"The Progressive Blues Experiment" - Johnny Winter (1969)
I'm not the biggest aficionado of the blues. I mean, I'll pull a blues album from a bin from time to time if my pockets are feeling extra full, but I don't usually search. However, I had been actively looking for Johnny Winter's debut album "The Progressive Blues Experiment" for quite a spell. I first heard this record on a local radio station that used to play blues on Sunday mornings and fell in love with it. So I was always keeping my eye out for a really clean copy with a good price tag, but I could never find both. Now I have one.
"The Progressive Blues Experiment" is a backwoods chainsaw of electric blues, both original songs, and covers, all worked out in Johnny Winter fashion. Oh, to be a fly on the wall watching the jaws drop when this pale, thin, wispy-haired new kid on the block from Beaumont, Texas threw down some of his guitar witchery on stage for the first time. Holy schnikies. If you're not a big fan of blues, you still might want to give this one a chance.
"The Progressive Blues Experiment" (back)
Favorites include the cock-n-loaded "Mean Town Blues." "Bad Luck And Trouble" has some good back porch slide-guitar. And "Tribute To Muddy" is a pretty-fine homage to the man.
I found this album in Hutchinson, KS at a record swap held at an outdoor shelter...much nicer than one might think. The seller only had two tubs of records and everything was half-off. This puppy was in it. I don't remember what I paid, but I want to say $5. The album cover catches the reflection of Johnny Winter on the back of his steel guitar. I had a friend tell me they thought it was a fisheye photo of a lightbulb with a nose in it! So now you know. And it's on the Imperial label.
Liberty record sleeve
Imperial Records label
Cat #
LP-12431
SIDE A DEADWAX
LP 12431-1 114
SIDE B DEADWAX
LP 12431-2 114
"Mean Town Blues" - Johnny Winter / "The Progressive Blues Experiment" (1969)
TRACKS:
A1 "Rollin' And Tumblin'" 3:09
A2 "Tribute To Muddy" 6:20
A3 "I Got Love If You Want It" 3:52
A4 "Bad Luck And Trouble" 3:43
A5 "Help Me" 3:46
B1 "Mean Town Blues" 4:26
B2 "Broke Down Engine" 3:25
B3 "Black Cat Bone" 3:46
B4 "It's My Own Fault" 7:20
B5 "Forty-Four" 3:28
PERSONNEL:
Johnny Winter - vocals, electric guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, harmonica
Tommy Shannon - bass
John "Red" Turner - drums
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