Johnny Winter

Production Notes:

Sony Compact Disc: WCK 30475, Recorded 1971

LP: CBS S 64289

Billboard charting

Producers: Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer

Recorded live at: Bill Graham's Fillmore East, Pirate's World - Dania Florida

CBS Germany Press Release

Band Members:

Tracks:

1. GOOD MORNING LITTLE SCHOOLGIRL
2. IT'S MY OWN FAULT
   
3. JUMPIN' JACK FLASH
4. ROCK AND ROLL MEDLEY - Great Balls of fire, Long tall Sally, Whole Lotta Shakin'goin'on
5. MEAN TOWN BLUES
6. JOHNNY B. GOODE

Comments and Reviews:

Jazz Podium (Germany) July 1971

New Musical Express 15-Jul-1972:
The band (And) were miraculous live. The sight of taill, spectral milk white Winter bounding across the stage to tower over the dark, stocky little Derringer, defiantly blowing hot licks and slick tricks right back at him, is one of the definitive images of the rock and roll concertm and the beautiful blistering sound track of those gigs can be heard on: Johnny Winter And Live.
For my money Johnny Winter is the finest working white blues guitarist (an outrageous claim but not indefensible.

ROLLING STONE ALBUM GUIDE: ***

ME/SOUNDS 9/93: *****
Without doubt a true live classic. Recorded in 1971, mainly at the legendary Fillmore East, the Texan bluesrock albino presents himself from his best side. Tender and bitter blues stands against tough rock 'n' roll remakes like "Great Balls Of Fire", "Long Tall Sally" or "Johnny B. Goode". Despite occasional disharmonies the virtuose guitar fights between Winter and Rick Derringer seek for ones of same birth. In intensity, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is far beyond the Rolling Stones original recording.

IIt opens up with a knock-down, drag-out drum explosion from the unsubtle but muscular Bobby Caldwell, leading into a death-before-dishonour rock and roll version of "Good morning little schoolgirl".
It is followed by a gorgeous version of John Lee Hooker's "It's my own fault" with one of the most stunning guitar solo's ever heard.

Review: Daniel Larsen

Johnny Winter and Live: Wow!!! What a hell of a live performance!! Johnny's slide and lead playing on his gem really pushes Rick Derringer to have to play his ass off! From the opening track of "Good Morning little School Girl", you these guys mean serious business up on the stage, at that time! Their version of Jumpin' Jack Flash" makes me forget who really wrote this song (nothing personal Mick and Keith). They tend to take this classic to the next level, which most artist can't even come close to doing in their lifetime! The first track on side two, Rock and Roll Melody: Great Balls of Fire, Long Tall Sally, into A Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On is nothing to be reckon' with! Again Johnny has Rick pushed to a blistering edge, when he does his solo on "Great Balls of Fire"!!! Also what's amazing is all the lushful playing Johnny does behind Rick to really compliment his! The whole band brings the end of this amazing R&R Melody to a "full tilt peak" at the end of "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On"!!! You can really hear the crowd's response to this classic performance afterwards as well (Damn!! I wish I was there!!)!

"Mean Town Blues" is quite a follow up to the R&R Melody, you talk about Johnny's blues playing and singing, it's all there in this track. I once heard Buddy Guy mentioned he was the blues, well nothing personal Buddy, but I think Johnny deserves that under his belt! To me, Johnny is "truly the blues"! Why? He's really lived a hard blues life, plays and sings it like he's going to die the next moment, and is presently in a state of very ill health and condition, while all these other cats like Buddy Guy and BB King are reaping their rewards of digging in dirt to finally enjoy their gold mine they currently have and are well enjoying. Ok, enough of the side line talk, and I want to finish up with the last track "Johnny B. Goode", a great track and performance to end this classic live album with! The only thing I have to say is, I wish it was a double album with more juicy songs from the tour they did that year!!!

A showcase of the high energy and versatility that help propel him to a short lived ride at the top, "Johnny Winter Live" has to go down as one of the classic 'live' rock albums. From the frenzied pace of "Good Morning Lil' Schoolgirl" to one of the finest live blues cut ever in "Its My Own Fault" Johnny shows a talent that one must be born with; one that can't be 'learned'. Johnny's versions of Chuck Berrys classic "Johnny B Goode" and the Rolling Stones "Jumpin Jack Flash" still brings out the goose-bumps after 25+ yrs. If you never buys another Johnny Winter album, thats fine...just don't leave "Johnny Winter Live" out of your rock collection!

If you like hot electric blues and great rock and roll by a dual lead guitar band, it doesn't get any better than this classic live album. Johnny and Rick compliment each other better than any other two lead guitarists that I've heard. They really play together, and you can just about feel the electricity between them. The album kicks off with Good Morning Little Schoolgirl. It's a blues standard, and Johnny cranks up the heat on this rockin' version. Next up is a lengthy (but worth every minute) version of the slow blues number It's My Own Fault. Johnny does a fiery solo, followed by a subdued solo by Rick. (I think he did it that way for a contrast.) The Stones' Jumpin' Jack Flash is given the Johnny treatment, and rocks hard. Number 4 is the Rock & Roll Medley, which is Rick's showcase. He covers Great Balls of Fire, Long Tall Sally, and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On all within one tune, with split-second tempo changes. I'm sure the place really was shakin'! Johnny's Mean Town Blues is next, done at hyperspeed when compared to the studio version. In this one he features his slide guitar expertise. The album closer is Johnny B. Goode, which is the perfect song for Johnny Winter. When he belts out "Rock and Rolllll" you know what's coming! I was fortunate enough to see this band live in Chicago in 1970, and it was one of the best concerts that I can recall. Johnny and the band were much better than Goode, as this CD shows.

Johnny Winter And: Live (Columbia 30475, 1971)-If Jimi Hendrix is the definitive interpreter of Bob Dylan ("All Along the Watch Tower," "Like A Rolling Stone"), then Johnny Winter is the definitive interpreter of the Rolling Stones. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is as final a statement in Rock Music as can be hoped for. Add a corrosive "Johnny B. Goode" to the mix and the listener is transported to some Hard Rock Nirvana where Britney Spears and N'Cync are no where to be found. Oh, did I mention Winter could sing the blues?

Johnny Winter's Discography