Super Session

Infobox Album
Name = Super Session
Type = Studio album
Artist = Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills


Released = July 22, 1968
Genre = Blues
Length = 50:22
Label = Columbia
Producer = Al Kooper
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jsr9287c058a link]
* "The Music Box" Rating|4|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/ak-sup.html June '03] |Last album =

This album = "Super Session"
(1968)
Next album =

Misc = Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = lightsteelblue


Lower caption = Album cover of 2003 re-release of Super Session |

The album Super Session grew out of a single nine hour jam in 1968 by guitarist Mike Bloomfield and multi-instrumentalist Al Kooper and Stephen Stills of CSNY fame. Kooper and Bloomfield had both previously worked in support of Bob Dylan, in concert and appearing on his ground-breaking classic, "Highway 61 Revisited".

Kooper, fresh from having assembled and recorded the inaugural incarnation of Blood, Sweat & Tears, booked two days of studio time with Bloomfield in May 1968 in Los Angeles. They recruited keyboardist Barry Goldberg and bassist Harvey Brooks, both members of the band that Bloomfield was in the process of leaving, Electric Flag, and well-known session drummer "Fast" Eddie Hoh. On the first day the quintet recorded the first side of the album, tracks one through five of the CD version; the next day, Bloomfield, who was a heroin addict, abruptly disappeared after suffering an attack of what was euphemistically referred to as "chronic insomnia." Kooper hastily called on Stephen Stills to sit in for Bloomfield on what would become the second side of the album, tracks six through nine, including a lengthy cover version of Donovan's "Season of the Witch." [ [http://www.mikebloomfield.com/supersession2003.htm MikeBloomfield.com] ]

Some overdubbed horns were later added while the album was being mixed, which were eventually subtracted from the bonus tracks on the CD version. The album, which cost just $13,000 to make, was a top-20 hit which garnered a Gold Record award. Kooper forgave Bloomfield, and the two of them made several concert appearances after the album was released. One of these concerts was made into a live album. [ [http://www.suitelorraine.com/suitelorraine/Pages/supersession.html SuiteLorraine.com] ]

Multi-Channel version

In late 2004 Al Kooper released this statement:

The reason for this is that a legal challenge has been made that Super Audio disks contain up to three complete recordings of a work; one in the Hybrid CD compatible layer and two in the SACD layer, a stereo version and a possible multiple channel version.Fact|date=October 2007

Of course, if this is true, record companies could be legally liable for up to three sets of royalties. Since this would make the record much more expensive, it appears that most companies are avoiding this issue, if there is any contention at all, by simply cancelling the release of the SACD version.Fact|date=October 2007

Track listing

Listen
filename=Super_Session_-_Alberts_Shuffle.ogg
title="Albert's Shuffle" from Super Session
description=Sample of "Albert's Shuffle". From the album Super Session.
format=Ogg

ide one

#"Albert's Shuffle" (Bloomfield, Kooper) – 6:54
#"Stop" (Ragovoy, Shuman) – 4:23
#"Man's Temptation" (Mayfield) – 3:24
#"His Holy Modal Majesty" (Bloomfield, Kooper) – 9:16
#"Really" (Bloomfield, Kooper) – 5:30

ide two

#"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (Dylan) – 3:30
#"Season of the Witch" (Donovan) – 11:07
#"You Don't Love Me" (Cobbs) – 4:11
#"Harvey's Tune" (Brooks) – 2:07

2003 Bonus Tracks

#"Albert's Shuffle" (Bloomfield, Kooper) – 6:58 (remix without horns)
#"Season of the Witch" (Donovan) – 11:07 (remix without horns)
#"Blues for Nothing" (Kooper) – 4:15 (outtake)
#"Fat Grey Cloud" (Bloomfield, Kooper) – 4:38 (live at the Fillmore West)

External links

[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008QSA5/ Amazon.com: sales and reviews]

References