouldn't Do (For A Woman Like You)" from 1994, and a big band Jazzy version of "Hey Jude" from 1969 with some fabulous jazz luminaries.

Well Done

I won't review the selections from Soul of A Man (my favorite album by any artist) but will focus instead on Al's 1976 version of "This Diamond Ring" which Al writes is the way he originally conceived it in contrast to the Gary Lewis version. I love the version of "Bury My Body" from 1969 which showcases Al's gospel roots. Much has already been written about the Stephen Stills - Al Kooper version of "Season of the Witch." Note for note, it is just about perfect. Well Done also includes some of my other Kooper favorites such as "New York City (You're A Woman)", "I Stand Alone," and more. The disc is aptly named.

I would be remiss in not mentioning the absolutely fabulous liner notes and insert that Al obviously spent a lot of time doing. It not only includes pithy insights from Al about each song but also includes impressions of Al from 30 top musicians including Stevie Winwood, Taj mahal, BB King, Brian Wilson, Tom Petty and others. The insert also havs terrific pictures of Al with many rock stars. Just great stuff to read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A welcome release..., October 9, 2001

By 

Rob Damm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rare & Well Done: Greatest & Obscure 64-01 (Audio CD)

"Rare and Well Done" is a well-thought out compendium of Al Kooper's work. Over the course of two discs, the listener is treated to the many facets of this gifted musician. Kooper is probably known to most rock fans as a producer and maybe "that guy who played organ on Dylan's 'Highway 61'", but this set will make a case for his legacy as a remarkable writer, arranger, vocalist, instrumentalist--- an all-around sonic auteur!

"Rare" is a disc of true oddities--- covers, demos, Kooper's own versions of his songs which have come to be asociated with other performers--- the highlight is a bizzare version of XTC's "Making Plans for Nigel" that just defies decription--- you need to hear it! This disc makes the case for a Kooper as a true experimentalist.

"Well Done" is nominally a "greatest hits" disc, but even Kooper's most commerical work is probably not famlliar to most rock fans today. This disc will either be a great discovery or a wonderful-sounding, remixed, remastered collection of favorites.

This is a 2-disc set with an agenda: to bring the work of Kooper into focus and into the public eye. I hope the release does garner some recognition for one of the unheralded visonaries of the rock era

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sampler from a talented musician, September 21, 2001

By 

John W. Butler, Jr. (Spring, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rare & Well Done: Greatest & Obscure 64-01 (Audio CD)

Al Kooper's "Rare and Well Done" CD is a much welcomed compilation of works by this terrific performer/composer/arranger. The disc is loaded with best works, demos, and outtakes (most of which are better than songs many artists leave in on their albums). Filled with pop, soul, r&b, jazz, and bits of other musical influences, "Rare and Well Done" spans Al's multidecade career and reveals his skills at musical interpretations. This enjoyable sampler screams out for the re-release of his entire catalogue of music, much of which is currently unavailable. For now, though, buy this CD by all means. You will be well satisfied.