Danny Kortchmar – detailed discography as main artist

(updated 11 Nov 05). Contributions and corrections, please e-mail me: Alda

1965 The Kingbees

1967 James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine – James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine

1968 Now That Everything’s Been Said – The City

1970 Jo Mama – Jo Mama

1971 J is for Jump – Jo Mama

1972 The Section – The Section

1973 Kootch – Danny Kortchmar

1973 Forward Motion – The Section

1975 Attitudes – Attitudes

1977 Fork It Over – The Section

1977 Good News – Attitudes

1980 Innuendo – Danny Kortchmar

1996 Slo Leak – Slo Leak

1999 When The Clock Strikes 12 – Slo Leak

2005 Midnight Eleven – Midnight Eleven

The Kingbees 1965-1966

The King Bees (Danny Kortchmar, Joel O'Brien, Dickie Frank, John McDuffy)

They only released three singles with RCA

Danny Kortchmar: guitar

Joel O’Brien: drums

Dickie Frank: bass

John McDuffy: vocals, organ

1965 The King Bees " That Ain't Love b/w What She Does To Me "

1966 The King Bees " Rhythm And Blues b/w On Your Way Down To Drain "

1966 The King Bees " Lost In The Shuffle b/w Hardly Part 3 "

KINGBEES

New York, USA-based contemporaries of the Vagrants and the Myddle Class, this superior R&B outfit comprised Danny Kortchmar aka Danny Kootch (guitar), John McDuffy (organ/vocals), Dickie Frank (bass) and Joel “Bishop” O'Brien (drums). The quartet completed three excellent singles during its brief existence, which included a notable version of “Lost In The Shuffle”, also recorded by Blues Project. McDuffy replaced Al Kooper in the latter act following the King Bees disintegration in autumn 1966. Kortchmar and O'Brien resurfaced in the Flying Machine, a band which also featured James Taylor, and were eventually reunited in Jo Mama in the wake of the guitarist's spells in the Fugs, Clear Light and City.

Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 2002

James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine 1967

James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine (James Taylor, Danny Kortchmar, Zachary Wiesner, Joel O’Brien) demos recorded in 1967 but published in 1971, after James Taylor’s solo success (Euphoria 2)

James Taylor: vocals, guitar

Danny Kortchmar: vocals, guitar

Zachary Wiesner: bass

Joel O'Brien: drums

Al Gorgoni: harpsichord

“We first knew Kootch and Joel. It was the winter of '66.

They were in a group called the "King Bees" and we were all working on a rock film that for good reason never escaped.

During that time Kootch kept telling us about his friend James and that they were planning to start a new group.

After the film was completed, the group (Kootch, James, Joel and another friend) came up to our office at 1650 Broadway and played us some songs that James had written.

Somewhere between the 'Night Owl' (that's the place in the village where they were working) and 1650 we made plans to make some records.

There were the usual hassles in getting things going but we finally got into the studio and did some work.

"Night Owl" was released as a single and made some noise. Next thing we knew James was going off somewhere to get himself together.

After a while the apple album was released and then another. But this is where it all started...”

Al Gorgoni - Chip Taylor (producers)

From the back cover of “James Taylor and the Flying Machine”

Side A:

1. Night Owl (James Taylor)

2. Brighten Your Night with My Day (James Taylor)

3. Kootch's Song (Danny Kortchmar)

4. Knocking 'Round the Zoo - Vocal Danny Kortchmar (James Taylor)

Side B:

5. Rainy Day Man (James Taylor, Zach Wiesner)

6. Knocking 'Round the Zoo - Vocal James Taylor (James Taylor)

7. Something's Wrong - instrumental version (James Taylor)

LYRICS

Gadfly has reprinted the demos on cd in 1996

1996: U.S., Gadfly 219

1996: Japan,Vivid Sound VSCD-1359

1. Rainy Day Man (James Taylor, Zach Wiesner)

2. Knocking 'Round the Zoo – Intro (James Taylor)

3. Knocking 'Round the Zoo - Vocal James Taylor (James Taylor)

4. Something's Wrong - backing track (James Taylor)

5. Night Owl - (James Taylor)

6. Brighten Your Night with My Day – Intro (James Taylor)

7. Brighten Your Night with My Day (James Taylor)

8. Kootch's Song (Danny Kortchmar)

9. Knocking 'Round the Zoo - Vocal Danny Kortchmar (James Taylor)

10. Night Owl - Remixed version (James Taylor)

11. Knocking 'Round the Zoo - Remixed version (James Taylor)

LYRICS

Now That Everything’s Been Said 1968

The City (Carole King, Danny Kortchmar, Charles Larkey) Produced by Lou Adler (Ode Z-1244012)

Carole King: keyboards, vocals

Danny Kortchmar: guitar, vocals

Charles Larkey: Bass

Jimmy Gordon: drums

Now That Everything's Been Said (The City) EK/ET 65851
”It seems like a million years ago when Carole, Charley and I sat in the living room of Carole's Laurel Canyon house and worked these tunes up. Even though we had a group name, this was Carole's record all the way. She would sing or play parts to Charlie and I, and once we got it right, we could hear how great this record was going to be.

