Search - Johnny Winter :: Johnny Winter: Live at The Fillmore East 10/3/70

Another live side of Johnny Winter's post-Woodstock band

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 05/18/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Johnny Winter has always been a potent stage performer, as documented on numerous live recordings. His set at Woodstock, which has only recently been released in full, was a star-making turn, and after two studio albums for Columbia he formed a new quartet with members of the recently disbanded McCoys: Rick Derringer, Randy Jo Hobbs and Derringer's brother (performing under the original family name), Randy Zehringer. That group recorded under the name "Johnny Winter And," and with Bobby Caldwell replacing Zehringer, broke in their self-titled debut album with this 1970 set at New York City's Fillmore East. The set includes only two tunes from their then-new album (Winter's "Guess I'll Go Away" and Derringer's "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo"), with the remaining titles drawn from Winter's two previous albums.



The 1971 album Live Johnny Winter And documented the same line-up, repeating "Good Morning Little School Girl" (with improved fidelity here) while trimming "It's My Own Fault" and "Mean Town Blues" to half the length of these extended Fillmore jams. Another difference is that this 67-minute set forgoes the `50s rock covers that dominated the 1971 release. This disc opens with a pair of blues on which Winter takes incendiary, extended solos, and "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" is played harder than Derringer's later hit single. The twenty-two minute "It's My Own Fault" is low and slow, providing more of the emotional shades Winter could bring to both his guitar playing and singing. Unfortunately, it's the only slow number in the set.



Those who've longed to hear the rest of the band's early set list are in for a treat. These are the live chapters of Winter's post-Woodstock band that were left out of the 1971 telling. The band's studio debut is represented by two tracks, the extended solos and jams stretch to their full post-psychedelic ballroom length, and covers of Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" and Muddy Waters' "Rollin' and Tumblin'" recount some of Johnny Winter's earlier recordings. Those who latched onto Rick Derringer during his pop-rock days with Edgar Winter and subsequent solo career will be floored by the fire in his blues playing. Collectors' Choice delivers this disc in a digipack with a four-panel booklet that includes knowledgeable liner notes by Richie Unterberger. [©2010 hyperbolium dot com]"

Where does this music come from?

Murph the Surf | Albany, N.Y. | 05/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Saw johnny a few times during this era. Madison Square Garden, Felt Forum, etc. Listened to this twice when I got it. One word, AWESOME!!!! Anybody that knows johnny Winter will relish this recording. A couple of the songs are on the other "JW and live" album, but sound a bit different here. How music like this has just sat around somewhere all these years is beyond me. Would have been nice to have a little more notes and pictures in this CD, but having the music will do just fine. Some of the best. This is a much welcome edition to my collection of just about every thing johnny has recorded."

Excellent live Johhny Winter!!!!!

Michelle Stuart | Humboldt Co., CA | 06/17/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is very hot and just what I have been waiting for. Johnny Winter was my favorite guitarist from 1973 to 1976. I still liked Johnny during his mostly blues 1977 and beyond, but not as much, even live. I have been disappointed with the Johnny Winter Bootleg series because most of the tracks on all six volumes are from his later periods (after 1976). I have been waiting for a full show from an earlier era. The early 1970 show on the deluxe Second Winter is cool also, not to mention the Woodstock reocrding. The best shows I saw Johnny do live were in 1975 (Captured Live from Oakland) and 1976 (Winterland). Although I was too young to see this band, my favorite album (by Johnny) to this day is Johnny Winter And Live. This CD blows that one away!This one is now my favorite. Why did I have to wait so long to hear it? To set the record straight, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl is the same version from JWAL. Mean Town Blues is the full version of the JWAL recording. I was happy and saddened to hear this the first time. The JWAL version is hacked to bits. There is even a few verses of Walkin' Blues near the end of the jam on this full version. It's My Own Fault, however, is a completely different version from JWAL. I know every note by heart of that album, so I am sure of this. This version is much better (although the JWAL version was probably also edited). Johnny and Rick really tear it up together. Rock and Roll Hoochie Coo is good, but not as good as the Roadwork version. Highway 61 and Rollin' and Tumblin' are both excellent. I guess I'll Go Away was a pleasant surprise since I have only played the studio Johnny Winter And album once or twice in my life. All in all, this is a much better album than JWAL, although that is still a great album. I wish I could have seen this band live. This recording is the next best thing."