Al Kooper. Sam Stone / Sam Stone 45 rpm record This is a 1972 release on Columbia Records by Al Kooper. This record is a radio station copy with the same song on both sides, one in stereo and one in mono. Radio station copies are rare. Al Kooper was born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt in 1944. Kooper is a songwriter, record producer, musician and singer. He was known for organizing Blood, Sweat and Tears. He did not remain with the group to enjoy any of their popularity. He left to provide studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and he was responsible for bringing guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to record the Super Session album. He also recorded and played on Lynyrds Skynyrd's first three albums. As a solo entity he has written music for film soundtracks and even lectured in musical composition. Kooper, was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Hollis Hills, Queens, New York. His first professional work was as a 14 year old guitarist in the Royal Teens, best known for their 1958 hit, Short Shorts. He later teamed up with songwriters Bob Brass and Irwin Levine to write and record demos for SeaLark Music Publishing. The trio's biggest hits included This Diamond Ring recorded by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. He performed with Bob Dylan in concert in 1965, including playing Hammond organ with Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival, and in the recording studio in 1965 and 1966. Kooper also played the Hammond organ riffs on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". It was in those recording sessions that Kooper met and befriended Mike Bloomfield, whose guitar playing he admired. He worked extensively with Bloomfield for several years. Kooper played organ once again with Dylan during his 1981 world tour. Kooper has played on hundreds of records, including onees by the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, the Who, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Alice Cooper and Cream. This record is in near mint condition.
