Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter And Live

"An albino with long woolly hair, playing a smooth and visceral blues on his guitar that you have rarely heard before", with these few but essential words, Rolling Stone magazine describes the alleged leader of the Texas scene: Johnny Winter.

After various appearances throughout the '60s with big names in blues (B.B. King and Mike Bloomfield, to name a few), he recorded his first self-titled LP in 1969, without much fanfare. In 1970, Johnny was immediately ready for another attempt, "Second Winter": a good album containing Hendrix-style blues, covers of Dylan, Berry, and many others reinterpreted in a very personal, very Texan way, let's say. After this work, which also achieved considerable market success, our Texan bluesman was joined by a band with a unique name, And, with which the good album "Johnny Winter And" was released, and this live recording, which is one of the greatest examples of live rock-blues.

Opening what will become a concert permeated by the warm, perhaps scorching, atmosphere is Sonny Boy Williamson's classic "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", taken to the max with fabulous, yet never predictable solos. After this fabulous intro comes the slow blues of "A it’s own fault", where Johnny enchants not only with the six-string but also with a voice full of inspiration. One cannot help but enjoy the furious "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Stones, which is immediately followed by a danceable rock'n'roll medley with "Great Balls of Fire" (Jerry Lee Lewis), "Long Tall Sally" (Little Richard), and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (Jerry Lee Lewis). Now it's time for the only piece in the lineup signed by Winter, "Mean Town Blues", a good rock-blues with, of course, Texan tones. The show concludes with "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, presented in a rather classic manner.

Okay, you might say, where's the beauty in a live performance that's composed almost entirely of covers, and very well-known ones at that? The beauty lies in the constant presence of energy, passion, inspiration, in a few words, a strong rock'n'roll feeling that has always belonged to our albino guitarist, so much so that every time you listen to him, you feel like dancing, playing, and singing with all the energy you have in your body.

You will only understand after you listen to it.