Johnny Winter And

Personnel: Johnny Winter (vocals, guitar); Rick Derringer (vocals, guitar); Randy Hobbs (vocals, bass); Randy Z (drums).
Recorded in New York, New York on June 9, 1970. Originally released on Columbia (C 30221).
Digitally remastered by Steve Hoffman.
Personnel: Johnny Winter (vocals, guitar); Rick Derringer (vocals, guitar); Randy Jo Hobbs (vocals); Randy Z (drums).
Although Johnny Winter is primarily thought of as a Texas bluesman, 1970's JOHNNY WINTER AND is more of a blues-influenced rock & roll album. Backed by a tight and rocking band featuring ex-McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer--Winter's original backing band at this time were the "Hang On Sloopy" boys in their entirety, but the drummer and keyboardist were replaced just before the sessions started--the guitarist blasts through 11 songs with fire and verve.
The songs' relative brevity means that there's none of the bloated showboating that bogs down most guitar-boogie albums of this era; these tight arrangements feature complementary playing by all band members instead of endless soloing. Winter and Derringer in particular get into some guitar duels that are among the best of their time, especially on the first recording of Derringer's future solo hit "Rock and Roll Hootchie-Koo." Solid stuff.