By the time we went into Sound Recorders in Hollywood, I was pumped. This was the first album I had ever played on and I was thrilled to be working with the people at the top of their game. With Lou Adler producing and Jim Gordon on drums we went into Armand Steiner's studio. I soaked it up like a sponge and for me it was a learning experience of a lifetime.

The City album remains a great example of Carole's brilliant writing skills, Lou Adler's legendary production sensibilities, and Jim Gordon's amazing musicality.

The seeds of the enduring classic album Tapestry were planted here, and I consider myself extremely lucky and proud to have been a part of it all.

Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar Los Angeles, 1999

Side A:

1. Snow Queen (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)

2. I Wasn't Born To Follow (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)

3. Now That Everything's Been Said (Carole King - Stern)

4. Paradise Alley (Carole King - Palmer)

5. Man Without A Dream (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) – vocal Danny Kortchmar

6. Victim Of Circumstance (Carole King - Palmer)

Side B:

7. Why Are You Leaving (Carole King - Stern)

8. Lady (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)

9. My Sweet Home (Allison) – vocal Danny Kortchmar

10. I Don't Believe It (Carole King)

11. That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-De-Ho) (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)

12. All My Time (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)

Jo Mama (O Sole Mio) 1970

Jo Mama (Abigale Haness, Danny Kortchmar, Charles Larkey, Ralph Schuckett, Joel O’Brien) Produced by Peter Asher (Atlantic SD-8269)

Danny Kortchmar: guitar, conga, vocals
Charles Larkey: bass
Joel Bishop O’Brien: drums, vibes
Ralph Schuckett: keyboards, vocals
Abigale Haness: vocals

Bob Williams: trumpet

Michael Dubkin: saxophone

Ollie Mitchell: trumpet

Mayo Tiana: trombone

Side A:

1. Machine Gun Kelly (Danny Kortchmar)

2. Midnight Rider (Danny Kortchmar)

3. Searching High,Searching Low (Danny Kortchmar)

4. Lighten Up, Tighten Up (Danny Kortchmar)

5. Venga Venga (Danny Kortchmar)

6. Sailing (Danny Kortchmar)

Side B:

7. Great Balls of Fire

8. The Sky is Falling (Danny Kortchmar)

9. The Word is Goodbye (Danny Kortchmar)

10. Check Out This Gorilla (Danny Kortchmar)

11. Cotton Eyed Joe (Danny Kortchmar)

12. Love'll Get You High (Danny Kortchmar)

J IS FOR JUMP 1971

Jo Mama (Abigale Haness, Danny Kortchmar, Charles Larkey, Ralph Schuckett, Joel O’Brien) Producer: Albhy Galuten, Tom Dowd (Atlantic SD-8288)

Abigale Haness: Vocals

Danny Kortchmar: Guitar, Vocals

Charles Larkey: Bass

Ralph Schuckett: Keyboards, Vocals

Joel O’Brien: Drums, Vibes

Carole King: Vocals

Howard Albert: Engineer

Ron Albert: Engineer

Recorded at Atlantic South, Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, Florida

Photography & album design: Barn Feinstein & Tom Wilkes for Camouflage productions

Side A:

1. Keep On Truckin' (Danny Kortchmar) 5:13

2. Back On The Street Again (Danny Kortchmar) 3:06

3. Smackwater Jack (Carole King, Gerry Goffin) 2:41

4. If I Had A Billion Dollars (Danny Kortchmar) 3:35

5. My Long Time (Danny Kortchmar) 2:20

6. When The Lights Are Way Down Low (Mac Rabenack) 2:20

Side B:

