Johnny Winter-The Collection

Another great compilation from The Collector Series. This is from 1987 and a used one I bought sometime in the late 80’s or early 90’s. As always a two record set with gatefold cove rand a U.K. import. This one has a brief account of Johnny’s career on the inside. These songs are from 1969 to 1974 and many feature Rick Derringer as second guitarist. A great collection of Rock, Blues and 50’s Rock. Of these 20 songs only one, “Pick Up On My Mojo” is written by Winter. 3 by Rick Derringer including “Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo” although this in not the most popular version, 3 Jagger/Richards compositions “Stray Cat Blues”, “Let It Bleed” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” one of Johnny’s best known covers. He also rocks out on some 50’s classics like “Johnny B. Goode”, ” Riot In Cell Block Nine” and “Bony Moronie”. His smoking cover of “Highway 61 Revisited” is here, a song I knew from one of the Heavy Sounds sampler I got when I was in The Columbia House Record Club in the early 70’s. “Raised On Rock” is another rocker, one of my favorites on the record. Side 4 has an awesome 11 minute plus cover of B.B. King’s “It’s My Own Fault” and a live medley of “Great Balls Of Fire”, “Long Tall Sally” and “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin’ On'” Johnny plays amazing guitar on every track. Johnny was found dead in a hotel room in France in July of 2014. Cause of death was emphysema and pneumonia.

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