- Randy Jo Hobbs - bass (1973-)
- Richard Hughes -drums, percussion (1973-)
- Tommy Shannon - bass (1968-)
- John Turner - drums, percussion (1968-) 
- Edgar Winter - keyboards, sax (1970-)
- Johnny Winter - vocals, guitar (1968-) 
 

- Johnny and the Jammers
- Edgar Winter (solo efforts)
- Johnny and Edgar Winter

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The Progressive Blues Experiment

Company: Imperial

Catalog: LP-12431

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear; original inner sleeve

Available: 1

Price: $15.00

Born in Leland, Mississippi and raised in Austin, Texas, Johnny Winter and his younger brother Edgar grew up on a steady diet of blues and black radio. That early background, combined with an amazing aptitude for the guitar (and an uncannily soulful singing voice), found Johnny and his brother playing in a series of local bands, including Black Plague, Johnny and the Jammers, Johnny Winter and the Crystaliers, and Jimmy Winter throughout the early-60's (see separate entry). Johnny also cuts a series of little heard (but highly collectable) singles for a slew of labels, including KROC, Todd, Atlantic, MGM and Pacemaker.

With blues all the rage with young and hip audiences, by 1968 Winter was an established fixture playing delta blues in various Austin clubs. A brief article on the young guitarist appeared in an early edition of Rolling Stone. After reading the article, New York club owner Steve Paul flew to Austin and hired Winter on the spot. Back in New York, Columbia quickly signed Winter to a five year recording contract (reportedly for a then-unheard of $300,000). With Winter on its recording roster, Columbia's promotional department began marketing their new talent as a cross-eyed, long-haired, blues playing albino. It certainly sound outrageous and in this day and age wouldn't be considered politically or socially correct, though it stood as a fairly accurate description of Winter. 

Frustrating Columbia executives, Sonobeat Records beat the former to the marketplace with the release of 1968's "The Progressive Blues Experiment". Produced by Bill Josey and Rim Kelley, the collection was an obvious attempt to cash-in on the wave of publicity Winter was suddenly enjoying. Musically the set pulled together a series of previously recorded efforts (though at least one reference says it was recorded live at a local club). Roughly half the album featured Winter in a solo setting, the other tracks recorded with a line up consisting of Winter, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Red Turner. While the results weren't particularly polished, anyone hearing Winter for the first time had to wonder how did this skinny little white guy (with the awful taste in clothing), sound like a grizzled old delta blues veteran? Literally blasting his way through a mixture of classic blues and authentic sounding originals, Winter's talents were beyond doubt. The album also made it clear that Winter was equally adept at acoustic blues ("Bad Luck and Trouble" and "Broke Down Engine") and full blown electric blues ("Tribute To Muddy" and "Help Me"). Personal favorite; featuring a great Eastern-influenced guitar pattern, the closer "Forty-Four" (for some reason this one reminds us of early Steve Miller Band). Imperial promptly acquired rights to reissue the album. Backed by Imperial's marketing clout the set hit #49. 

As a bit of personal commentary, Winter is too bluesy for many rock fans. Having heard much of his later catalog, we originally felt the same way - the guy simply didn't cut it for us. This album changed our perception. Passionate vocals, a rock steady rhythm section and Winter's blazing guitar make this an amazing debut ...

"The Progressive Blues Experiment" track listing:
1.) Rollin' and Tumblin' (McKinley Morganfield) - 3:09
2.) Tribute To Muddy (Johnny Winter) - 6:20
3.) I Got Love If You Want It (J. Moore) - 3:52
4.) Bad Luck and Trouble (Johnny Winter) - 3:43
5.) Help Me (S. Williamson - R. Base) - 3:46
6.) Mean Town Blues (Johnny Winter) - 4:26
7.) Broke Down Engine (arranged by Johnny Winter) - 3:25
8.) Black Cat Bone (Johnny Winter) - 3:45
9.) It's My Own Fault (KIng - Taub) - 7:20
10.) Forty-Four (C. Burnett) - 3:29

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Johnny Winter

Company: Columbia

Catalog: PCT-9826

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG and VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear; original 360 Columbia pressing; original inner sleeves

Available: 2

Price: $7.00 and $5.00

Backed by Columbia's publicity machine, Winter's cleverly titled debut "Johnny Winter" stood as an impressive start. Self-produced (a rarity for new artists), the collection served as a perfect showcase for Winter's stinging guitar ("Be Careful with a Fool") and his wolf-howl of a voice. Featuring a mixture of original and classic covers, exemplified by material such as the leadoff "I'm Yours and I'm Hers" and "Leland Mississippi Blues" the collection found Winters largely forsaking rock for pure blues. Winter proved equally adept on acoustic numbers such as "Dallas" and "When You Got a Good Friend." While Columbia may not have been thrilled with the less than commercial sound, backed by the likes of Willie Dixon, Walter Horton and brother Edgar Winter, white blues just didn't get much better than this (nor did Winter's recording catalog). Bassist Shannon and drummer Turner also deserved credit for their rock steady support. Supported by a wave of high publicity concert dates, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the album reached #24.

