Customer Reviews

Edgar Winter Group With Rick Derringer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer...now there's a title for the ages. If anyone knows their Winter History, Rick Derringer helped write, produce, and play on many of (Johnny and Edgar) Winter albums of the early - to - mid 70's. But back to this album, this is just a fun, party rock record. You know it's a party if Derringer is listed on the album...Johnny Winter played the blues, Edgar played the jazz, and when Derringer worked with each brother seperately (and together, on Johnny and Edgar Winter Live 'Together') he brought in the rock (and party). I wouldn't call this album as essential or a masterpiece, but any fan of mid 70's rock, or of Edgar, Johnny, or Rick should definitely pick up. This is a no frills release.

As a long time Edgar Winter fan, this was one of the few missing from my collection. Edgar's a multi intrumental star with a wonderful voice, who wails on sax, keys and assorted percussion. Chuck Ruff was a steady drummer, and Dan Hartman and Rick Derringer share bass, guitar, synthesizer roles on this. However, althought the supporting cast is pretty much the same as the previous releases ("They Only Come Out at Night" and "Shock Treatment") minus Ronnie Montrose on guitar who had left to form his own band, there is little from a songwriting perspective that is memorable. Take three great singers who are multi-instrumental stars and usually the outcome is more memorable. I recommend the earlier Edgar releases for a new listener.

As far as I am aware this is the very last studio recording of the Edgar Winter Group.As it is Rick Derringer,Dan Hartman and Edgar himself had already begun to move onto greener pastures but they decided to give it one last go as a group. This long forgotton album is for this group kind of their "White Album"-in as much as each members own individual musical stamps are seperated out into patishe form,without one member having to dominate the spotlight. The funny thing is that by 1975 Edgar Winter's own star was already shinning so brightly it was in danger of outshining anyone else who happened to cross his musical path. But the chemistry this group created resulted in a lot of the old magic that sustained them during the "Free Ride" era still being there. On the opener "Cool Dance" Dan starts things off with a mixture of soul and rock he'd continue to refine in coming years.On "People Music" he and Edgar rock out to perfection on one of the very best rockers the two ever collaberated on. "Good Shot" had Edgar stepping out front and apparently he'd been doing some heavy grooving to some big time Sly & The Family Stone during this era because it's slippry horns and chocked vocals come right out of that school-it's one of Edgar's very best journey's into the funk. Next up is Rick Derringers turn at bat with the catchy little country-western-styled "Nothin' Good Comes Easy". On the next two numbers first Edgar then Dan try at something a little different-two melodic "suite"-type pieces;Edgar's being the jazzier "Infinate Peace In Rhythm" and Dan's the more soulful "Paradise/Sides"-both songs were great for the band because they put them in synth with the other musicians of that era."Diamond Eyes" is one of Edgar's best songs on the album and one of his finest ballads-a slick R&Bish tune with a pleasingly non-mockish,youth oriented humanitarian message. Another huge highlite from this recording is the closing "Chainsaw"-a raucous,hard-rock/fusion instrumental that makes it clear The Edgar Winter Group had every intention of going out with a bang not a whimper. In the years following this Edgar Winter would go on to even great hights as a solo performer with JASMINE NIGHT DREAMS (DTS),Recycled and Edgar Winter Album-albums that found Edgar turning his back on hard rock and focusing on his main musical strengh such as jazz,funk,R&B,soul and even some disco on the latter listed recording. But a lot of the directions that were pursued on those albums have their roots here.

I am so happy to FINALLY see this released on CD! This album was one of my recommendations to Wounded Bird records after they re-released 1979's "The Edgar Winter Album" and 1981's "Standing On Rock". I note the other review of this album here calls it the "Swan Song" for the Edgar Winter Group - perhaps in name only.

Edgar's further releases, such as 1975's "Jasmine Nightdreams" also included Dan Hartman, Chuck Ruff & Rick Derringer, not to mention performances from his brother Johnny, but it was released as an Edgar Winter album, not The Edgar Winter Group. Following this album, he released albums as a solo artist.

This album was an excellent release. I don't agree that it's not on the same par with 'They Only Come Out At Night' and 'Shock Treatment', it's a completely different type of album, different styles of music and composition and non-conceptual.

