Johnny Winter And CD

Although Johnny Winter is primarily thought of as a Texas bluesman, 1970's JOHNNY WINTER AND is more of a blues-influenced rock & roll album. Backed by a tight and rocking band featuring ex-McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer--Winter's original backing band at this time were the "Hang On Sloopy" boys in their entirety, but the drummer and keyboardist were replaced just before the sessions started--the guitarist blasts through 11 songs with fire and verve.

The songs' relative brevity means that there's none of the bloated showboating that bogs down most guitar-boogie albums of this era; these tight arrangements feature complementary playing by all band members instead of endless soloing. Winter and Derringer in particular get into some guitar duels that are among the best of their time, especially on the first recording of Derringer's future solo hit "Rock and Roll Hootchie-Koo." Solid stuff.

1970 album from Columbia by the great blues/rock guitarist Winter with Rick Derringer, Randy Hobbs & Randy Z. Contains all 11 original tracks including the hit 'Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo', & the original cover art. For over 30 years, Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Signing to Columbia records in 1969, Johnny immediately laid out the blueprint for his fresh take on classic blues a prime combination for the legions of fans just discovering the blues via the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Constantly shifting between simple country blues in the vein of Robert Johnson, to all-out electric slide guitar blues-rock, - Johnny has always been one of the most respected singers and guitar players in rock and the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock (a la the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd.) Throughout the '70s and '80s, Johnny was the unofficial torch-bearer for the blues, championing and aiding the careers of his idols like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Sony.

Recorded in New York, New York on June 9, 1970. Originally released on Columbia (C 30221).

Digitally remastered by Steve Hoffman.

Personnel: Johnny Winter (vocals, guitar); Rick Derringer (vocals, guitar); Randy Jo Hobbs (vocals); Randy Z (drums).

Personnel: Johnny Winter (vocals, guitar); Rick Derringer (vocals, guitar); Randy Hobbs (vocals, bass); Randy Z (drums).

Rolling Stone (10/29/70, pp.44-46) - "...[Johnny Winter And] is Rock and Roll at its very best. Good, solid songs--a few of them instant classics..."