Quarto Valley Records have released “Mean Town Blues”, the 2nd single off Brother Johnny, an all-star tribute to Johnny Winter organized by his brother Edgar Winter. Sharing this song so close to what would have been Johnny’s 78th birthday on February 23 is fitting as “Mean Town Blues” highlights the truest version of his early blues writing and unique slide guitar style. The album is now available for pre-order.
“Johnny’s most highly respected authenticity was as a blues man, particularly his style of slide guitar, and if there’s one song that best epitomizes and brings all those elements together to represent the many aspects of who Johnny was in the early days, it is “Mean Town Blues”. Every time I hear it I think, ‘Now that’s Real Johnny Winter’. It just captures the essence of everything he was,” Edgar explains in the albums’ liner notes.
“Mean Town Blues” features Edgar Winter singing, Joe Bonamassa on slide guitar, Sean Hurley on bass, and Gregg Bissonette on drums. Edgar recalls, “To me, this is one of the most important tracks on the album, and probably the most difficult to replicate the original feel on. I wanted only guitar, bass, and drums, exactly like Johnny’s original blues trio. But I didn’t know of anyone out there who naturally played slide the way Johnny did. I thought Joe Bonamassa did such an incredible job with Johnny’s regular guitar style, I wonder if he could do the same thing with the slide? And amazingly, HE DID IT”
Brother Johnny is a powerful sonic journey, traveling the course of Johnny’s musical life, impeccably directed, as only his brother Edgar could. The guitar-driven album celebrates the expansive styles Johnny was known for – the 17 tracks were carefully curated by Edgar and producer Ross Hogarth to represent Johnny’s evolution as an artist, honouring his great legacy while also incorporating a personal tribute from brother to brother, and for which Edgar penned two new songs.
Joining Edgar on the inclusive project is an impressive array of renowned musicians who knew, or were inspired by Johnny, including Joe Bonamassa, Doyle Bramhall II, Robben Ford, Billy Gibbons, David Grissom, Taylor Hawkins, Warren Haynes, Steve Lukather, Michael McDonald, John McFee, Keb Mo, Doug Rappoport, Bobby Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ringo Starr, Derek Trucks, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Walsh, Phil X, Bob Glaub and Sean Hurley on Bass, and Gregg Bissonette on Drums. There were also invaluable musical contributions from Kenny Aronoff, Tim Pierce, Billy Payne, Doc Kupka, and David Campbell.
Brother Johnny will be available on CD, vinyl and digitally across all platforms on April 15, 2022.
The album’s first single, “Johnny B. Goode”, was released on January 7, 2022, and features Edgar, Joe Walsh, David Grissom, Bob Glaub ,Gregg Bissonette and Phil X.
