Al Kooper - White Chocolate (2008)
Al Kooper - White Chocolate (2008)
Rock | 1cd | EAC Rip | Flac + Cue + Log | covers
Sony SICP 2110 | rel: 2008 | 470Mb
Rock | 1cd | EAC Rip | Flac + Cue + Log | covers
Sony SICP 2110 | rel: 2008 | 470Mb
Coming just three years after Black Coffee, his first solo studio album of new material in three decades, White Chocolate (what's next, "Green Tea"?) is quite possibly the most satisfying solo release of this veteran's 50-year career. The title is the giveaway: Kooper has always championed classic soul music above all else, but now he's graduated from paying homage to his heroes of the '60s and '70s to absorbing their essence and personifying the music's most attractive qualities himself – maybe this release falls short of equaling the best of Stax, Hi, or Philadelphia International (Kooper would no doubt admit to that), but not by much.
Kooper has always made his best music when he holds the reins and here he not only self-produced and arranged, and of course sang the lead vocals, on some tracks he also played every instrument – while Kooper's skills as a keyboardist are well established and his guitar work long underrated, he also puts down mandolin, percussion, string sounds, and more. Of course he did have help: several brass teams (including the Uptown Horns) and a vocal trio (including the great Catherine Russell) provide ace support. Various additional guitarists, bassists, and drummers flesh out the tracks but the focus never strays from Kooper himself. For starters, if he's ever enjoyed making a record this much before, you wouldn't know it: Kooper seems so at home here (and not just because most of the album was recorded at his Somerville, MA. home studio). His voice, at 65, has naturally weathered, but he can still hit the notes he needs to hit and never tries to sound like the brash twenty-something kid who recorded Super Session or Child Is Father to the Man. Yet despite the maturity of the music, there's an oversized quality to this recording and a set of instantly memorable melodies and hooks that make it Kooper's most blatantly radio-friendly album in years – that is, if radio was anything close to what it was in 1968. Hear these songs a couple of times and you will swear you've known them all your life.
But all of this is not to suggest this is a retro affair – White Chocolate is exactly where Al Kooper should be right now. That's made clear from the first notes of opener "Love Time," as pure a slice of Southern soul/pop as the early 21st century can hope to produce. As the record unfolds, it becomes clearer that the lead track is no fluke: "I Love You More Than Words Can Say," penned by Booker T. Jones and Eddie Floyd back in the day, boasts some seriously funky chops and a tough guitar solo by Bob "Dyno" Doezema. A new take on Bob Dylan's "It Takes a Lot to Laugh (It Takes a Train to Cry)," which Kooper and Michael Bloomfield cut on the classic Super Session album 40 years previously, is presented here as a rolling, brassy, souled-up shuffle. And Kooper had to love cutting his song "Staxability," a tribute to the legendary Stax Records of Memphis, with no less than Steve Cropper on guitar and Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & the MG's on bass. Kooper gets to shout "Play it, Steve!," a line familiar to any fan of vintage soul, and actually gets to hear Cropper do just what he's asked.
