Customer Reviews

Raisin Cain

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

 

 

Having been a Johnny Winter fan for the past 15 years, and having seen him several times, this album is a great collection for any Johnny Winter fan. It is not his best work, but a good CD non the less. Since it is a 3-piece band, which Johnny prefers, he makes the most of the songs albiet they are cover tunes. I especially like his version of Bob Dylan's "Like a rolling Stone". and "New York New York". The atmosphere of the album seems to be Johnny just having fun, which as we know is when Johnny plays his best guitar!

Johnny Winter has been a favorite of mine since I started learning how to play guitar in the late 1970's and this album has some great guitar work on it. My favorite track has to be Talk is Cheap. It's got a great rhythm section and great guitar work from Winter. There are other noteworthy songs including The Crawl, Sittin' in the Jailhouse & Rollin' Tumblin' but Talk is Cheap has made this one of my top Winter selections for years. It does not equal the Alligator releases but has good energy. Difficult to find in modern formats though.

It's been a long time since I heard this album. I've got almost all of Johnny's major-label releases, and this is above-average, even for him. Great guitar, as always, unique vocals, and good song selection. You just can't beat Johnny's blues guitar in a three-piece setting !

This is a Rock album, simple and straight forward. Released in 1980, I never saw it for sale new in the bins. I got a promo copy at a used record store, very rare. Probably because it was JW's last Blue Sky album. He did one or two more Blue Sky's with Muddy, but this is the end of all those classic Blue Sky recording. Also the last album before he went to the headless Lazer. He takes full advantage of the Gibson Firebird, playing four slide tunes. Five of these songs have been released on various compilations and covered in the Bootleg Series, three are on the White Hot Blues compilation. The album has that classic rock feel in that Johnny's playing isn't really highlighted, but it's there leading the charge. Hard to explain, that's why I love this album, it's different and delivers. It just has that "drop the needle and enjoy the ride" feel that is utterly lost in today's music. And it ranks high in my list of albums to play when visitors come over and if they don't ask, "Who is this?" They are musical nincompoops. No shame, it's just a fact.

The touring band of Bobby T and Jon Paris are the other musicians. JP does his best harp on this record, which emphasizes Johnny's approach in the studio...let's jam!! Great treatment of Like A Rollin Stone, first time I've heard Johnny playing overdub dueling guitars, excellent version. Bon Ton Roulet is a lustful, syncopated romp. He also hits Rollin' and Tumblin' again, think he likes this song? Plays the hell out of it. And in pure JW style closes the record with a classic ballad complete with horns and melodic shredding.

I bought this disc about 6 months ago for fear that it would never be reissued. It was expensive then and is expensive now. The uninitiated should probably go with a compilation, but the JW fan will not regret this purchase. Pick up an OT shift at the plant and buy this.

1.The Crawl

2.Sitting In The Jail House

3.Like A Rolling Stone

4.New York, New York

5.Bon Ton Roulet

6.Rollin' And Tumblin'

7.Talk Is Cheap

8.Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

9.Don't Hide Your Love

10.Mother-In-Law Blues

11.Walkin' Slowly

I saw these guys back in 1980 when they were touring this album. Johnny was great, and the bass player played bass and harmonica at the same time. What you hear on this album is what they played live.

First saw Winter And in 1969 at the Hollywood Palladium. By the time 1985 rolled around, I was up to 14 Winter concerts including the Winter Live!

My favorite track is Bon Ton...followed by NY NY. Ran the songs through Audacity to punch up the bottom and middle. Even better still

(and yes I'm alive and well) Add this and Enjoy!

Another great album by Johnny. He stays true to blues and rock with this album.