Johnny Winter

Step Back

Megaforce Records

Sadly, the album Step Back, is the final studio recording of blues guitar hero Johnny Winter. And stepping back is exactly what he does here, bringing mostly a collection of cover songs that helped inspire his early career. And as he did a couple years back with the similar album Roots, he’s brought a few of his guitar playing friends along for the ride. Paul Nelson is back to handle the production duties and offers his own string work on a number of the tracks, and the line-up of collaborators found throughout the disc is basically a who’s who of modern rock and blues performers that includes the likes of Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, Leslie West, Ben Harper, Dr. John, Jason Ricci amongst them

The recording opens with Ray Charles’ classic “Unchain My Heart,” which may throw off some fans expecting a full force guitar drive to kick things off. Instead it is a fairly straight forward approach of the song, with Winter applying a much softer vocal delivery than you may be used to, backed by The Blues Brothers Horns featuring “Blue” Lou Marini and Tom “Bones” Malone. The horn section appears again on a very nice instrumental rockabilly reading of “Gatemouth” Brown’s “Okie Dokie Stomp” with Brian Setzer and a slow burning, eight-minute take of B.B. King’s “Sweet Sixteen” joined by Joe Bonamassa.

But no need to worry, Winter does bring out his trademark growling vocals, blistering fretting and sizzling slide as is the case with his take on Elmore James’ “Can’t Hold Out (Talk To Me Baby)” with Ben Harper. Magic Sam’s “Don’t Want No Woman” with Eric Clapton is an exceptional reading, Jason Ricci’s harmonica is powerful on Little Walter’s “My Babe,” and Billy Gibbons mixed with Winter provide a terrific ZZ Top fueled guitar styled duet on “Where Can You Be.” Perhaps the standout number on Step Back is Winter’s solo acoustic cover of Son House’s “Death Letter” which is much more Delta than his natural Texas blues rock. The closing track, Fats Domino’s “Blue Monday” returns to the same manner as the opening take on “Unchain My Heart,” with Dr. John providing a strong New Orleans piano base as the core instrument with more focus on Winter’s voice and an easier paced but still effective guitar solo.

Often the case with albums that are released after an icon has passed are mostly filler material found in the studio and thrown together. Since Winter’s death was unexpected that is not the situation here. These songs were recorded with the full intent of being released and it is a fitting tribute to a guitar player that stood the earth on its heels when he hit the scene and somebody that continuously thrilled us throughout the duration of his career. So sorry to see him go, but Johnny Winter has left us with a nice coda with Step Back to remember him by.

Total Time: 51:32

Unchain My Heart / Can’t Hold Out (Talk To Me Baby) / Don’t Want No Woman / Killing Floor / Who Do You Love / Okie Dokie Stomp / Where Can You Be / Sweet Sixteen / Death Letter / My Babe / Long Tall Sally / Mojo Hand / Blue Monday