There are several great tunes on this album, including "Cool Dance", "People Music" [a staple of Edgar's], "Nothing Good Comes Easy", "Paradise/Sides", "Diamond Eyes", and the de rigueur synthesizer-based instrumental "Chainsaw".

I have ordered this already from Wounded Bird and am anxious to check out their remastering job. They did an INCREDIBLE job with The Edgar Winter Album and Standing on Rock. I've purchased several copies of this album on vinyl, but it does not transfer well to CD.

If you love the music of Edgar Winter, you will love this album. It was a bit overlooked upon its release. He wound up releasing two albums in 1975, this one, and "Jasmine Nightdreams", which is an absolute STELLAR album. If you enjoy the talent and virtuosity of Edgar Winter, this album definitely has a place in your collection.

This 1975 LP is the third Winter recorded with his core group of bassist Dan Hartman, drummer Chuck Ruff and producer/guitarist Rick Derringer. And though they still manage to find some funky grooves, and Winter's vocals are good, the songs don't live up to 1972's "They Only Come Out at Night" or even 1974's "Shock Treatment." Hartman and Winter's tunes continue the rock-and-soul of the earlier albums, but without as many of the radio-ready hooks. The beefy instrumental "Chainsaw" pales in comparison to the group's earlier "Frankenstein," the ballads are mostly unmemorable, and the Winter-Hartman collaboration "Diamond Eyes" sounds like 1970s soft-rock. "Let's Do It Together Again" is a catchy sing-along, while Hartman's country-flavored "Can't Tell One From the Other" and Derringer's pair of pop-rockers, "Modern Love" and "J.A.P. (Just Another Punk)," rise above the rest of the album's tracks. A few sparks, but not a solid LP. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]

Got to like Edgar and Rick Derringer to enjoy this CD, even then, you have to force yourself to like some of it.
Just my opinnion and I'm a big Edgar, Johnny and Rick D fan - from all of their various incarnations.

This was the third and final album for the Edgar Winter Group. After two very strong albums ("They Only Come Out At Night" and "Shock Treatment") this album was a disappointment. It was a commercial flop and the Group broke-up soon after its release. Unlike on previous albums, Rick Derringer does more than play lead guitar, he sings and writes songs. Unfortunately, his songs here are not that good. My favorite song is the Dan Hartman - Edgar Winter collaboration, "People Music". It is in a similar style as previous EWG hits like "Free Ride" and "Rivers Risin". "Diamond Eyes" and "Let's Do It Together Again" are ok, but probably would not have made it on either of the two previous albums (which could be said for most of the songs on this album). All-in-all, this was a weak swan song and is recommended only for avid EWG fans that have to have all 3 of their albums. After this, Dan Hartman would go on to a modestly successful solo career before passing away in 1994.

Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer together spells instant success. This is one of the great albums from that time period that is pure rock 'n'
roll. It's a shame that the rock artists of today just don't have a clue when it comes to creating quality music. They should be sentenced to have to be locked in a room for 24 hours, and forced to listen repeatedly to this great album. Maybe that way, they can get at least an idea of what real Rock music is all about. I highly recommend this album to all who love "real" rock music!

Having packed away the vinyl so long ago, I was surprised that I had forgotten how good this disc is; especially the first half. Kudos to the sound engineer who converted this to digital, while not perfect, it's the best sonic EWG cd I've heard (haven't heard the SACD version of they only come out at night).

Other than some especially weak lyrics from guitarist extraordinaire Rick Derringer on cuts 4, 8 and 11, there is exceptional music and musicianship in abundance. "Cool Dance" and "Good Shot" are fun funk with some of Edgar's best singing and horn work and "People Music" is a hard edged boogie romp that's hard to resist. "Infinite Peace in Rhythm" and "Paradise/Sides" are well sequenced, touching lyrics for living life in harmony -- the latter beautifully sung by Dan Hartman. The second half of the album is pretty mediocre, though the country tinged "Can't Tell One from the Other" is a nice nod to the laid back southern rock of the mid-70's. The album closes with an evolutionary wink to Edgar Winter's next project - Jasmine Nightdreams and showcases how far Edgar's synthesizer prowess had progressed from his groundbreaking work in TOCOaN.

A very fine synthesis of EWWT and the first two EWG efforts -- try them all!