STEPHEN STILLS SAVED THE SUPER SESSION FOR AL KOOPER AFTER MIKE BLOOMFIELD OVERDOSED ON HEROIN

Supergroups are often associated with the 1970`s, the decade when stadium rock become the order of day and when many washed up ageing rockers from the 60`s saw the supergroup format as the best means to dabble on the side away from their regular band, or in the case of solo artists, get a much longed for band identity. The late 60`s british blues boom gave birth to the supergroup format, the group CREAM, which featured Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, seen by many to be the very first supergroup. BLIND FAITH, which also feautured Clapton and Baker as well as Steve Winwood, recorded one definitive supergroup album in 1970 before quickly dissolving. Bands like LED ZEPPELIN and ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA could be loosely described as being supergroups as well, despite their longetivity. In some respects, the term 'supergroup' was overused in the 70`s to elevate mediocre or less than mediocre UK rock to an undeserved status. The supergroup craze wouldn't kick off in america until well into the late 70`s, but the SUPER SESSION album, which was the brainchild of the psychedically influenced organist AL KOOPER, with west coast blues maestro MIKE BLOOMFIELD and folk rocker STEPHEN STILLS backing him, is one example of an american supergroup which pre-dates most of the british ones. Bloomfield had been a member of BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, a band chiefly inspired by JERRY GARCIA and JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, and was regarded as being one of the greatest white blues guitarists ever. He also sported a debilitating heroin addiction. Stills was never intended at the start to take part in SUPER SESSION, but after Bloomfield had recorded enough with Kooper to fill one side of an album, he didn't turn up as scheduled the next day to continue with the recording. In the hours following the first session Bloomfield had a major heroin overdose. Stills was brought in at a moments notice to salvage the recording from being mothballed. There are a few inspiring moments on SUPER SESSION, but it has a mostly uncohesive and in part contrived feel about it. Side 1 with Bloomfield on guitar is rated by critics as being far superior to side 2 with Stephen Still, but SEASONS OF THE WITCH on side 2 is to me the best song, despite its muddled and unfocused attributes. SUPER SESSION is a poor album, a great idea on the part of Kooper that just didn't gel.