Johnny Winter – Step Back (2.9.)

Johnny Winter will be joined by an all-star cast including Eric Clapton, ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, Aerosmith‘s Joe Perry, Leslie West of Mountain fame, Joe Bonamassa and others as part of a forthcoming blues-rocking studio effort.

‘Step Back,’ produced by Winter sideman Paul Nelson and due September 2 via Megaforce Records, is Winter’s first recording since a massive career-spanning compilation set earlier this year — and the follow up to 2011’s ‘Roots.’

“If there’s good people, other good musicians, people enjoy it. I just love it,” Winter says, in pre-release materials. “‘Step Back’ is just to bring it to the people of today who haven’t listened to the old music. It’s better than anything they hear today.”

Clapton is on board for Bobby “Blue” Bland’s ‘Don’t Want No Woman.’ The Blues Brothers horns join in on a new version of Ray Charles’ ‘Unchain My Heart.’ Gibbons is featured on ‘Where Can You Be’ — a moment, he notes, that was a long time coming. “I never had the opportunity to jam with him (in the ’60s and ’70s),” Gibbons says. “I was content to remain in awe and admiration.”

Dr. John honors Fats Domino with ‘Blue Monday.’ Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats is featured on ‘Okie Dokie Stomp,’ made famous by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Meanwhile, Perry sits in for Lightin’ Hopkins’ ‘Mojo Hand,’ paying back a huge favor. “If it weren’t for Johnny Winter,” Perry says, “I would have never picked up the guitar.”
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