"Johnny Winter" track listing:
1.) I'm Yours and I'm Hers (Johnny Winter) - 4:27
2.) Be Careful with a Fool (R. King - J. Josea) - 5:15
3.) Dallas (Johnny Winter) - 2:45
4.) Mean Mistreater (J. Gordon) - 3:53
5.) Leland Mississippi Blues (Johnny Winter) - 3:19
6.) Good Morning Little School Girl (D. Level - B. Love) - 2:45
7.) When You've Got a Good Friend () - 3:30
8.) I'll Drown In My Tears (H. Glover) - 4:44
9.) Back Door Friend (Lewis - Hopkins) - 2:57

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Johnny Winter Story

Company: GRT

Catalog: GRT 10010

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor ring wear on front and back; gatefold sleeve w/ odd 3" x 11" multipage insert

Available: 1

Price: $10.00

Jumping aboard the Johnny Winter bandwagon, the Chess Records affiliated GRT label released 1969's "The Johnny Winter Story" (several references claim the LP was released in 1972 - wrong). Like the earlier Sonobeat and Buddah compilations, the album collected various mid-'60s efforts, most tracks recorded for Ken Ritter's small Texas-based KROC and Frolic labels. Musically the set was fairly varied. "Ease My Heart" and "That's What Love Does" offered Jimmy Reed-influenced blues; "Oh My Darling" had a distinctive Buddy Holly feel, while "Crying In My Heart" had a Fats Domino vibe. All told it's an interesting historical document, with quite a bit of the material proving surprisingly commercial (check out the soulful "The Guy You Left Behind" and the grungy surf instrumental "Creepy"). Probably not something for casual fans, but devote Winter fans will want it in their collections. Elsewhere, Pete Weldings's liner notes/bibliographic material (complete with references to "negro music") were interesting. A minor seller, the album managed to hit #111. (The set was originally released with a gatefold sleeve and a weird 3" x 11" multi-page insert.)

"The Johnny Winter Story" track listing:
1.) Ease My Heart (Johnny Winter) - 2:07
2.) That's What Loves Does (Johnny Winter) -2:20
3.) Crying In My Heart (Johnny Winter) -2:37
4.) The Guy You Left Behind (Johnny Winter) -2:32
5.) Shed So Many Tears (Schuler - Anderson) - 2:14
6.) Creepy (instrumental) (Johnny Winter) -2:20
7.) Gangster of Love (Johnny Guitar Watson) - 2:27
8.) Road Runner (Eugene McDaniel) - 2:02
9.) Leave My Woman (Wife) Alone (John Lee Hooker) - 2:32
10.) I Can't Believe You Want To Leave Me (Johnny Winter) -2:27
11.) Broke and Lonely (Johnny Otis - Johnny Watson) - 2:25
12.) Oh My Darling (Johnny Winter) -2:21
13.) By the Light of the Silver Moon (instrumental) (Gus Edwards - Edward Madden) - 2:10
14.) Five After Four A.M. (instrumental) (Johnny Winter) -2:05

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Second Winter

Company: Columbia

Catalog: KCS 9947

Year: 1970

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: double LP set; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Price: $10.00

In hindsight Winter seemed doomed from the start. His initial novelty quickly wore off and by the time he'd begun to hit his creative stride, the late-60's blues revival was over. That left Winter in a no-win situation. His first love (and real talent) lay in the blues, but there was only a limited market for the genre, putting him under intense record company pressure to open up an broaden his sound. Winter's official follow-up, 1969's "Second Winter" was a double album set (if you wanted to get technical about the matter, it was actually an album and a half - yes one of the few three sided collection's we know of). Expanding the line up to include brother Edgar, in contrast to the first Columbia set, material such as "Memory Pain", "I'm Not Sure", a blazing cover of Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" and a series of '50s covers found Winter turning in a distinctively rock-oriented set. Hardcore blues fans may not have been pleased, but Winter's performances remained as intense as ever (anyone doubting that need only check out "The Good Love" - I just want to rock and roll ...). Winter also enjoyed a minor chart single with a cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode". Unfortunately, the effort to broaden his appeal didn't do much to foster sales. The album peaked at #55. (The collection was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)

"Second Winter" track listing:
1.) Memory Pain (Percy Maayfield) - 5:27
2.) I'm Not Sure (Johnny Winter) - 5:18
3.) The Good Love (Dennis - Collins) - 4:38
4.) Slippin' and Slidin' (Richard Psnniman - E. Bocage - J. Smith - A. Collins) - 2:43
5.) Miss Ann (Richard Penniman - E. Johnson) - 3:04
6.) Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) - 3:45
7.) Highway 61 Revisitied (Bob Dylan) - 5:07
8.) I Love Everybody (Johnny Winter) - 3:50
9.) Hustled Don In Texas (Johnny Winter) - 3:31
10.) I Hate Everybody (Johnny Winter) - 2:35
11.) Fast Life Rider (Johnny Winter) - 7:05

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Guitar Slinger

Company: Alligator

Catalog: AL 4735

Year: 1984

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring, corner and edge wear

Available: 1

Price: $10.00