7. Love Is Blind (Danny Kortchmar) 3:46

8. 3 A.M. In L.A. (Danny Kortchmar) 6:10

9. Sweet And Slow (A. Dublin, H. Warren) 2:48

10. Have You Ever Been to Pittsburgh? (D. Simon) 3:40

11. Sho 'Bout To Drive Me Wild (A. Robinson, J. Hill, M. Rabenack, F. King) 3:09

LYRICS

THE SECTION 1972

The Section (Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Lee Sklar, Russ Kunkel) Produced by The Section and Robert Appere (Warner Brothers 2661)

Danny Kortchmar: guitar
Leland Sklar: bass
Russ Kunkel: drums, percussion
Craig Doerge: keyboards

Guest: Michael Brecker: saxophone, flute

Side A:

1. Second Degree (Craig Doerge)

2. Same Old Same Old (Danny Kortchmar)

3. Sporadic Vacuums of Thought (Danny Kortchmar)

4. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay (Redding, Cropper)

5. Holy Frijoles (Craig Doerge)

Side B:

6. Doing the Meatball (Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar)

7. Swan Song (Danny Kortchmar)

8. The Thing What Is (Danny Kortchmar)

9. Mah-Hoo-Dah-Vah (Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel)

10. Zippo Dippo (Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge)

All songs are instrumental

KOOTCH 1973

Danny Kortchmar Producer: Danny Kortchmar and Robert Appere Made in December 1972 (Warner Brothers 2711)

 "Kootch is a nickname I’ve had since I was 15. Then James Taylor put my name as "Danny Kootch" on his Sweet Baby James album, and Carole King did, too, on Tapestry. Kootch, or Danny Kortchmar, is fine, but "Danny Kootch" – that just isn’t me."

Buzzing in New York

Not everybody gets to clear up a misnaming of himself (that’s been passed on to about 8 million people, or so) by recording his own album. But Danny Kortchmar does, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the misnomer. It has to do with his being one of the finer guitar pickers around. And he’s been around.

"If you were around New York in 1965 or heard anything about the discotheque scene there, you’d know about the King Bee," says Danny.

From Fugs to the City

After the King Bee and two LPs on RCA, Danny became one of the fabled Flying Machine, the band immortalized in James Taylor’s song "Fire and Rain". Then, with the Flying Machine "in pieces on the ground", Danny spent some time as a sideman to the Fugs, both on record and in concert, and, after that, six months as the last guitarist for the dimming Clear Light. But it was Danny’s gig with Clear Light that got him out to L.A. When Carole King decided that the time was right to make it on her own, she asked Danny to join her backup band, the City.

Of Taylors and Kings

After Carole’s tour, the City decided to stay together, but took the name Jo Mama. Many, many people saw Kootch for the first time as a result of Jo Mama playing with James Taylor on his first tours.

Danny had settled into the security of an in-demand L.A. session men, Lee Sklar, Craig Doerge and Russ Kunkel, in forming a backup band to accompany James on another tour. Danny accepted and that band decided to stay together afterwards, too, calling themselves the Section. They now have one exemplary album out on Warner Bros.

Section Extension

Kootch is an extension of his role in the Section, as far as Danny is concerned. The four are still together (despite the many lucrative studio dates they continue to make), but Danny had a set of songs he thought could be best presented as a solo effort, and that’s that.

Simply the Best

"I wanted simple, repetitive bass lines, and very basic drumming. It would be silly for me to ask Lee to play the simple runs I wanted; and for Russ to play the kind of drums I wanted, he would be playing like only 20% of his capability. I like to play the drums and I wanted the drumming on my record to sound like it was the best the drummer could do, which is true in my case.

You Can Dance to It

"William Smith, a great musician, plays organ and sings some background. My old lady Gale sings a little, too. Jim Horn helps out on horns, and Craig did some things on the Mellotron. Every song has words, and I do the lead singing. "I didn’t make this album to show everybody what hot stuff I was in the studio. The message of this album is, "Let’s party!".

Liner Notes from "Kootch" cover.

Danny Kortchmar: vocals, bass, guitars, drums

Craig Doerge: keyboards

Abigale Haness and William Smith: background vocals

Jim Horn: flutes, recorder, baritone and alto sax

Doug Richardson: alto sax on "Dancing Shoes"

William Smith: piano, organ

Side A:

1. Put Your Dancing Shoes On (Danny Kortchmar) 3:24

2. Up Jumped the Devil (Danny Kortchmar) 3:29

3. Got to Say So Long (Danny Kortchmar) 2:44

4. For Sentimental Reasons (Abner Silver, Al Sherman, Edward Heyman) 3:07

5. Burnt Child (Danny Kortchmar) 3:29

Side B:

