by Cub Koda
Slowly over the years, perhaps through sheer survival if nothing else, Johnny Winter finally forged a reputation as a real bluesman rather than a flashy guitar player with a built-in genetic gimmick to sell himself with. That his blues has always been rock & roll and his rock & roll has always been blues is no better highlighted than on this 16-track collection. The raw rock of &Highway 61 Revisited& and the live version of &Johnny B. Goode& sit just fine next to the burner &Be Careful with a Fool,& perhaps Winter's finest slow blues performance. The performances span his tenure with Columbia from 1969 to 1980, with the other highlights including &Too Much Seconal,& &New York, New York,& &Leland Mississippi Blues,& and &The Crawl.& This may just very well be some of the best blues-rock guitar your money can buy.