The Progressive Blues Experiment – JOHNNY WINTER****

Rollin’ & Tumblin’/Tribute To Muddy/I Got Love If You Want It/Bad Luck & Trouble/Help Me/Mean Town Blues/ Broke Down Engine/Black Cat Bone/Its My Own Fault/Forty-Four

The Progressive Blues Experiment was American blues guitarist Johnny Winter’s first album, recorded two years earlier. It comprises mostly blues standards with a few originals. (US:40)

“Raw, hard chargin' Texas Blues. Johnny Winter delivers in spades on this excellent album. Recorded in 1967, and released two years later, the album is a collection of mostly standards, and four originals. The main point here though is the guitar slingin' from Winter. Fast and fluid throughout, whether it's electric or the National Steel, Winter plays in flawless style from start to finish.”

“With a title like Progressive Blues Experiment and given the 1967/1969 time frame, a pretension alert would be understandable, but fear not, there is nothing here but the real thing. The originals sound like they could be standards as well, fitting in perfectly next to the others. The guitar playing leaves no doubts in the listener's ears. It's all Johnny Winter.”

“It's not his high sounded voice that makes this album a gem, it's the virtuoso guitar playing that gives it a place in the annals of blues rock. Song highlights are the Muddy Waters original Rollin' & Tumblin', the self-penned and traditional interpreted Bad Luck & Trouble and the rockin' Mean Town Blues, the brilliant delivered version of the B.B. King classic It's My Own Fault and the catchy Howlin' Wolf blues Forty- Four.”

“This is a superb recording and presents Winter already at the top of his powers, playing here in a trio setting. There are only very few guitar players as good as Winter, when it comes to playing the blues and mixing it with rock, so this is simply a classic of the genre and an absolute must for every blues-rock fan.”

“Winter's debut is a good blues album but in my opinion not one of his strongest albums. Six cover songs is a bit too much even though his covers are usually very classy. His guitar skills are on the spotlight of course and he makes a great job in that section. Johnny has never been a good vocalist with his raw voice but I'm not bothered about it. He shows his real talent with the electric guitar.”