Is there a better Blues guitarist than Johnny Winter?

jackman · « **on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:20 pm »

Maybe a better subject heading would be, "Why isn't Johnny Winter mentioned in the best blues guitarist category?". I know he has had a lot of substance issues through the years but he has consistently toured and always puts on a great show. For my money, there is no better Blues guitarist than Winter. I have seen him live and have listened to his music for years. He is also an awesome slide player, one of the best. I am also confident that most of the big names like Clapton, Robert Cray, and even some of the popular new names like John Mayer (sp?) and Kenny Wayne Sheppard can't hold a candle to Johnny Winter. Maybe Johnny was difficult to work with or maybe his substance problems prevented him from being a bigger star but it certainly wasn't his talent. He is a monster guitarist.

Check out this live clip from 1970:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGZTikKCJvg&feature=related

Another live clip from '91 that features Johnny's slide playing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL2UY2Uq7Tk&feature=related

It's sad that lesser players have received so much more recognition. Check out the clips and tell me if there is a better blues guitarist than JW.

Cheers,

J

jackman · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:23 pm »

PS - I think my next thread will be a similar one about Gary Moore. He is another absolutely smoking blues guitarist who should be more popular. Gary is goofy looking and can't sing very well but he can really play. My favorite Les Paul playing blues guitarist.

Panelman · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:30 pm »

My vote goes to Ronnie Earl as a more complete and better blues guitar player than Johnny Winter. Earl can slash and burn as well as Winter but can also play the slow simmering reflective blues. Check out his live album with Jimmy Rogers and also his live in Europe album.

Good thread idea.

rockadanny · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:44 pm »

For electric blues guitar Roben Ford is pretty awesome as well, as is Buddy Guy. Better? Hmm ...

mca · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:45 pm »

OK, those clips got me jazzed to hear some more Johnny Winter. What's the first CD I should pickup?

rockadanny · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:48 pm »

Pick up "Second Winter", reissued by Legacy. A double-CD: original release on one, live on the other. I think it is by far his best. Check out his bassist - none other than Double Trouble's Tommy Shannon, way before Stevie Ray Vaughn.

rockadanny · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:50 pm »

But there are others better at acoustic and steel blues guitar, such as Rory Block.

ohenry · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:53 pm »

I saw Johnny last week on PBS performing at a recent Crossroads event playing Highway 61. He was backed by the Derek Trucks Band and it was killer.

Here's a good older video showing his stellar moves doing that tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8siLZ4zNbY

I saw him live last year and he still is amazing, although I wasn't crazy about his band.

jackman · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:53 pm »

Quote from: Panelman on 11 Dec 2007, 05:30 pm

My vote goes to Ronnie Earl as a more complete and better blues guitar player than Johnny Winter. Earl can slash and burn as well as Winter but can also play the slow simmering reflective blues. Check out his live album with Jimmy Rogers and also his live in Europe album.

Good thread idea.

Slow and reflective? You mean like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWgj-7MiU8k

PS - Second Winter is a great place to start.

ohenry · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:56 pm »

Quote from: rockadanny on 11 Dec 2007, 05:50 pm

But there are others better at acoustic and steel blues guitar, such as Rory Block.

I saw Rory in May at the Blind Wille McTell Festival and she was impressive. I didn't think to compare those two... I'll be forced to do some more listening.

jackman · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 06:20 pm »

Quote from: rockadanny on 11 Dec 2007, 05:50 pm

But there are others better at acoustic and steel blues guitar, such as Rory Block.

I agree that Winter doesn't play this style and that Rory is excellent. I'm a big fan of her acoustic/slide Johnson style work. Great post!

Photon46 · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 06:23 pm »

Is there a better blues guitarist than Johnny Winter? That's like asking is there a more beautiful woman than (fill in the blank.) It's an almost meaningless question as it's so subjective. That said, Johnny is sadly forgotten by most, he is a great, great talent. For my money, I think is Otis Rush has got to be counted among the blues elite and might be my favorite. At least on some days. Like Johnny, he was plagued by personal problems and bad business decisions, resulting in less attention than he deserves.

jackman · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 06:46 pm »

Quote from: Photon46 on 11 Dec 2007, 06:23 pm

Is there a better blues guitarist than Johnny Winter? That's like asking is there a more beautiful woman than (fill in the blank.) It's an almost meaningless question as it's so subjective. That said, Johnny is sadly forgotten by most, he is a great, great talent. For my money, I think is Otis Rush has got to be counted among the blues elite and might be my favorite. At least on some days. Like Johnny, he was plagued by personal problems and bad business decisions, resulting in less attention than he deserves.

So true, Rush is a great player and is often mentioned as a major influence of Clapton. You can hear his style in Clapton's blues playing. Like your beautiful woman analogy, this comes down to personal preference. I wasn't trying to start an arguement but it's amazing how so many great talents never get to the level they deserve.

I prefer Winter to Rush and prefer his style over other forms of blues like acoustic blues, but can understand why someone would have a different view. That first Winter clip I posted just does something to me.

He is strange looking and kind've awkward in his movements but it seems to work. His playing in that clip is kind've raw and my kind of blues.

Cheers,

J

fredgarvin · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 07:36 pm »

You'd have to search long and hard to find a better blues player. Being a player myself, I find it much harder to cop Winters' licks than SRV's. Having seen great shows over the last 30 years I would put Johnny and Rory Gallagher on pedestals above all the rest, as far as putting on outstanding shows. Those two have it all, electric mastery, iconic slide playing and especially for Gallagher, outstanding acoustic work. "Out on the Western Plain" being an example. SRV and Clapton would rate right behind. As far as the best shows I have ever seen, It would be Johnny, Rory, SRV, John Mclaughlin, George Benson and Return to Forever. Trower, Beck, Clapton and folks like Jimmy Thackery would follow. These people have the emotional connection that most just don't have.

EDS_ · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 08:07 pm »

A few more

Elmore James
Dave Hole
Jim Heath - The Reverend Horton Heat.
http://www.reverendhortonheat.com

Airborn · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 01:07 am »

Quote

I saw Johnny last week on PBS performing at a recent Crossroads event playing Highway 61. He was backed by the Derek Trucks Band and it was killer.

I saw that PBS airing of Crossroads and Johnny WAS killer. Derek Trucks was standing behind Johnny the whole time with a big grin on his face, like this

Of course, it was even more amazing because Johnny looks like a corpse but his playing was very animated, even though he was just sitting there the whole time.

alan m. kafton · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 01:30 am »

Boys, boys, boys....if one is discussing current slide players, the name Sonny Landreth MUST be mentioned. Holy Bajeezus is he phenomenal.

Photon46 · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 01:42 am »

Alan, you aren't kidding. Sonny is an unfreakin' believable musician. His fretting behind the slide style blows my mind when I see him play. If his songwriting prowess was the equal of his playing, he'd be rated among the most stellar of blues stars. Not that I think his songwriting is poor, its just that he doesn't pen those memorable, "can't get it out of my head" kind of tunes.

hdspeakerman · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 02:26 am »

With all respect due SRV, consider Joe Bonamassa. If you have not heard it check out some of Blues Deluxe.
howard

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 02:37 am »

Jack....

I actually got to play a few gigs with JW....back in the early 70's...in Louisiana.
He was pretty messed up then....out only on weekends...drug rehab....but he still smoked....

He's a good player....but the drug thing really messed up his chance to "take it" to the next level.

Two others I would mention....Albert Collins....and a big fav of mine...Luther Allison. Luther was a real master and a nice guy !!!!