Johnny Winter – Guitar Slinger – Alligator Records ALCD 4735

This was Winter’s first of three Alligator Records collections, and for my money, his most uniformly strong. 

Arising from a career that saw him begin performing at the age of 14, by the time Winter arrived at Alligator Records in 1984 and started to record this superb collection, it was abundantly clear that he deeply wanted to revisit his strong blues roots from which his rich rock-n-roll catalog emerged.

It had been four years since Winter had recorded, and the blues magic that Bruce Iglauer and his team captured from Winter is astounding.  It is the definition of authentic contemporary blues.  The collection was so strong that it charted on both the esteemed Billboard and Cashbox charts, plus it earned a prestigious Grammy Award nomination.

So solid were the collections that Winter recorded for Alligator Records they earned play not only on blues radio stations but rock-oriented stations, as well.  His “Don’t Take Advantage Of Me” from Guitar Slinger even saw rotation on MTV.

This assemblage is not crafted for the sonically timid; no, it howls and shouts, moans and strikes, and slashes and gashes.  But in all the appropriate Winter traditions.  It reeks of boldness and confidence, yet is deferential in all the right ways, as only Winter could frame his blues interpretations.

Jump on board this high level of Winter blues thrills!  By the way, this great collection has also been re-released on vinyl.

Thank you, Johnny, for all that you did for the blues.  Highly recommended!

Song Titles

• It’s My Life, Baby
• Don’t Take Advantage Of Me
• Iodine In My Coffee
• Trick Bag
• Mad Dog
• Boot Hill
• I Smell Trouble
• Lights Out
• Nothin’ But The Devil
• My Soul