Al Kooper (another Jewish boy from Queens) is one of my favorite sixties musicians. Not because he knew Paul Simon.

Not only because he had his first major songwriting hit when he was 21 (This Diamond Ring).

Not only because he formed one of my favorite sixties (jazz rock) groups, “Blood, Sweat and Tears” and sang on their amazing first album.

Not only because he was the main man behind the history-making Super Session album.

Enjoy: Season of the Witch – written by Donovan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But because he instigated one of the best stories of sixties music. And even though there may be more legend than truth, it’s a perfect example of what we call “the luck burglar“.

According to the story, Al Kooper was supposed to be a guest at Dylan’s recording of “Like a Rolling Stone” in June, 1965. He, however, had other intentions which included sitting in as a guitarist.  Given that Mike Bloomfield was there, he demurred.

At some point, the Hammond organ was turned on and unoccupied, so he occupied it and cooked up a simple but extremely potent impromptu riff which Dylan liked.

I hope you will agree that the organ helps make the song much more memorable. It made Al Kooper unforgettable too.

To use a baseball metaphor, Al Kooper ran from the bleachers to mid-field to catch the fly ball. He wasn’t lucky. He didn’t wait for luck. He burst into the picture and made it happen –  a luck maker par excellence.

I’m sending this e-book to Al Kooper, and I hope he will read it. I have ordered his own book (on the way from Amazon), and hope it doesn’t contradict my own interpretation. And even if it does, well hey, isn’t everything just a story anyway?

Here’s the song: