Customer Reviews

Live Through the 70's

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well some of us remember Johnny Winter when he came out as a "bonus baby" (one of the highest paid artists at the time- not really appropriate for a "bluesman") on his initial Columbia Records debut. That record was fantastic, but it was at the end of the "blues boom" of the 1960s. Winter went on to record some great things but got stuck between blues, rock and so on. We guitarists all loved him with his fingerpick style and soulful speed- a cross between Freddie King and B.B., with a great growling voice- not like Bob Hite and other "white" blues singers at the time.

This DVD is really the best released so far. I have waited two months to write a proper review of it. Winter has had several Japanese releases (bootleg) with some of these tunes on it, but they are not as good. The sound on this DVD makes it very special. If you only have one Johnny Winter DVD this should be it. A few years ago they released "Pieces and Bits" which, like this was a compilation of VHS released stuff, but it was a bit all over the place. This DVD is right on! I am a Blues lover and I will address this review to that part of the content.

The opening tunes are special- the sound this track not the best but Winter's interpretation of his brother Edgar's "Frankenstein" is a highlight (still the Winter Bros top chart hit!- even if Johnny didn't play on the record-(Ronnie Montrose- with ex-band member, guitarist, Rick Derringer as producer)-but this version is superb Johnny's graceful lead and his multi-instrumentalist brother's great drum solo- just fantastic!. Of course the presence of Tommy Shannon, later of "Double Trouble" with SRV on this tune and in several other parts of the DVD is also very special.

Johnny's version of BB King's "Be Careful Of The Fool" is one of the highlights of the disc. It showcases Winter's abilities and style. This tune is much like his version of another King tune, "It's My Own Fault", from the Fillmore East sessions! You will play that one over and over.

At Royal Albert Hall the highlights are "Johnny B. Goode", very clever and well done. And "Talk To Your Daughter"the great tune from JB Lenoir, is performed with a different groove. "Tell The Truth" showcases the immense talent of Johnny's brother Edgar- what a keyboard and Sax solo!! A fantastic effort, even if it is a runny VHS transfer!

The final selections I want to comment on are; "Key To The Highway"-Big Bill Broonzy's and later Little Walter's tune-which by the way is not listed on the back of the case!! This is Johnny at his best--just him and an inadequate bass player- but his is still brilliant-you can watch that one over and over if you are a player. Also "Walking Through The Park"- from the famous Muddy Water's tribute show (why has this not been released yet!!!) with Johnny playing with Muddy, Junior Wells and Mike Bloomfield on this tune! Another superb blues selection is "Walking By Myself"- Jimmy Rogers' (James Lane) classic tune. In many ways it's the highlight of the whole disc! A great rendition! Finally is Dale Hawkins' "Suzi Q" with James Burton's classic riff.- just great!

This is a "must have" for all blues fans and guitarists. It is a pity that so little footage exists of this great blues innovator. It's a shame that the "Blues Boom" of the 1960s ended and left this talent hanging- but at least we have something! Remember little exists of Magic Sam, Guitar Slim, Young Buddy Guy and T-Bone Walker and even Albert King. This show is a must for most collectors and Blues enthusiasts.

Reason I'm giving this DVD such a high rating is because both the sound and picture quality are pristine. Total of fourteen foot-stomping blues rockers as only Johnny Winter is able to play. Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the three song performance from the 1970 Danish Teen Club show of "Frankenstein", the bluesy "Be Careful Of The Floor" and "Drop The Bomb" + the three song live concert (looks like maybe a 16mm film) snippet from the Royal Albert Hall with brother Edgar on sax. I for one, had no idea the two toured together in 1970. Next up, is the almost ahead-of-it's time presentation of the total *ss-kicking "Mean Town Blues" - from a German Beat Club appearance. Following that, it's a two song 1973 Don Kirshner's Rock Concert gig of "Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo" and "Stone Country" - that I remember seeing on TV when I was in junior high. Sure sounds better in full stereo. Also seem to recall the one track here from Johnny's 1974 Soundstage show - a song written by Muddy Waters, the toe-tapping "Walking Through The Park". Wanted to mention the interview snips (appearing at the right place during this DVD) were nice. Simply, a must-have for all true Johnny Winter fans. Would make a memorable holiday gift.

I have been a Winter fan since the 70's, so far this is the best footage I have seen of him. Lot's of good interviews, some good close ups of him also. The quality on most of this is great, and yes some is blurry, but it is good just to have live footage. It shows Johnny in his prime, lots of excellent guitar solos too. He plays with a lot of different people, but no matter what he just shines like you would expect. Overall this is a must have for Winter fans, way better than (Pieces & Bits) or (Live At Time Square) for sure. I know some people will complain about it, so if you want perfection you might not like it. So far this is the best there is on DVD, so why not just watch and enjoy it. And he also does some great slide work, this is something I love to watch him do, what a master.

At last some great video of Johnny has come out, I don't know where they found all this stuff, but it is a quantum leap in quality from what has previously been available. Here's a brief synopsis:

The opening three tracks from Danish TV (1970) surprise especially by the bright, sharp video. You can even see the zits on Edgar's face. Good stuff, especially 'Be Careful With A Fool', although the best is still to come.

Next we break into part of an informal interview from 1970, someone says its 4 in the morning, joints are going round and both interviewer and interviewee, plus band and hangers-on, seem pretty wasted. After a few minutes, we go back to the music, but we'll be returning to this free-form interview a few more times on the DVD.

The roughest quality film comes next with the 3 Royal Albert Hall songs, starting with Johnny B Goode. Both film and sound are of a lower quality than the rest of the DVD, but seeing as there's space on the DVD for it, I'd rather it be included than not. However, the music itself is great.

We rejoin the previous interview scene next. In a long stoned rap that Johnny just manages to hold together, he says he believes he is able to levitate if he puts his mind to it, by tuning into the gravitational force on another planet. A great jam follows with just Randy Hobbs on bass, and Johnny pulls off an amazing impromptu version of 'Key To The Highway', without drums or rhythm of any sort other than Randy's basslines. Johnny seems so out of it, but it certainly doesn't affect his playing, which is crisp and tight.

Next we have a single clip of 'Mean Town Blues' from Germany in 1970, one of the highlights for me with some fantastic slide playing. Incredible track.

We return again to the previous interview scene, where there's a criticism of contemporary rock (1970), Johnny complaining that it's become too unstructured. Johnny says he and his band never rehearse, and try new things every night.

We jump now to 1973, but it looks like Johnny's aged 40 years. However, we soon realise that it's just his longish albino beard that makes him look like Willie Nelson from a distance, plus his black leather top hat. Glam has affected their stage clothes, but thankfully not the music, which is as great and sharp as ever. Johnny shows amazing dexterity in moving around in his massive platform shoes.

An interesting version of Muddy Waters' 'Walking Through The Park' from the Blues Summit in Chicago in 1974 follows, which features Michael Bloomfield, Buddy Miles and Dr John, amongst others. Sadly, little if any of Bloomfield's playing is audible.

We return again to the previous scene, where Johnny surprises all by telling the assembled group, stoned out of their minds, that people shouldn't let their lives revolve around dope. They've got to have something to live for. In true 'Do what I say, not what I do' fashion, Johnny insists on moderation(!), assumingly in their drug-taking.

We return next to Germany in 1974 for a great 'Boney Maroney'. The audio is a little muddy in comparison to other tracks, but still good enough to enjoy some great playing. Weirdly, for 30 seconds we break to a German pop presenter who explains in German that callers can only choose to see videos which are on a previously given playlist, as they were getting callers asking for the Beatles and the Stones, and others not on the list.

Finally, we jump to Essen's Rockpalast in 1979. An older maturer Winter is playing in a leather cap, and although by this point his liver must have already processed vast amounts of toxins, this doesn't seem to have affected his playing. 'Walkin' By Myself', 'Mississippi Blues' and 'Susie Q' round off one of the greatest classic rock DVDs I've seen in years.

(I saw Johnny last year in Berlin, and feared the worst when he had to be helped by two people onto his stool centre stage (he doesn't play standing anymore, and his back is a bit arched). He was pretty immobile throughout, but the moment he starts playing you realise that you've underestimated the man - he can still play, even if only at three-quarters strength. A true living legend, he still wowed the crowd despite his lack of audience interaction.)

I'm writing this review to give potential buyers a pause in the face of the 5 star reviews that got me clicking the order now button. I am a big fan of Johnny Winter. I've owned many albums and seen him play in a couple clubs years ago in Houston. This dvd has its moments: highlights include Be Careful with a Fool, Mean Town Blues, Stone County, Walking By Myself. Lowlights inferior video quality and an on going interview with a stoned questioner discussing how rock n roll is going wrong and wouldn't it be great to levitate while playing. The price is not bad but I don't see myself jumping through the low points to view this again. Well maybe for Be Careful with a Fool.

I read the many reviews before buying this DVD, and I have to say to those that were negative, to stop being so picky! The version of Frankenstien was worth the price of the whole video!! Yes a few of the songs the video was old and a bit grainy, but they didnt have HD cameras back then. And a german VJ interupts a song for a few seconds (boo hoo). I found the sound to be great on most all of the songs. I saw JW a couple of years ago and he now sits on a chair and plays, but is still impressive as a blues/rock guitarist. I only own 1 album by him, it was recorded live in the 70's, so maybe thats why I found this collection so excellent. I find it hard to believe that anyone would not enjoy this DVD, even a hardcore collector who has tons of his music should find this worth the money!

I've been a Johnny Winter fan for 35 years. There have been some great live releases that have come out over the years, but they have generally been audio only. Good video footage of Winter is rare. In Winter's case some of his best stuff is live. It is the only way to fully appreciate his full range of playing. From his scorching fast Texas blues/rock hybrid to his slower paced more Chicago style blues, his playing is some of the most impressive ever put down. This video captures all of that and more. The footage for the most part is amazing in its quality, considering the age. The sound is absolutely pristine too. Every set is great on this disc; but I can't tell you how blown away I was with the opening sequence at the Gladsaxe Teen Club, Denmark 1970, set in a very intimate atmosphere. In the Denmark sequence we are also treated to an early version of brother Edgar's "Frankenstein" with A young Edgar sitting in. Both Winter brothers' playing is just fabulous on this. There is also a strange but entertaining interview with Johnny, from that era, that is included on the disc. His language and thinking on the interview are certainly reminiscent of the times. What else can be said; this is the disc that Winter fans have been waiting for.

First saw JW in 1970 @ the Spectrum in Philly..w/the Allman Bros..he was backstage @ the Atlantic City Pop Festival on 8/2/69 but didn't perform because his equiptment didn't arrive...I managed to catch almost every tour from 73 when he played the bay area..this is the best & only document so far from this time period....I took this cover shot at Winterland in San Francisco in March of 74...see this image on my website...hopefully there will be a part 2 to this excellent DVD in the near future as there is more great stuff out there...Peter Stupar...SF, Ca.

If you are a Johnny Winter fan, what are you waiting for ? This is a great compiliation of Johnny's onstage 70's stuff. I think I remember seeing him on the "Rock Concert" segment. Memories ...

This DVD is a treat. It's generally great compared to the few other Johnny Winter DVDs I've seen. Considering Johnny's been performing for 40 years it's unfortunate there aren't more of his shows captured.

Not all tracks on this DVD are of equal quality - the Albert Hall concert is an electric performance but the footage is rough. The source video on some of the later German concerts seems to have slightly deteriorated in spots but it doesn't detract much from the quality of Winter's excellent performances.

The earlier Danish footage is extraordinarily sharp for its age - with great sound - surprisingly enjoyable to watch. The interviews are spontaneous, whimsical, humorous, even a bit ominous - and provide a rare glimpse into the personality of the man behind the searing blues riffs. Winter's performances of 'Be Careful With a Fool' and 'Fast Life Rider' are mesmerizing (These songs are listed on the DVD as 'Be Careful Of The Fool' and 'Drop the Bomb'), as is the German production of 'Mean Town Blues'. Fantastic!

Highly recommended if you're a fan of this legendary guitarist.