After two late-'60s albums on Columbia, Johnny Winter hit his stride in 1970 working with Rick Derringer and the McCoys, now recruited as his sidemen and collaborators (and proving with just about every note here how far they'd gotten past "Hang on Sloopy"). In place of the bluesy focus on his first two albums, Winter extended himself into more of a rock-oriented mode here, in both his singing and his selection of material. This was hard rock with a blues edge, and had a certain commercial smoothness lacking in his earlier work. Derringer's presence on guitar and as a songwriter saw to it that Winter's blues virtuosity was balanced by perfectly placed guitar hooks, and the two guitarists complemented each other perfectly throughout as well. There wasn't a weak moment anywhere on the record, and if Johnny Winter And wasn't a huge commercial success, it was mostly because of the huge amount of competition at the time from other, equally inspired players, that kept numbers like the Winter originals "Prodigal Son" and "Guess I'll Go Away" as well as Derringer co-authored pieces such as "Look Up" from having the impact they should have had on FM radio. AMG.listen here
I've had this for years but wanted to comment. This is NOT your typical JWinter record. It's rock and roll, and it's one of the better records of it's era. A MUST HAVE for classic rock fans. Sure, it's bluesy, but only as a reference. This is a smokin' rock and roll record. The guitar interplay between Winter and Derringer is phenomenal, almost telepathic, heh heh heh. Phrases and riffs are started by one and ended by the other. Tunes like Ain't That A Kindness have a 2 guitar rhythm juggernaut that leaves the best Stones stuff in the dust. Plus check those harmony lead lines on Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo. STELLAR RECORD. His only other "rock" record that comes close is Still Alive and Well.
ResponderEliminarI agree with eurofelipe on this one! Great album, and great dual guitars!
ResponderEliminarI bought a 2nd rate CD that included 90 % of the tunes from this, but the sound was crap! Thanx for sharing so I could hear it in it's glory again!