In addition to his blue-eyed-soul pedigree, Kooper has always possessed a sharp sense of pop songcraft (he wrote "This Diamond Ring," the huge hit for Gary Lewis & the Playboys), and the chance to co-write two tunes for the album with Gerry Goffin (as in Goffin & King) had to be another dream come true for him. Those two are among the album's highlights: the smooth "You Make Me Feel So Good (All Over)" may not have more than a simple message to offer, but sometimes that's all that's needed to make the connection. And "No 1 2 Call Me Baby," with its phalanx of layered instruments and vocals, is almost Spectorian in its grandness. Other key tracks include the semi-autobiographical "Cast the First Stone," a statement on the politics of our times (of all times?) and how we all fit into those games; a gutsy, bluesy cover of Fred Neil's "Candy Man" (made famous by Roy Orbison); Kooper's interpretation of the Leiber & Stoller/Ben E. King perennial "I (Who Have Nothing)"; the set-closing, gospel-fied "(I Don't Know When But) I Know That I'll Be There Soon" (complete with Farfisa organ and accordion); and "Hold On," a tune of hope and self-determination that offers vocal thrills a-plenty when the powerhouse Russell takes lead on a verse and Kooper counters in his finest falsetto. White Chocolate can serve as a primer for Social Security-age rockers who still think the spandex fits. News flash: it doesn't. ~Allmusic
Track listing
1. Love Time
2. You Never Know Til You Get There
3. Calling You (from the motion picture "Baghdad Cafe")
4. I Love You More Than Words Can Say
5. It Takes A Lot To Laugh (It Takes A Train To Cry)
6. I Cried So Hard
7. Staxability
8. You Make Me Feel So Good (All Over)
9. Susan
10. Hold On
11. Cast The First Stone
12. No 1 2 Call Me Baby
13. Candy Man
14. I (Who Have Nothing)
15. (I Don't Know When But) I Know That I'll Be There Soon
Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 2 from 29. April 2011
EAC extraction logfile from 6. March 2012, 2:34
Al Kooper / White Chocolate
Used drive : HL-DT-STDVDRAM GSA-4163B Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : No
Make use of C2 pointers : Yes
Read offset correction : 667
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : No
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Not detected, thus appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 768 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -6 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" -T "BAND=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%–ta
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 4:55.17 | 0 | 22141
2 | 4:55.17 | 4:03.48 | 22142 | 40414
3 | 8:58.65 | 4:53.32 | 40415 | 62421
4 | 13:52.22 | 5:30.48 | 62422 | 87219
5 | 19:22.70 | 4:46.30 | 87220 | 108699
6 | 24:09.25 | 4:21.12 | 108700 | 128286
7 | 28:30.37 | 4:03.68 | 128287 | 146579
8 | 32:34.30 | 4:24.67 | 146580 | 166446
9 | 36:59.22 | 3:51.63 | 166447 | 183834
10 | 40:51.10 | 3:51.15 | 183835 | 201174
11 | 44:42.25 | 4:16.55 | 201175 | 220429
12 | 48:59.05 | 3:59.42 | 220430 | 238396
13 | 52:58.47 | 3:33.08 | 238397 | 254379
14 | 56:31.55 | 3:02.42 | 254380 | 268071
15 | 59:34.22 | 2:44.38 | 268072 | 280409
Track 1
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\01. Love Time.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 13.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 11373C68
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [F390FDF6], AccurateRip returned [F5CBAD3E] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\02. You Never Know Til You Get There.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 19.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 40D30628
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [AD2F791D], AccurateRip returned [4F83A9F0] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\03. Calling You.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 21.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC BB85FC24
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [EA991116], AccurateRip returned [27DD3D5F] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\04. I Love You More Than Words Can Say.wav
Peak level 95.5 %
Extraction speed 23.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 3FD04BBE
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [14AC26B7], AccurateRip returned [3B254C25] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\05. It Takes A Lot To Laugh (It Takes A Train To Cry).wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 24.6 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 22EEBDCC
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [BCCF4042], AccurateRip returned [FF672CB6] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 6
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\06. I Cried So Hard.wav
Peak level 98.9 %
Extraction speed 14.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 4B7D6AB4
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [FCE03415], AccurateRip returned [88AD52E7] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\07. Staxability.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 24.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC CE510FD9
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [2739E09E], AccurateRip returned [7D079678] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 8
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\08. You Make Me Feel So Good (All Over).wav
Peak level 99.4 %
Extraction speed 31.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 4DF09871
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [4A8B58A9], AccurateRip returned [FAD5997A] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 9
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\09. Susan.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 29.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC B28C91C1
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [C2DA7922], AccurateRip returned [E694EB35] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 10
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\10. Hold On (Feat Catharine Russell).wav
Peak level 95.5 %
Extraction speed 30.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC E8F5021F
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [405E493E], AccurateRip returned [000D66A0] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 11
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\11. Cast The First Stone.wav
Peak level 97.7 %
Extraction speed 31.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 2A489DDB
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [A8FB053D], AccurateRip returned [0DD186CC] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 12
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\12. No 1 2 Call Me Baby.wav
Peak level 94.4 %
Extraction speed 32.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 1ACDFEB9
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [4BF98C1B], AccurateRip returned [24D8CCFC] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 13
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\13. Candy Man.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 17.9 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC EC53981B
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [8923A09B], AccurateRip returned [87DA92F9] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 14
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\14. I (Who Have Nothing).wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 32.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC E68599D5
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [CF3F516F], AccurateRip returned [EBA949E5] (AR v2)
Copy OK
Track 15
Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Al Kooper\White Chocolate\15. (I Don't Know When But) I Know That I'll Be There Soon.wav
Peak level 98.8 %
Extraction speed 36.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 51ACD84E
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 4) [BD7FE9E4], AccurateRip returned [971A2C97] (AR v2)
Copy OK
No tracks could be verified as accurate
You may have a different pressing from the one(s) in the database
No errors occurred
End of status report
[CUETools log; Date: 2013.12.10. 12:09:31; Version: 2.1.4]
[CTDB TOCID: PIYurTbdur0KALgsPkuusYAfm8A-] found.
