Al Kooper : You Never Know Who Your Friends Are

SHE WAKES UP

SHE FINDS HERSELF SLEEPING 

IN THE DOORWAY

EVER GOT THIS WAY

 You Never Know Who Your Friends Are

is the second

 solo album

by American

multi-instrumentalist

Al Kooper, 

issued in 1969 

on 

Columbia Records.

Background

Kooper wasted no time

 recording this album, 

coming just seven months 

after his debut release.

 It is a continuation

 of sorts of his debut;

 the album contains 

another eclectic mix 

of rock,

 rhythm and blues, 

jazz,

 pop, 

and blues, 

though without

 the psychedelics 

that had somewhat

 permeated through

I Stand Alone. 

Utilizing a large group 

of musicians under 

the direction of

Charlie Calello, 

known collectively as

 "The Al Kooper Big Band", 

Kooper also strayed away

 from the heavy

 string orchestrations 

of his debut.

Relying on more 

original compositions, 

with nine of twelve tracks

 by Kooper, 

and the remaining three 

by Harry Nilsson 

and Motown Records 

staff songwriters,

 the album further helped 

to cement

 Kooper's reputation. 

The album reached #125

 on the

Billboard 200

on

 October 25, 1969, 

and was on

 the charts

 for six weeks

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