Johnny Winter Live Bootleg Series, Vol.5 CD

The keyword in this Johnny Winter archival series is "bootleg." This fifth volume feels more like a bottom-of-the-barrel scrape than anything that flatters or enhances Winter's reputation as an electric blues innovator. The material is from the late '80s or early '90s except for "Talk Is Cheap," which he cut early on. The sound quality is pure audience with limited fidelity -- you can hear the man's guitar and you can hear a bassline, and that's about it -- and his singing, when you can behold it clearly, is atrociously bad. This volume should be avoided by anyone who values Winter's contribution to modern American music. ~ Thom Jurek

The keyword in this Johnny Winter archival series is "bootleg." This fifth volume features material from the late '80s or early '90s except for "Talk Is Cheap," which he cut early on. The sound quality is audience level with limited fidelity. ~ Thom Jurek

Photographer: Susan Winter.

Personnel: Johnny Winter (vocals, guitar); Jon Paris (harmonica, bass guitar); Bobby T. (drums).

Liner Note Author: Mark Kemp.