Rebel Road

AMG Review of Rebel Road

Al Campbell
All Music Guide

Rebel Road is another Edgar Winter back-to-basics album. These 11 tracks are much closer to what the multi-instrumentalist did in the early '70s, bypassing the type of material that alienated listeners in the past, such as the science fiction-influenced Mission Earth and Standing on Rock or the smooth jazz-oriented Jazzin' the Blues. Rebel Road has an overall classic rock feel to it -- Slash plays guitar on the title track -- but also delves into the blues and even country. Brother Johnny Winter joins in on "Rockin' the Blues," while "The Power of Positive Drinkin'" (not the Mickey Gilley tune) and "On the Horns of a Dilemma" feature Clint Black, who blows a mean harp. Of particular note is "Peace and Love," which Winter dedicates to Ringo Starr. In the liner notes, Winter expounds on his time playing keyboards with Ringo & His All-Starr Band and how that affected him in an overwhelmingly positive manner. All in all, Rebel Road is a well-crafted album, finding Edgar Winter in decent form with a little help from his friends.