AMG Review of Real Deal

Michael B. Smith
All Music Guide

It's like a comeback album from a star that never really went away, as Edgar Winter plays host to musicians ranging from Leon Russell to Jermaine Jackson, Ronnie Montrose, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and perennial sidekick Rick Derringer. Even Edgar's brother Johnny Winter shows up to play. "Hootchie Koo" kicks off the record, a rocking number that includes vocal solos from Russell, brother Johnny and others. The mellow "Sanctuary" is quite nice, and "The Real Deal" is a real kicker. This is one of Winter's best albums in quite some time.