Customer Reviews

You Never Know Who Your Friends Are

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This is a great old album, but the listing of songs is wrong in this write-up. Instead of Christmas songs, look for classics such as Loretta, Too Busy Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby, I Don't Know Why I Love You, and of course You Never Know Who Your Friends Are. Kooper moves the listener from laughter to tears as he belts out the laments of love and friendship. It is a great line up and worthy of a spot in any collection.

Personally, I don't think that Al Kooper ever made a bad album, and this one is certainly among his best. It may not have the high points of I Stand Alone, but it doesn't have the low points either (Soft Landing On The Moon comes to Mind). I love Magic In My Socks, a great lead-off track. Al's horn charts are the best. This album also includes Al's 1st huge effort at a chart hit, the title track. It's most definitely a 'should have been' hit, but didn't make it, and Al never tried so hard at chart success again.

The low points are several originals, Lucille and Blues, Pt. 4 (just a jam, really). But, as usual, Al's R&B covers hit the mark, and the production of the album really shines, making even the mediocre material listenable. All in all a great listen, if you can find it. Personally, I was lucky enough to find a still sealed LP for not much money. I'm a happy camper.

This is Al Kooper just out of Blood Sweat and Tears in 1969 (look at the cover. Could it be from any other period?)

Most of this is the deep root R&B we have come to know from Kooper. This is fine, but the first track has a longer solo section and almost races into progressiver territory. There is also an amazing string experiment on the second half.

Kooper is a master at the R&B, but his moves into other areas here are also fantastic; he simply does not do so enough.

Still, this is worth getting.