ConversationS with David HERSHEL Cohen…

Although we never formally recorded David’s recollections (he wasn’t always eager to talk about his recording days) , I remember a few things he mentioned over the years…

- Carson cohen

Taj Mahal - David knew Taj Mahal when Taj worked as a cook at The Troubadour; this was before David’s recording career began. David said Taj told him that if he wanted a career, he should pay less attention to the old blues guitarists, and listen to James Burton, who was Ricky Nelson’s guitar player at the time.

“If I Were a Carpenter” (Bobby Darin) - This was his first recording session. Don Peake had heard David play at The Ashgrove and brought him in. David was always grateful to Don and credited him for his recording career.

Frank Zappa - David said he met Frank once when the two of them attended a guitar class taught by Brownie McGhee.

John Lennon/Phil Spector - David was hired for the LA sessions for the Rock n Roll LP, produced by Phil Spector. When Lennon arrived, David eagerly approached him, saying “how ya doin’?” Lennon curtly responded “same as you” and kept walking. David recalled Spector bringing guns to the session and refused to work with him again.

Henry Mancini - David was on a session conducted by Mancini. When everyone broke for lunch, David overheard someone asking Mancini if he wanted to go get lunch, and Mancini replied, “Lunch??? I’ve got an empire to run here!”

The Wrecking Crew - David said the name “The Wrecking Crew” was never official or widely used at the time; it was little more than a passing joke. David remembers Hal Blaine on one occasion saying “more like the wrecked crew…”

Glen Campbell - David said Glen would frequently show up at sessions he wasn’t booked at, popping his head in the door asking if anyone needs another guitarist; the response was always an enthusiastic “yes!”

“I Am Love” (JACKSON 5) - David said this was an overdub session - only he and arranger James Anthony Carmichael were present. He said Carmichael had been up all night working and kept falling asleep in his chair during the session.

“SUGAR” (Stevie Wonder) - David said Stevie said something approvingly to David about his playing - “keep playing those sixths, man!” (Or something along those lines.) As I’ve listened more and more to David’s playing, I’ve noticed he does play a lot of sixths…

“Feelin’ Alright” (JOE COCKER) - Unfortunately David is pretty much inaudible in the final mix. I remember David being extremely complimentary about the piano player, Artie Butler.

Favorite guitarists - David said his favorite was Jesse Ed Davis. He also really liked Mike Deasy’s playing.

Simon and Garfunkel - David was booked on a session, but ultimately he wasn’t needed. Union rules dictated that David had to get paid anyway, and David continued to receive royalties. (Unfortunately the royalty sheet I saw did not specify which song or album David played on, and despite research at Local 47, I have not been able to get any more specific details yet.

“I Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Was In” (THE FIRST EDITION) - David didn’t know until he heard the finished record that they had turned his guitar parts backwards, and this caused him great annoyance. Out of curiosity, I put the part into my DAW and reversed it, and was surprised to find that this iconic psychedelic part was in fact some basic blues licks played on an acoustic guitar.

Ry Cooder - David and Ry were close friends, and frequently played together at places like The Ashgrove, but apparently they had a falling out and permanently lost touch.

“Somebody’s Gonna Off the Man” (Barry White ) - David said he remembers playing a lick in the key of B; we listened for it and couldn’t find it. (The song is in C# minor; a lick in B major would work)

Toto - David said he was approached by David Paich about starting a new band, but my uncle wasn’t interested. Intriguing as the idea is to me, I don’t think David would have been the right fit for Toto (and he couldn’t be more different stylistically from Steve Lukather).

ConversationS with David Bennett Cohen…

While this website is without question intended to advocate for the legacy of my uncle, David Hershel Cohen, I want to stress that I have Much respect and admiration for the musicianship and the career of David Bennett Cohen. I reached out to him via email in July of 2018 and he couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful.