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
2 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
3 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
4 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
5 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
6 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
7 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
8 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
9 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
10 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
11 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
12 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
13 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
14 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
15 | (1/1) Accurately ripped
[AccurateRip ID: 0024c1d0-019b05aa-cf0e9a0f] found.
Track [ CRC | V2 ] Status
01 [6fbb10a7|f390fdf6] (0+0/4) No match
02 [e55a3ce6|ad2f791d] (0+0/4) No match
03 [eeb3b4b9|ea991116] (0+0/4) No match
04 [c7f65b87|14ac26b7] (0+0/4) No match
05 [3c20bd55|bccf4042] (0+0/4) No match
06 [3452d0b7|fce03415] (0+0/4) No match
07 [15d91199|2739e09e] (0+0/4) No match
08 [a6f474bf|4a8b58a9] (0+0/4) No match
09 [f3e72579|c2da7922] (0+0/4) No match
10 [c0315c76|405e493e] (0+0/4) No match
11 [709e9b9c|a8fb053d] (0+0/4) No match
12 [1fe74cc4|4bf98c1b] (0+0/4) No match
13 [57be313e|8923a09b] (0+0/4) No match
14 [be4bc816|cf3f516f] (0+0/4) No match
15 [b57f5497|bd7fe9e4] (0+0/4) No match
Offsetted by -12:
01 [f5cbad3e] (4/4) Accurately ripped
02 [4f83a9f0] (4/4) Accurately ripped
03 [27dd3d5f] (4/4) Accurately ripped
04 [3b254c25] (4/4) Accurately ripped
05 [ff672cb6] (4/4) Accurately ripped
06 [88ad52e7] (4/4) Accurately ripped
07 [7d079678] (4/4) Accurately ripped
08 [fad5997a] (4/4) Accurately ripped
09 [e694eb35] (4/4) Accurately ripped
10 [000d66a0] (4/4) Accurately ripped
11 [0dd186cc] (4/4) Accurately ripped
12 [24d8ccfc] (4/4) Accurately ripped
13 [87da92f9] (4/4) Accurately ripped
14 [eba949e5] (4/4) Accurately ripped
15 [971a2c97] (4/4) Accurately ripped
Track Peak [ CRC32 ] [W/O NULL] [ LOG ]
– 99,4 [6E922888] [8AE1F6C2]
01 98,8 [1CF838A1] [11373C68] W/O NULL
02 98,8 [DE9A20CF] [40D30628] W/O NULL
03 98,8 [7F646CC0] [BB85FC24] W/O NULL
04 95,5 [05711DB7] [3FD04BBE] W/O NULL
05 98,8 [6E0B4833] [22EEBDCC] W/O NULL
06 98,9 [431C8B5C] [4B7D6AB4] W/O NULL
07 98,8 [A1221FF3] [CE510FD9] W/O NULL
08 99,4 [8AD926AF] [4DF09871] W/O NULL
09 98,8 [551D4522] [B28C91C1] W/O NULL
10 95,5 [841470D1] [E8F5021F] W/O NULL
11 97,7 [0D002B45] [2A489DDB] W/O NULL
12 94,4 [FE7F1EA7] [1ACDFEB9] W/O NULL
13 98,8 [37C01A3A] [EC53981B] W/O NULL
14 98,8 [D7B35DA5] [E68599D5] W/O NULL
15 98,8 [963AA36D] [51ACD84E] W/O NULL
Thx to saintsmon