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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent!!, November 13, 2003
In 1994, Columbia records released A Rock And Roll Collection, a compilation of Johnny Winter's albums released on that label (and it's subsidiary Blue Sky) from about 1969 to 1980. This two disc set is a perfect showcase for his talented, megawatt guitar playing, but it also illustrates the problems in marketing such a gifted artist. Was he a bluesman, a classic rock and roller, a talented soul/funk/r and b player, what? Not to mention, the one and only bona-fide hit in this whole set ("Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo") was a major chart success only for the guy who wrote it (Rick Derringer), and not the guy who first recorded it (Winter). So, what we have here is a compilation of excellent originals ("Thirty Days," "Hustled Down in Texas,"), some very fine covers ("Miss Ann," "When You've Got a Good Friend," "Rock Me Baby"), some very good live numbers ("Bony Moronie," "Good Morning, Little School Girl," "It's All Over Now","Highway 61 Revisited"), one absolutely Titanic guest appearance by Muddy Waters and his band ("Walking Thru the Park"), and the rest of the cuts, which are mostly pretty mediocre. Some of these songs are hurt by strange decisions in the studio (Why ruin Robert Johnson's classic "Come On In My Kitchen" with a FLUTE solo? And who deleted the lusty background vocals by the Sing Sing Singers on "Thirty Days?); the entire package suffers from a rather bewildering track selection (Why only one cut apiece from Saints and Sinners and Still Alive and Well, two of Winter's best early works?). In sum, this is only a fairly good collection: it seems that Winter solved the material/marketing problems himself by recording nothing but the blues after about 1977; most of his later efforts are much more consistent and listenable. So while you may be discontented with much of A Rock And Roll Collection, there is still much to satisfy the patient listener. Rock on, Johnny!!!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Overview Of Texas Blues Rock Guitarist, October 21, 2001
Johnny Winter is perhaps overlooked because of the success and tragic death of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Like Vaughn, he also had to overcome his personal demons in the form of a heroin addiction. Tommy Shannon of Double Trouble originally played in Johnny Winter's band. Johnny Winter was the original Texas blues/rock guitar slinger. The 2 cd anthology compiles his material for Columbia from 1969-80. He was signed to Columbia after an article in "Rolling Stone" touted the Texas albino's six-string prowess. This also led appearances at many of the major festivals of the sixties and early seventies including Woodstock in 1969. This set contains 1 unissued track and 1 alternate take along with highlights from his career up to this point. Most of my favorite cuts are the live songs. "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", "Bony Moronie", "It's All Over Now" and a smokin' cover of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" are among the highlights. Another interesting cut is Winter's version of Rick Derringer's "Rock And Roll Hoochie Coo" cut while Derringer played second guitar in Winter's band. The music is great mixture of rock and Texas blues with Winter's stinging guitar at the forefront. He is master of slide guitar both electric and on his National Steel guitar when he elects to play acoustically. Brother Edgar appears on some cuts as well as Muddy Waters on Winter's version of "Walking Thru The Park". My regrets are that each disk is not even an hour in length. No material from his albums "John Dawson Winter III" or "White, Hot And Blue" or his Woodstock performances are included. The set also does not include any of Winter's covers of Rolling Stones tunes like "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Silver Train", "Let It Bleed" or "Stray Cat Blues" which are all smokin'. Also not included are a couple of blues cover tunes like "Walkin' By Myself" and "Messin With The Kid" which I miss. This remains an effective overview of Winter's Columbia period. I would also recommend "Deluxe Edition" which compiles material from his later and bluesier Alligator years with a few unissued tracks thrown in for good measure. My favorite individual albums from this Columbia period are "Second Winter", "Still Alive And Well", and "Captured Live".
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bring it, Johnny!, December 1, 2004
Winter's rock n' roll collection contains several gems and is a good representation of his style, with some of the caveats noted by other reviewers. Although not really a 'hits' collection, which ruffled reviewer #1, this is still a great dual CD set and worth every penny. The last three songs on Disc 2, Thirty Days, Come On In My Kitchen, and Highway 61 Revisited really scream. The openers, Johnny B. Goode and Bony Moronie are fun and revved up as well. That lil' country boy sure can play!
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~ Johnny Winter
~ Jeff Healey
~ Edgar Winter
~ Johnny Winter
~ Johnny Winter
by Johnny Winter 
