Edgar Winter Albums (18)
'Jazzin' the Blues'
Release Date 8/31/2004
Tracks 11
Label Steamhammer/SPV
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This set of Edgar Winter's jazzy remakes of older tunes and some new ones is all over the place. With a cast that includes guitarists Robben Ford and Hiram Bullock, Steve Lukather, and Michael Hakes, and bassists like Will Lee, Mark Meadows, and Tom Lilly, as well as trumpeter Lee Thornburg, one gets exactly what one expects: a slick, groove-infested ride through Winter's past and present. Winter himself plays alto saxophone, keyboard and sings in places. He also acts as the album's producer, which is not a good thing. Other than the Hammond B3, the keyboards sound like bad 1980's sci-fi soundtrack-reject mixes, and the arrangements on some of the tunes border on the laughable -- particularly the remakes of "Free Ride (Smooth") -yes, as in a smooth jazz version, and "Frankenstein (Frankie Swing)" that must have been an afterthought because it feels so forced and false. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Through steady work, Edgar Winter kept himself visible throughout the '90s, culminating with a pair of solid efforts for Intersound. Those appeared under the radar of popular consciousness, known only to hard rock and blues-rock fans. For the general public, Winter re-entered consciousness through a series of television commercials -- usually, they just featured his songs, but he was the star in a clever Miller campaign that suggested Winter and George Hamilton were twins -- along with a prominent song in the political satire Wag the Dog. All of this led to a contract with Pyramid Records and Winter Blues, his first large-scale, heavily promoted release in nearly 20 years. As is customary for any comeback release, Winter Blues is flush with cameos, but this time around, they make sense -- brother Johnny, Rick Derringer and Leon Russell have been long-time colleagues of Edgar, while Dr. John and (surprisingly) Eddie Money fit in quite nicely. Their presence is welcome, since Winter has never been the strongest of frontmen and they never take away from his guitar playing, which remains the best reason to hear Winter Blues. Anyone that paid attention to his Intersound releases would have realized that Winter has been cutting good, solid records in the '90s and this is no different, but anyone that hasn't followed him will be surprised how consistent this is. Really, there's nothing new here, since it's in the vein of his electrified blues and hard rock of the '70s, but it's done well and performed with conviction, resulting in an album that may not reach the heights of his classics, but certainly is among his most enjoyable and consistent works. In other words, it will please both the hardcore fans and listeners in the process of (re)discovering Winter. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
It's like a comeback album from a star that never really went away, as Edgar Winter plays host to musicians ranging from Leon Russell to Jermaine Jackson, Ronnie Montrose, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and perennial sidekick Rick Derringer. Even Edgar's brother Johnny Winter shows up to play. "Hootchie Koo" kicks off the record, a rocking number that includes vocal solos from Russell, brother Johnny and others. The mellow "Sanctuary" is quite nice, and "The Real Deal" is a real kicker. This is one of Winter's best albums in quite some time. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
'Not a Kid Anymore'
Release Date 6/14/1994
Tracks 11
Label Intersound
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Gone is the obsession with outer space themes, and back is the rock & roll/rhythm & blues that Edgar Winter does so well. Not a Kid Anymore reunites Winter with his old White Trash bandmate Jerry LaCroix, and the resulting mix of musicianship and vocal prowess make for an excellent album. Choice cuts include "Way Down South," "Big City Woman," and the remake of his solid-gold 1973 classic "Frankenstein." ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Aside from the fact that Rick Derringer seems to have lost the biggest part of his voice prior to this recording, the album serves as a rocking documentation of Winter in Japan, where he is revered as a star of the highest magnitude. And why not? After all, it was Edgar Winter who led that powerhouse rock & roll band called White Trash in the early '70s. Here, he recreates the sound of that band with "Fly Away" and "Keep Playing That Rock and Roll." And who can forget "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride," both played live here. Rick Derringer pulls out one from his All American Boy release, "Teenage Love Affair," and walks through his earliest hit with the McCoys, "Hang On Sloopy." Not the best live work Edgar Winter has ever commited to magnetic tape, but certainly worth the price of admission. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Edgar Winter reworks one of his best old songs, "Dying to Live," and dishes up a handful of new tunes to round out a fairly good album. "It Took Your Love" and "Forever in Love" highlight the record, which, although it doesn't measure up to his prior efforts, still manages to put forth some good vibes. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The much-anticipated reunion of Edgar Winter's White Trash brings the powerhouse vocalist Jerry LaCroix back to the forefront, allowing Edgar Winter to put more of his energy into the keyboards, saxophones and percussion. While Recycled is by no means any competition for their 1971 debut album or their subsequent live release, Roadwork, it still houses a few punches that will catch you with your guard down if you aren't careful. Extreme musicianship dominates, but a few classic covers might have helped endear this release to its listeners. After all, that was the key to the original success. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
