So I've heard it.
First impressions: I was expecting a "what Rick Rubin did with the other Johnny" sparse sound. Yet production-wise this is the most honed Winter recording ever. Except on a few tracks such as Long Tall Sally, the gruffness of his voice has made room to what in places sounds like Bob Seger on a rough day (not a knock, I like Bob). A full, smooth, aurally pleasant sound of the backing band, akin to what you would expect on, say, a more recent Bonnie Raitt album. The album was obviously aimed at cracking the AORish deep pocket baby boomer market and ironically will probably have good sales now not only for the slick (but not sterile) production, but also for the unfortunate event of his death. People that like to listen to Joe Cocker or Eric Clapton albums when having friends over for dinner won't yank this CD out of their player in horror.
But even a honed Johnny will never sound bland, so it's a fitting epitaph. The album is full of guitarist guests (Clapton, Setzer, Gibbons, Perry, and, yes quite, the these days largely unavoidable Bonamassa) and if you dig comparing Johnny's fluid yet rawish style with Clapton's terse "gentleman blues" or Setzer's slightly nervous rockabilly licks, you won't be bored here.
