Soul of a Man - Live

Soul Of A Man - 1995

This was the album that rekindled my interest into Kooper's remarkable body of work. This was the album that convinced me to commence this web site. Although I bought all the albums up to 'Act Like Nothing's Wrong' at the time they were issued, I had thought that Kooper had virtually given up his solo career. Of course I was aware of his occasional appearances such as the Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert, and his occasional playing on Dylan's and other's albums, and I'd read in Stephen King's sleeve notes to 'Rekooperation' that Kooper sometimes jammed in NY. When I saw the advert for 'Soul of a Man' I really didn't know what to expect and, thinking it was another compilation (a la 'Al's Big Deal') I held off buying it. Early last year (97) whilst net surfing, I came across Mass Music's site and read the listing and details for 'Soul of A Man' and sent off for it.

I wasn't sure what to expect, Kooper's vocal on 'Rekooperation' was disappointing. He'd seemed to lose the spark and power that he'd had 20 years earlier but, I suppose, that was natural. A few days later I opened the package from MassMusic to find a beautifully packaged double album set, slipcase, thick booklet, different pictures on the cds - in all, a lovingly designed box set. But could the music transcend that gap of nearly a quarter of a century?

I soon found out! and the cd's have hardly been off the player since!

To celebrate his 50th birthday in February 1994, Kooper arranged a three night stint at the Bottom Line. The gigs would give an overview of his career from the Blues Project to 'Rekooperation'. To do this, he organized three separate backing groups - the Blues Project to play Blues Project numbers (doh!), Child is Father To The Man to play Blood, Sweat and Tears songs (being unable to use that name as there is still a group performing) and the Rekooperators to perform his solo and later stuff. Jimmy Vivino is the guy who holds it all together (aside from Kooper). Although Steve Katz was happy to perform in the Blues Project and BS&T sections, he was unwilling for his performances to be released on record. So his playing has been removed and Jimmy Vivino dubbed on! Other musicians who can be heard include John Sebastian and Johnny Johnson

Disc 1 1 Somethin' going on 2 I can't keep from cryin' sometimes 3 I stand alone Medley a I stand alone b I can love a woman c New York City (you're a woman) 4 Flute Thing 5 Don't Tell Me (Repo Man) 6 Two Trains Runnin' 7 Heartbeat 8 Sleepwalk 9 Just One Smile Disc 2 1 I can't quit her 2 I want a little girl 3 My days are numbered 4 I love you more than you'll ever know 5 Spoken Intro 6 Made in the Shade 7 Downtime 8 Violets of Dawn 9 Albert's shuffle 10 Closing Medley a You can't always get what you want b Season of the witch c Al's witch hunt

Wisely, Kooper rejected the idea of programming the cd's in 'chronological' order. Instead, he goes from BS&T to Blues Project to solo Kooper and back and forth between, throwing in some Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santo & Johnny and a couple of 'new' songs for good measure.
Disc 1 opens with the BS&T standard 'Somethin' going on' - a really good blow to set the scene for the album. Like most of the album, the arrangements are very close to the originals and Kooper's voice? As good as ever! Perhaps a little less forceful, a little more 'laid back' but that's no bad thing and Vivino (overdubbing Steve Katz' guitar parts) has obviously listened closely to the original recordings, so close is his playing.

The next track 'I can't keep from crying (sometimes)' has been arranged differently to the Blues Projects original ('....to show where I stole it from!') and it does make it's ancestry obvious. The next track is the 'I stand alone medley' combining three songs from his early solo albums. Again, note for note arrangements just as the originals. The only disappointment for me was that the 'I stand alone' segment wasn't really long enough - it is just about my favourite Kooper recording.

'Flute Thing' from the Blues Project follows
Highlights for me are his wonderful 'gorblimey' Mick Jagger vocal on 'You can't always get...', the new songs 'Heartbeat' and 'Don't Tell Me (Repo Man)' and this version of one of my all time favourite BS&T tunes 'Just One Smile'

(This page is still under construction and it's gonna take a while to finish. I don't like posting something that isn't finished but I know I haven't updated the site recently. I'm currently working on this album, 'Rekooperation' and 'Naked Songs' but finding the time is difficult! I'm also trying to write some of the 'Significant Others' section and am hoping to get 'Championship Wrestling' and the gold 'Child is Father to the Man' albums soon.)

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