Roadwork (album)
Encyclopedia
Roadwork is a live album
by vocalist/keyboardist/saxophonist Edgar Winter
and his band White Trash, a powerful revue famous for their fusion of funk, gospel, R&B, and rock 'n' roll. It was released as a double
LP
in 1972. Roadwork was the second of only three albums the band recorded together.
Highlights include Winter's virtuoso keyboard and vocal work, and the guitar stylings of Rick Derringer
. The longest track on the album was the band's own version of the John D. Loudermilk song, "Tobacco Road
", which lasted over 17 minutes, taking up an entire side of the album. Derringer contributed lead vocals to "Still Alive and Well
" and "Back in the USA
", and Johnny Winter
made a special appearance singing lead on "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo". Louisiana native Jerry LaCroix, who shared lead vocals with Winter in White Trash, is also prominently featured.
The album was recorded before live audiences at the Apollo Theater
in New York
and in Los Angeles
at the legendary Whisky a Go Go
night club.
, the unidentified host who introduced them chided their evident late arrival saying (slightly off mic):
"Y'know, every time we used to go outta town for them jive jobs they give us, they always say 'black folks: late, can't be on time,' now look at the White Trash!" (chuckle)
The comment was met with laughter from the audience. After the introduction, the audience again broke out into sporadic laughter, possibly not expecting much from the band as it consisted of all white musicians, but their doubts were quickly dispelled when the band launched into "Cool Fool", a funky R&B song.
This snippet appears on the original vinyl release at the beginning of Side 4.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by vocalist/keyboardist/saxophonist Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
and his band White Trash, a powerful revue famous for their fusion of funk, gospel, R&B, and rock 'n' roll. It was released as a double
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in 1972. Roadwork was the second of only three albums the band recorded together.
Highlights include Winter's virtuoso keyboard and vocal work, and the guitar stylings of Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
. The longest track on the album was the band's own version of the John D. Loudermilk song, "Tobacco Road
Tobacco Road (song)
"Tobacco Road" is a song written and first recorded by John D. Loudermilk in 1960 that was a hit for The Nashville Teens in 1964 and has since become a standard across several musical genres....
", which lasted over 17 minutes, taking up an entire side of the album. Derringer contributed lead vocals to "Still Alive and Well
Still Alive and Well
Still Alive and Well is the fifth studio album by Johnny Winter, released in 1973.- Track listing :#"Rock Me Baby" - 3:49#"Can't You Feel It" - 3:01#"Cheap Tequila" - 4:05...
" and "Back in the USA
Back in the USA
Back in the USA is the 1970 debut studio album, and second album overall, by the American protopunk band MC5. The opening track is a cover of the classic hit "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard, "Let Me Try" is a ballad, "The American Ruse" attacks what the Detroit quintet saw as the hypocritical idea...
", and Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
made a special appearance singing lead on "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo". Louisiana native Jerry LaCroix, who shared lead vocals with Winter in White Trash, is also prominently featured.
The album was recorded before live audiences at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at the legendary Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
night club.
Track listing
- "Save the Planet" – 7:39
- "Jive, Jive, Jive" – 3:12
- "I Can't Turn You LooseI Can't Turn You Loose"I Can't Turn You Loose" is a song written and first recorded by American soul singer Otis Redding. It was released as the B-side to his 1965 single "Just One More Day"...
" – 3:55 - "Still Alive and WellStill Alive and WellStill Alive and Well is the fifth studio album by Johnny Winter, released in 1973.- Track listing :#"Rock Me Baby" - 3:49#"Can't You Feel It" - 3:01#"Cheap Tequila" - 4:05...
" – 4:03 - "Back in the U.S.A.Back in the U.S.A."Back in the U.S.A." is a song by Chuck Berry, which was first issued in 1959 as a single a-side and on Berry's 1962 album More Chuck Berry, . The song's lyrics were supposedly written based upon Berry returning to the USA following a trip to Australia and witnessing the living standards of...
" – 5:48 - "Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo" – 5:42
- "Tobacco RoadTobacco Road (song)"Tobacco Road" is a song written and first recorded by John D. Loudermilk in 1960 that was a hit for The Nashville Teens in 1964 and has since become a standard across several musical genres....
" – 17:11 - "Cool Fool" – 6:05
- "Do Yourself a Favor" – 4:47
- "Turn on Your Love LightTurn On Your Love Light"Turn On Your Love Light" is an R&B-style blues song recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961. It was a both an important R&B and pop chart hit for Bland and has become one of his most identifiable songs...
" – 7:52
Personnel
- Edgar WinterEdgar WinterEdgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
: Lead and backing vocals, Keyboards, Saxophone - Jerry LaCroix: Lead and backing vocals, saxophone
- Jon SmithJon SmithJon Smith is a British writer of fiction, non-fiction, screenplays and musical theatre.-Biography:Jon Smith was brought up in Merseyside, where he remained until he was eighteen. He studied for a degree in American Studies at the University of Reading which included a semester at the University of...
: Backing vocals, saxophone - Rick DerringerRick DerringerRick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
: Lead vocals, guitars - Randy Jo HobbsRandy Jo HobbsRandy Jo Hobbs was an American musician born in Winchester, Indiana. Hobbs played bass for The McCoys during the 1965-1969 period and in the bands of the brothers Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter during 1970-1976....
: Bass - Bobby Ramirez: Drums
- Marshall Cyr: Trumpet
- Mike McClellan: Trumpet
- Tilly Lawrence: Trumpet
- Johnny WinterJohnny WinterJohn Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
: Lead vocals, guitar on "Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo"
Production notes
At the start of their appearance at the Apollo TheaterApollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
, the unidentified host who introduced them chided their evident late arrival saying (slightly off mic):
"Y'know, every time we used to go outta town for them jive jobs they give us, they always say 'black folks: late, can't be on time,' now look at the White Trash!" (chuckle)
The comment was met with laughter from the audience. After the introduction, the audience again broke out into sporadic laughter, possibly not expecting much from the band as it consisted of all white musicians, but their doubts were quickly dispelled when the band launched into "Cool Fool", a funky R&B song.
This snippet appears on the original vinyl release at the beginning of Side 4.