Nothin' but the Blues (Johnny Winter album)

1977 studio album by Johnny Winter

Nothin' but the Blues

Studio album by

Johnny Winter

Released

August 1977

Recorded

1977

Studio

The Schoolhouse

Genre

Chicago Blues

Length

36:11

Label

Blue Sky

Producer

Johnny Winter

Johnny Winter chronology

Together
(1976)

Nothin' but the Blues
(1977)

White, Hot and Blue
(1978)

Nothin' but the Blues is a 1977 album by guitarist and singer Johnny Winter.^[1]

On this album Winter moved away from the rock and blues blend of previous albums to a more blues-oriented album. It also saw a marked change in source of material, being almost exclusively written by Winter, apart from one song by Muddy Waters with whom Winter had recently collaborated and who featured on the album along with his band.

A statement in the album liner notes says, "I'd like to dedicate this album to all the people who enjoy my kind of blues and especially to Muddy Waters for giving me the inspiration to do it and for giving the world a lifetime of great blues. – Johnny Winter"

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	^[4]
Rolling Stone	(Not rated)^[3]

On AllMusic, William Ruhlmann said, "After a long period making rock records, Winter fronts the Muddy Waters band on the aptly titled Nothin' but the Blues.... Winter sounds happier than ever before on this Chicago blues workout."^[2]

Parallel Forces wrote, "Released in the wake of [the Muddy Waters album] Hard Again, Nothin' but the Blues has the distinction of being recorded with the same musicians. These two albums mark the return to grace of [Johnny Winter] in the world of blues that he had somewhat neglected in previous years, devoted more to rock."^[5]

Track listing

All songs written by Johnny Winter, except "Walkin' thru the Park" by Muddy Waters.

"Tired of Tryin'" - 3:40
"TV Mama" - 3:11
"Sweet Love and Evil Women" - 2:50
"Everybody's Blues" - 5:03
"Drinkin' Blues" - 3:40
"Mad Blues" - 4:17
"It Was Rainin'" - 5:53
"Bladie Mae" - 3:30
"Walkin' thru the Park" - 4:07

Personnel

Johnny Winter – vocals, electric guitar, metal body acoustic guitar, slide guitar, bass guitar, drums
Muddy Waters – vocals
James Cotton – harmonica
Pinetop Perkins – piano
Bob Margolin – electric guitar
Charles Calmese – electric bass
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith – drums

References

^ Encyclopedia of Classic Rock. ABC-CLIO. 2017. p. 394.
^ ^a ^b Ruhlmann, William. "Nothin' But the Blues - Johnny Winter : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
^ "Rolling Stone Music | Album Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2012-06-23.^{[dead link]}
^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 723. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
^ Maniac Blues (May 23, 2010). "Johnny Winter: Nothin' but the Blues (1977)". Parallel Forces (in French). Retrieved April 1, 2018.