Super Session
Artist: Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Stephen Stills
Label: Columbia
Released: 1968
Number of Tracks: 8
Duration: 51:13
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Session
Review by Charles "Dutch" Metzker
Super Session is an album by the singer and multi-instrumentalist Al Kooper, with the guitarists Mike Bloomfield on the first half and Stephen Stills on the second half. Released by Columbia Records in 1968, it peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 during a 37-week chart stay and was certified gold by RIAA.
Side 1
Track 1: Albert’s Shuffle – (Kooper-Bloomfield)—Great guitar and keyboard work on this lengthy cut. 6:43
Track 2: Stop – (Ragavoy) — starts off with nice keyboards upfront shadowed by some very impressive guitar work. 4:23
Track 3: Man’s Temptation – (Mayfield) — Have a new woman come into your life? Watch out when circumstances pull you into a bad situation with what you have at home. 3:25
Track 4: His Holy Modal Majesty – (Kooper-Bloomfield) – Pretty mellow song reminiscent of some other extended works with no vocals and playback between the guitarists. 9:13
Track 5: Really – (Kooper-Bloomfield) -This one slows down to a crawl that shows what guitar masters can do. 5:29
Side 2
Stephen Stills steps in
Track 1: It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry – (Dylan) — I was surprised by how many artists have covered this song. Eddie Hoh’s drums get a real workout on this one. Winter time is coming, the windows all covered with frost. 3:30
Track 2: Season of the Witch – (Donovan) — Once again, a long cut that obviously got a lot of airplay by these artists and a bunch of others. Over 30 artists recorded this psychedelic rock song. 11:07
Track 3: You Don’t Love Me – (Willie Cobb) —This cut is definitely the most rock and roll song on the album with lots of heavy guitar riffs. I wish they would have boosted the vocals more. 4:12
Track 4: Harvey’s Tune – (Harvey Brooks) —The bass player gets his turn at the helm with a short and melodic end to the album. 2:09
I give it 8/10. An old classic.
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