With his permission, I am including our conversation:

July 3, 2018
Hi David, My name is Carson Cohen and my uncle is David Hershel Cohen, the other David Cohen who was an active studio musician in the 60s and 70s. For the sake of posterity, I'm interested in putting together a comprehensive list of the recordings he played on. However, for various reasons he didn't keep very good records, and his memory these days has some gaps. I tried the Musician's Union but they were unable to help due to the way their records were organized prior to the use of computers. And (as you probably know) every reference source I've found confuses the two of you; many think the two of you are one person. I'm interested in clearing this up. To that end, I was wondering if you had any kind of list of the recordings you played on. The more comprehensive the better, but anything you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks for your time. Best, Carson Cohen

July 5, 2018
Hi, Carson I met “the other” David Cohen in 1965 when I was visiting LA. Seemed like a really good guy. I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked what it was like to play for Barbra Streisand... I’ve been using my middle name for a while. It just got really tedious when I said David Cohen and the response was invariably, “Which one? Ha ha ha!” My recording credits are fairly limited. CJ and F, obviously. I also played on a Blues Project record and I played on a Melvin Van Peebles one. Alice Stewart. Rory Block. A few of my own. I think any that were recorded in LA are his. If I think of any others I’ll let you know. (Obviously, I haven’t kept good records (hah!), either. Hope this helps. By the way, does this mean he’s no longer with us? If that’s the case, what a shame. A great musician. Feel free to contact me anytime. Cheers DBC

July 6, 2018
Hey David, Thanks for writing back! Yes, that does help a lot, and any time you think of more sessions you played on, I'd love to know about it. And fortunately, my uncle is still with us, although he has had a couple of health scares the last few years. He never married or had any kids, so last year my wife and I and David all got a place together so we could be there for him to help out...this is where my interest began in compiling a list of his credits. He's not terribly forthcoming about his work, we really have to prod him sometimes. So every few months we find ourselves saying "wait - you played on a Stevie Wonder record?!?!?" or "you're on a John Lennon record?!?!?!?", etc. Anyway, now I'm more curious about your work. Where would you point someone who's pretty unfamiliar with your music (aside from CJ & F)? What that you've done are you most proud of? Thanks again Carson

July 7, 2018
Hi, Carson You know, there’s also David Blue. Yet another David Cohen... you might want to check his discography, too, although, he’s mostly known as a songwriter. I met him in Washington Square back in probably 1958, or so. We actually remained friends ever since, until his death. But he was part of the LA crowd that included Joni Mitchell and David Crosby. I’m sure he knew your uncle. I have a bunch of stuff of YouTube. Mostly Blues piano. And some Blue piano instructional videos. There’s not to much guitar up. I’m mostly a piano player these days. Please stay in touch. I am enjoying this conversation. And say, “Hello,” to your uncle. Ask him if he remembers me. Cheers DBC

July 9, 2018
Geez, a third musician named David Cohen...I had no idea. But I looked him up and it doesn't look like there was much confusion with him the way there was with you and my uncle. I asked my uncle about you, and while he certainly knew about you, he doesn't remember meeting you, I'm afraid. Although he was doing a lot of drugs back then. Do you remember anything more specific about the circumstances of your meeting? It might help jog his memory. He did say that the two of you would occasionally get each others' AFM payments and would then forward them to each other. By the way, I looked on your Wikipedia page, and it listed a lot of musicians you played with - Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Bob Weir, etc. - but you told me your recording credits were pretty limited. I remember being about 10 or so, and meeting an LA musician - no idea who - and mentioning that my uncle was the musician David Cohen, and his response was "studio Dave Cohen?" I guess you were more of a live performer and he was more of a studio player; is that accurate? Speaking of that Wikipedia page, it also mentions that you played with Tim Hardin. I know my uncle played on some of his records; did you as well, or is that a mistake? Thanks again - I'm enjoying this conversation too! Best Carson

July 10, 2018
Hey, Carson I think you’re right about my being a “live” musician, as opposed to studio. To confuse things even more, there was yet another of us, called himself David “Cat” Cohen. From Chicago, I think. I don’t think he recorded, or even that he has continued as a musician. What I remember about our meeting was that it was during the Watts riots in 1965. I went to LA with Sandy Rothman. We were passing the Troubadour and there in the window was Taj Mahal, David, and, I think, Ry Cooder. We went in and met with them. Sandy knew them already. Taj was talking about the riots and how when people saw him, they cringed. He was amused by it, not angry, I can see how David would not have recalled this. It was not particularly momentous, especially with the riots going on. So, that’s what I remember. I will be in Northern California in October for some gigs, but I have no plans to visit SoCal this time. I will let you know if/when I go there. Cheers DBC