Vinyl Hour!
Guitar Slinger - Alligator Records, 1984
"Tomorrow was our wedding day But with my own two eyes Today I saw you kissing my best friend So you can kiss tomorrow goodbye" —from Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, lyrics by Al Reed
Today the stereo’s alive with the fiery Chicago blues of Johnny Winter’s Guitar Slinger, a welcome return to pure roots music. Winter breathes new life into ten deep classics drawn from blues and R&B traditions with his searing guitar and gritty vocals.
It’s My Life, Baby opens with precise, expressive slide guitar, immediately showcasing Winter’s command of the genre. Iodine in My Coffee features a classic harmonica-and-guitar dialogue, while Mad Dog drives forward on a swinging, high-energy shuffle. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye unfolds in a slow, soulful groove, underscoring Winter’s mastery of phrasing and slide technique.
Each track combines technical brilliance with the emotional storytelling that defines the Chicago tradition.
For me, Guitar Slinger opened the door to a deeper appreciation of the blues, revealing the roots of rock and R&B through Winter’s phrasing, call-and-response interplay, and expressive guitar storytelling—proof, if any were needed, that he could burn with the best of them.
Decades later, the album remains a cornerstone of Winter’s legacy, introducing new generations to his electrifying musicianship while reminding longtime fans of the intensity, skill, and soul he brought to every note.
What was the album that first made the blues feel alive to you—not as history, but as something urgent and real?
If this sparked a memory or brought a smile, subscribe and join me Monday through Friday as I rediscover the vinyl that shaped my life.
I almost forgot I owned this one, as bad as that sounds. Will definitely be pulling it out and giving it a fresh spin. As far as the first blues album that got me—I can’t say I recall. It might have been the Blues Brothers, which sounds ridiculous, but actually holds up well. It might have been a Chicago bluesman, Jimmy Johnson, who’s live show I and a few friend’s serendipitously stumbled upon one night in Chicago in the 80s (who’s cassette made into my heavy rotation). Or it might have been Taj Mahal’s eponymous debut, which is still desert island stuff in my world, who’s discovery dates back to those early days.
I love how your stereo is alive every day. And then you share it with us. Even better.