Exclusive: Hear Johnny Winter Perform "Eyesight to the Blind" at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival

Features
By
published

Today, GuitarWorld.com presents an exclusive Johnny Winter song premiere courtesy of Sony Legacy.

The track, which you can hear below, captures the blues-rock guitar legend in all his early Seventies glory as he performs "Eyesight to the Blind" at the second Atlanta International Pop Festival on July 5, 1970.

Although the recording was originally released on 1971's The First Great Rock Festivals of The Seventies: Isle Of Wight/Atlanta Pop, it has been unavailable on CD for quite a while. That will change February 25, when Sony Legacy releases True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story, a new career-spanning box set.

The set captures Winters' most electrifying performances — and celebrates the guitarist's 70th birthday, which happens to fall on February 23.

As for the song, you might know it best from its appearance on the Who's Tommy album and film. The 12-bar blues staple, which was written and recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson II in 1951, also has been covered by Aerosmith, the Smithereens, Gary Moore, Eric Clapton and many others.

Be sure to check out the track below. And while you're at it, enter for a chance to win a signed copy of True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story right here!

For more about Winter, visit his Facebook page. To pre-order the box set, visit Amazon.com. For more about Sony Legacy, visit legacyrecordings.com.

Photo: Sony Music Archives

[[ Guitar World’s Blues Greats Subscription Offer: Get one year of Guitar World plus a new digital EP, 'Legacy Recordings Presents: Blues Greats! Past & Present,' featuring “Dallas" by Johnny Winter! ]]

Image 1 of 5
Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.