Naked Songs

Naked Songs
Studio album by Al Kooper
Released	January 1973
Recorded	1972
Genre	Rock
Length	37:10
Label	Columbia
Producer	Al Kooper
Al Kooper chronology
A Possible Projection of the Future / Childhood's End (1972) Naked Songs (1973) Act Like Nothing's Wrong (1977)

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic	[1]

Naked Songs is the sixth and final album by singer-songwriter Al Kooper for Columbia Records, released in 1973.

A contract-fulfilling release, coming months after Kooper had set up the Sounds of the South label through MCA Records, it was quickly recorded at New York City's Record Plant (the first time Kooper had recorded in New York since 1970's Easy Does It) and at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia (where the following year Kooper would produce Lynyrd Skynyrd's smash hit "Sweet Home Alabama").

Mixing a heavier dose of gospel into the mix and the Arp synthesizer, Kooper effortlessly blended soul, rhythm and blues, rock, country and pop music much as he had on all of his Columbia albums.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Al Kooper; except where indicated

1. "(Be Yourself) Be Real" – 3:26
2. "As the Years Go Passing By" (Don Robey) – 6:03
3. "Jolie" – 3:48
4. "Blind Baby" – 3:07
5. "Been and Gone" (Annette Peacock) – 2:35
6. "Sam Stone" (John Prine) – 4:41
7. "Peacock Lady" – 3:22
8. "Touch the Hem of His Garment" (Sam Cooke) – 4:04
9. "Where Were You When I Needed You" (Irwin Levine, Kooper) – 3:12
10. "Unrequited" – 2:52

Personnel

• Al Kooper: piano, organ, guitars, ARP synthesizer, harpsichord, electric bass

With

• John Paul Fetta: electric bass (tracks 1-2, 4-5, 9)
• Junior Hanley: drums (tracks 1-2, 4-5, 9)
• Charlie Brown: guitar (tracks 2, 4)
• Paul Goddard: bass (tracks 3, 6)
• Barry Bailey: guitar (tracks 3, 6)
• J. R. Cobb: guitar (tracks 3, 6)
• Robert Nix: drums (tracks 3, 6)
• Richard Greene: fiddle (track 4)
• Dean Daughtry: piano (track 6)
• Stuart Scharf: guitar (track 7)
• Maruga Booker: percussion (track 7)
• Female background vocals: Linda November, Maeretha Stewart, Tasha Thomas, Eileen Gilbert, Patti Austin, Albertine Robinson
• Male background vocals: Michael Gately, Robert John
• Jimmy Wisner: string arrangements (tracks 7, 9, 10)

References