Al Kooper

Soul of a Man 1986

Al Kooper, LA 1986

How did you get involved with Bob Dylan?

Basically, I was invited by his producer to watch a session. At the time, I was making my living as a studio musician. I decided the night before that I couldn’t go to a Dylan session and just watch. So, I got there an hour early and plugged in. When the other musicians came, they assumed I was there to play. It didn’t look weird to them, because I might have worked with them the day before and the day after.

Then Dylan walked in with a guy who had a Telecaster over his shoulder—like Johnny Appleseed. No case, and it was covered with snow because it was the dead of winter. He just toweled it off and started playing. I was thrilled—I’d never heard anybody play like that. It was Mike Bloomfield. I thought I was a good player, but when I heard him, I packed up my guitar and went into the booth.