We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
The cover looks like a dangerous rock & roll band in the heart of a decaying city. The music is straight ahead rock & roll with a strong shot of the blues. The band is Edgar Winter’s White Trash.
How could you not like a band with…. three guitarists including Rick Derringer (who also produces) and Edgar’s brother Johnny who was killin it on his own in 1971…..3 saxophone players (including Edgar himself)….two trumpets…and a killer rhythm section…plus dual lead vocals from Edgar and the gritty introduction of Louisiana bred Jerry La Croix (who also plays sax) and can scream or croon when needed.
It really is a good record and hard to believe it only made it to #111 on the charts and had no real hits although “Keep Playing That Rock & Roll” made it to #70.
The songs range from the funkiness of the opener “Give It Everything You Got” to the timely track “Save The Planet” to some slow ones as well including a song called “Dyin To Live” that I swear I have heard somewhere before done by somebody else (googled it with no success).
And then there is the standout for me…an awesome cover of “I’ve Got News For You”, a Roy Alfred song that was cut by Ray Charles. Its a straight blues with a growling lead vocal from LaCroix and some great horn work. As good as this stuff gets.
Put this on while you’re at work …and watch your co-workers go, what is that??
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