Al Kooper names the 100 “best recordings” of all time
Al Kooper has a knowledge of music that extends beyond how a song sounds and trickles into the various components that go into putting together a track. While he may not be a household name, his discography speaks for itself, as he has been responsible for a plethora of different records and made a number of hits in the process. He is easily one of the biggest names in rock and roll, and the genre today would sound a lot different were it not for Kooper’s input.
He didn’t just appreciate the screeching front of rock music; he was a fan of all the intricate components that made it up. For instance, when he spoke about The Beatles and their legendary album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, he didn’t just note how the band sounded but the production that went into creating such an album.
“Sir George Martin is God,” he said, “Could not have been made without him.” Anyone who is a fan of the Beatles knows about George Martin and how much of an impact he had, but it’s rare for someone to talk about him as if he was the foundation the record was built on, but for a lot of it, especially the orchestral segments, that was the case.
Kooper was always keen on exploring these curious aspects of classic albums. He enjoyed melody, guitar solos and good lyricism as much as the next person, but he could pinpoint parts of albums that made them stand out. For instance, he described the Beach Boys classic album, Pet Sounds, as “The garden where naivete and genius meet,” he said, “There are bass harmonicas, Stratocasters, violas, oboes, barking dogs and trains. Put this on and go away for a while.”
He was also a big fan of Phil Spector and his ‘Wall of Sound’ recording technique, recognising it as a fundamental part of the rock and roll movement. “Where my generation learned how to overdub and overdub and overdub,” he said.
Any fans of music could do to listen to the albums that Kooper recommends. It’s more than just good music; it is instead an example of all the different aspects that go into making an album. He once put together 100 of the “best recordings” he had ever heard, which are exhaustive and broad in the sense of style, time and genre; however, the thing they all have in common is their connectivity through good music.
Everything from The Beatles, Paul Simon, Miles Davis, and Michael Jackson is included. It acts as a journey through the evolution of sound and the pivotal records that have contributed to what we know as music today.
The 100 best recordings of all time:
- Pet Sounds (Box Set) – Beach Boys
- Songs for Swingin’ Lovers – Frank Sinatra
- Wall of Sound – Phil Spector Box Set
- Sgt. Pepper – The Beatles
- The Nightfly – Donald Fagen
- Graceland – Paul Simon
- What’s Goin’ On – Marvin Gaye
- Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
- Revolver – The Beatles
- Good Vibrations – Beach Boys
- The Sun Sessions – Elvis Presley
- Live at the Apollo – James Brown
- The Birth of Soul (Box Set) – Ray Charles
- The Look of Love/Burt Bacharach Box Set – Various Artists
- Rubber Soul – The Beatles
- Blonde on Blonde – Bob Dylan
- My Generation – The Who
- Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley
- Bookends – Simon & Garfunkel
- Music from Big Pink – The Band
- Aja – Steely Dan
- The Legend & The Legacy (Box Set) – Les Paul
- Giant Steps – John Coltrane
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Tumbleweed Connection – Elton John
- Moanin’ – Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers
- Mercy – Andraé Crouch
- Silk Degrees – Boz Scaggs
- Sticky Fingers – The Rolling Stones
- Odessey & Oracle – The Zombies
- Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley
- Dusty in Memphis – Dusty Springfield
- After the Gold Rush – Neil Young
- Are You Experienced – Jimi Hendrix
- Reach Out – Four Tops
- Savior Pass Me Not – Swan Silvertones
- Highway – Free
- Boogie Chillun – John Lee Hooker
- Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
- Faith Hope & Love – King’s X
- Atom Heart Mother – Pink Floyd
- Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles
- A Cappella – Todd Rundgren
- Music of Bulgaria – Philippe Koutev & Choir
- Six Pack (Box Set) – ZZ Top
- The Complete 1959 Columbia Recordings (Box Set) – Charles Mingus
- The Complete Muddy Waters (Box Set)
- Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds
- The Screamin’ End – Gene Vincent
- Spinners Anthology (Box Set)
- Eagles Greatest Hits
- Focus – Stan Getz
- Who’s Next – The Who
- My Jug & I – Percy Mayfield
- Al Green Box Set
- Dream On – Aerosmith
- Layla & Assorted Love Songs – Derek & The Dominos
- Avenging Annie – Andy Pratt
- Birds of Fire – Mahavishnu Orchestra
- Time Signatures (Box Set) – Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Nightbeat – Sam Cooke
- Band on the Run – Wings
- Temptations Box Set
- The Cars’ Greatest Hits
- Joshua Judges Ruth The Last Record Album – Little Feat
- Music of My Mind – Stevie Wonder
- The Complete Jimmy Reed (Box Set)
- Controversy – Prince
- CTA – Chicago
- Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
- Any Album – XTC
- Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
- Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
- The Best of James Carr – James Carr
- Blind Faith – Blind Faith
- Supremes
- You Keep Me Hangin’ On Showdown – Isley Bros
- Clear Spot – Captain Beefheart
- Good Thing – Paul Revere & The Raiders
- True Love Ways – Buddy Holly
- Dear Mr. Fantasy – Traffic
- Soul Dressing – Booker T & The MGs
- Greatest Hits – Earth Wind & Fire
- The Complete Howlin’ Wolf (Box Set)
- Soulful Road – New York City
- Human Lib – Howard Jones
- Relentless – Danny Gatton & Joey DeFrancesco
- DeBarge (Twofer) – All This Love/In a Special Way Look to the Rainbow – Al Jarreau
- Discipline – King Crimson
- Fundamental Things – Bonnie Raitt
- White Lines – Grandmaster Flash
- Debussy
- Music for Oboe & Harp – Bert Lucarelli & Susan Jolles
- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Jimmy Smith
- Afterglow (Box Set) – Electric Light Orchestra
- 3+3 – Isley Bros
- Born to Laugh at Tornadoes – Was (Not Was)
- More Soul – Hank Crawford
- Tricycle – Flim & The BBs
