New Johnny Winter Album?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sean on February 1, 2009 at 9:35am

Hey stillbill -- thanks for the question. I saw the same article to which you're referring, and I can only tell you that the reporter screwed up: "Raised On the Blues" is yet another unauthorized repackaging of previously released material. And according to some info i've found online, it has already been discontinued.

Johnny's latest releases are the three installments of the "Bootleg Series" -- please buy those! They're authorized by Johnny, and he personally signs off on everything. Sadly, there are just *way too many* "Johnny Winter" albums out there that aren't legitimate releases.

I know that there are plans for more "Bootleg Series" issues. Johnny has a real treasure-trove of stuff in his personal archives that will hopefully see release in due time. Best wishes, Sean >>>

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean on February 1, 2009 at 11:01am

BTW -- speaking of the "Bootleg Series," it looks like Vol. 4 will be here in just a matter of days:

http://www.fridaymusic.com/albums/winter/livevol4.html

allmusic.com has a Feb. 10 release date listed. Cheers, Sean >>>

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by stillbill on February 1, 2009 at 11:47am

Hi Sean, Thanks for the comeback. I did see an interview with Johnny where he said his next studio was going to be material he was listening to in the early days. A magazine article. Might have been printed on his site. Take care, Bill

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean on February 1, 2009 at 12:23pm

hey stillbill -- that album is tentatively called "Roots" and will feature Johnny doing classic blues tunes with a star-studded lineup of blues and rock luminaries. don't know when he might enter the studio to cut it, however. more updates as i have them! best wishes, Sean >>>

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by stillbill on February 1, 2009 at 2:35pm

HI Sean, Thanks, I'll look forward to the info. I saw Johnny w/ Foghat opening on the Still Alive And Well Tour@ MSGarden. One of my first concerts. What a boogie! I've seen him a few times over the years. Not enough. I saw him and Edgar @ Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ last year. Take care, Bill

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Allerding on May 30, 2009 at 1:24am

I did a lot of research trying to find out about the next Johnny Winter album. This is probably overkill, but here is what I found:

1) A Nov 07 article about the Clapton Crossroads Festival has an interview where Johnny is quoted as saying, “We’re also working on a new CD called Roots that will be old blues music.”
http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/003981.html

2) An April 06 Guitar Player article titled “Still Alive and Well” has an interview where Paul Nelson is quoted as saying, “The tentative title of the [new] album is Roots, and the premis is to pay tirbute to the traditional songs Johnny listened to as he was growing up. Bob Cutarella--who co-produced the recent Les Paul & Friends album--is currently assembling guest artists for the project. Right now, we’re expecting Billy Gibbons, Dr. John, and Johnny’s brother Edgar.” (I don’t have a link for this one.)

3) Mark Goodman for Blues Wax interviewed Paul Nelson, who is quoted as saying, “Johnny’s goal is to put out a CD that contains songs from all the artists that influenced him as he was coming up. Take thirteen guys like Robert Johnson, Son House, Clarence Garlow, T-Bone Walker, and Elmore James, do one song from each guy. We hope to get guest artists come and join Johnny in the studio, artists that have been influenced by him. Besides Edgar and Rick Derringer, we would like to invite others, such as Dr. John, John Mayer, who cited Johnny as a big influence on him. Steven Tyler, who said in Rolling Stone that Johnny was one of his favorite singers. It would be a record that appeals to both Blues and Rock audiences.”
http://www.houstonbluessociety.org/news.php?Id=143

4) Get Ready To ROCK! Interview with the blues rock guitarist Johnny Winter, April 2007, quotes Johnny as saying, “We’re going to make an album called ‘Roots.’ It’s gonna feature a lot of old blues stuff that influenced me and might have special guests on it.” Paul Nelson is quoted as adding, “Maybe Billy Givvons, Edgar, Rick and several others that we’re hoping to track down.”
http://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/johnny_winter.htm

5) Another site has an article, “Johnny Winter--Give The Devil His Due“ (about 2006), that quotes Paul Nelson as saying, “We’re working on ideas for a new record, using traditional songs that Johnny grew up with, using some artist friends of his.” In response to the interviewer asking if it will have any acoustic or bottleneck, Johnny is quoted as saying, “I’m sure I will, it’ll include some robert Johnson stuff os yes. Probably some T-Bone Walker too, who was a big influence on me.”
http://www.tomguerra.com/Johnny%20Winter2.htm

6) Chicago Tribune. “Q&A with blues singer Johnny Winter,” December 11, 2007: Regarding the next CD, Nelson is quoted as saying, “We are working on labels right now. With all this coverage that’s coming in at the moment, we want to make the best of it.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sfl-1211johnnywinter,0,2996503,...

7) This one has a lot of information, but is from May 2006. It suggests Red House as a bonus track, and lists a lot of others not mentioned in the previous quotes, such as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Also says that Billy Gibbons has said yes to participating in the album.
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A31489

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean on May 30, 2009 at 10:50am

Hey Paul -- You've indeed done your research. My understanding from Paul Nelson is that this is indeed the plan for Johnny's next album. However, there are still things to be worked out -- like who will play on it, when it will be recorded and what label, if any, will release it. So things are up in there air. In the meantime, as per my earlier post, you can enjoy Johnny's Bootleg Series CDs, which are official releases. Also, if you visit www.johnnywinter.net, you'll find two recent posts I've made regarding other upcoming titles: A two-disc Johnny Winter Anthology from Shout! Factory, and (better yet) the long-awaited release of Johnny's entire Woodstock set. Johnny Winter: The Woodstock Experience, is also a two-disc set that includes a reissue of 1969's debut set Johnny Winter, with the second disc featuring the fabled Woodstock performance, mainly consisting of unreleased tracks.

Unfortunately, there are just way too many illegitimate titles out there that have been repackaged over and over. If you see something that's out there and you're wondering if it's legit, just drop me a line.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Allerding on June 1, 2009 at 12:34am

Thanks Sean. I recently purchased Live Bootleg 2 and 4. I noticed on cduniverse.com that Live Bootleg 5 is expected to be released soon. I couldn't find a track listing.

I suspect many of the illegitimate titles cover the pre-1969 stuff, some of which is excellent. I once had a LP titled "About Blues." Most everthing on there was great (32-20 Blues, Livin' In The Blues, Goin' Down Slow, Avacado Green, Leavin' Blues, etc.). One song "Avacado Green" could be a Dylan tune as the music, lyrics, and even Johnny's voice are like Dylan. Anway, is there a legitimate CD covering this material?

• ▶ Reply