6. You’re so Beautiful (Danny Kortchmar) 4:16

7. My Mind Made Itself Up About You (Danny Kortchmar) 4:09

8. Don’t Jump Salty (Danny Kortchmar) 4:18

9. Come Strollin’ Now (Danny Kortchmar) 3:31

LYRICS

FORWARD MOTION 1973

The Section (Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Lee Sklar, Russ Kunkel) Producers: Section and Robert Appére Recorded at Clover Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California, between April and May or 1973 (Warner Brothers BS 2714)

THE SECTION – FORWARD MOTION “A lot of people think the Section is a studio band – that is, we back people up as the Section. This has never been true. Rarely do the four of us perform together for anyone else.” In and Out of Lifetimes Danny Kortchmar, guitarist, is perhaps the most experienced of the four. Paul Rothchild enticed him to LA several years ago to add spark to the fast-fading Clear Light. After that band’s electricity failed, he turned his talents to the studio trade, until Carole King offered him a job touring with her of her first, fateful tour. Afterwards Danny and two of the band members formed Jo Mama and subsequently toured with James Taylor, opening each concert, then backing the famous Taylor during his set. Danny’s appeared on every Warner Bros. James Taylor album, Carole’s Tapestry and, of course, many others. Taylor’s last back-up band just happened to be a group of studio musicians who all knew each other and James too, and decided to stay together and become the Section. Painting in Bass Lee Sklar had first met James Taylor when James was unknown, hawking his songs where he could. Lee was in a band, one of the members of which knew James previously. Lee is LA all the way – born here, laid back, very hairy, schooled at San Fernando Valley State in art and music. He once brought his band into one of his painting classes, and the rest of the class were to portray them in water-colors. Lee’s bass has a lot of red-brown, oaken flavor, with splashes of blue and green. If you want to be killed colorfully with bass playing, listen to Lee. Natural Fall Russ Kunkel is soft spoken. Born in Pennsylvania, moved to LA when he was 10. Played in a lot of garage bands and one popular club band that got it together for several years in Hollywood. Started doing demo sessions at $15 a song or $25 a session. “Playing the studios brings you into contact with a lot of people over the years. After a while the Section jus naturally fell together.” These are those in the know who are willing to praise Kunkel’s drumming outrageously. And all those out of the know, and just familiar with the Section’s music, would be willing to comply. Cartoon Keyboards Craig Doerge was born in Cleveland. Schooled at Trinity College in Hartford, Ct. Played in a college band. Moved to LA and just hung out – driving trucks, selling pianos. Got his first break at Quantum Recorders in Torrance playing keyboards on cartoon sessions. “Jim Keltner and some others were in that band. It was a hell of a cartoon band. I did some cartoon work not more than a year ago, as a matter of fact. I just heard us the other day on the Fat Albert cartoon show.” Craig is pursuing a solo career parallel to the Section (as is Danny – one album, Kootch, just released on WB) and is currently working on his own album. On this album Craig plays some synthesizer and Mellotron. Anything with keys he’ll play, and quite well. Craig is the fourth consummate musician in the Section. Liner Notes from "Forward Motion" cover.

Danny Kortchmar: guitar
Russ Kunkel: drums, percussion

Leland Sklar: bass
Craig Doerge: keyboards, synthesizer

Sergio and Lee Pastora: percussion on “Smilin’ Ed”

“Get Down, Piltdown” is a bass solo by Leland Sklar

On “The Garden of Ryoanji” acoustic guitar by Russ and Danny, marimba by Russ, bass by Lee

Side A:

1. Smilin' Ed (Craig Doerge, Russ Kunkel)

2. Mirador Bolero (Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Lee Sklar, Russ Kunkel)

3. Kind of Albatross (Craig Doerge)

4. One Drum (Russ Kunkel)

5. Bullet Train (Craig Doerge)

Side B:

6. Forward Motion (Danny Kortchmar, Lee Sklar)

7. Baby Lame (Craig Doerge)

8. Get Down, Philtdown (Lee Sklar)

9. Garden of Ryoanji (Russ Kunkel)

10. Burning Bush (Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge, Lee Sklar, Russ Kunkel)

All songs are instrumental

ATTITUDES 1975

Attitudes (Jim Keltner, Paul Stallwoth, Danny Kootch, David Foster) Producer: Lee Kiefer and Attitudes (Dark Horse 22008)

David Foster: Keyboards

Jim Keltner: Drums

Danny Kootch: Guitar, Lead and background vocals

Paul Stallworth: Bass, Lead and background vocals

Jesse Ed Davis: Guitar