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Johnny Winter - Live Bootleg Series, Volume Two Audio CD

A fair review of the Johnny Winter "Live Bootleg Series, Volume Two" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Johnny Winter reviews here, or go back to the Johnny Winter tabs.

Johnny Winter Band: Johnny Winter
Title: Live Bootleg Series, Volume Two
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-03-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Black Cat Bone 2: Parchman Farm 3: Rock Me Baby 4: Mississippi Blues 5: Crossroads 6: Red House (Bonus Live Recording)

Even better than volume one. And volume one was great!
And even if you didn't, you should still enjoy this magnificent display of first-class blues guitar playing. If you felt that there were a few too many rock n' roll numbers taking up space on Johnny Winter's first "Live Bootleg" album, you'll be happy to find that volume two is almost pure blues.

Johnny Winter fronts his late-70s-early-80s power trio on these six artist-approved selections. . . yeah, a 54 minute-CD of compiled performances is a bit of a downer, I know, but it's better than having these wonderful recordings sitting in a vault somewhere. And the record company makes more money this way, too. . .
Anyway. The disc is produced by Winter himself, and the fidelity is generally very good, although the opener, a scorching, Elmore James-like "Black Cat Bone", sounds a bit fuzzy. But things clear up right after that, with a tough, riff-driven "Parchman Farm" burning with several fiery but tasteful solos. And that one is followed by a swaggering, hard rock-inspired rendition of the classic blues "Rock Me, Baby" (credited to B. B. King, although I doubt if that's were it originated to begin with). Winter's gruff, throaty vocals are strong and confident, and then comes a grand, fifteen-minute "Mississipi Blues", all gritty electric slide guitar and some terrific amplified harmonica played by bassist Jon Paris, and finally the drums enter at the 5½ minute mark. You'd think that a fifteen-minute blues number would wear out its welcome halfway through, but in this case you'd be wrong!

Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" opens with a powerful, up-tempo solo, and thunders ahead driven by a huge riff which Winter expands and elaborates on along the way, and the disc finally winds down with a slow, grinding, rumbling cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Red House" sizzling with magnificent fills and solos. No meaningless shredding or showy finger-tapping here (well, almost). . . just heavy blues guitar as sharp as shards of broken glass.

The "Live Bootleg"-series just keeps getting better, and every Johnny Winter-fan, with the possible exception of those who only like "Rock n' Roll Hoochie Coo", ought to pick this one up right away. It's a treat!.


Blues-rock heaven
I actually got this one priot to Volume 1; I thought the set list was a little better. When I read that Johnny Winter was about to release a series of material from his vaults, I was really excited. All I can say is : Wow ! If you're a Johnny Winter fan, or a fan of blues-rock trios like SRV, Rory Gallagher, etc. then this is a MUST ! .


Smokin' hot blues Johnny Winter Style!!!
This material is killer. More great live music from the real king of texas blues. BUT, when they say bootleg, they mean it. . . The mix sounds if taken from a sound board and maybe ran thru a sound enhancer. Not sure if it is just my cd, but the treble is way up -sounding like it is maxed out to hide the hiss. You have to turn it down -which on my car deck is a pain. But then again, you have to take the bad with the good when it comes to a legend like Johnny Winter. If you are like me, you will buy everything he puts out -and relish it. Which is exactly what I do - and you should too. They do not make them like Johnny Winter anymore. He was and still is the one first real and true Texas blues guitar slinger! Apoligies to SRV, but without Johnny Winter, there would be no Stevie Ray. Rock me baby, crossroads, and red house??? Come on!!! This IS the BLUES!!! I can't wait for for bootleg vol III, IV, and V!!!! .


CAPITOL THEATER MEMORIES
Saw him at least 3 times in a 2 year period including one show at the Beacon with Roy Buchanon and Buddy Guy. Wow, volumes 1 and 2 bring back so many great memories of seeing Johnny at the Capitol in Passiac in the early eighties. These recordings were probably from the late seventies, but with the same lineup. Jon Paris was an amazing bass player, and even though Johnny seemed to switch drummers evry couple of yeras they were all talented, and brought their own unique style. Johnny was simple the best guitar player ever, period . .


Johnny still kicks it !

It has too much top end , a little treble-ish for my taste , but the music ROCKS !!!
A gotta have for blues fans everywhere. When I got this I was not too pleased by the sound quality.


You can see a complete list of all Johnny Winter discography, or go back to the Johnny Winter tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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