Edgar Winter’s White Trash”Roadwork” (1972) Epic* Times...

Edgar Winter’s White Trash

“Roadwork” (1972)

Epic

* Times Line(tm): 808-8463. To hear an excerpt from “Roadwork,” call TimesLine and press * 5511

Before Edgar Winter became permanently associated with ‘70s rock through the hits “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride,” he led a raging R & B review called White Trash, through which lies his true musical legacy. The group featured Winter on vocals, alto sax and keyboards; Rick Derringer on guitar; Jerry LaCroix, sort of a poor man’s cross between David Clayton-Thomas and Otis Redding, on co-lead vocals, and tight, punchy horn and rhythm sections. An early entry in the double live album sweepstakes that proliferated in the ‘70s, “Roadwork” finds the group at the peak of its power, blasting out blues, gospel, funk, soul and rock for appreciative audiences and the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles and at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theatre.

Though sometimes brash to the point of questionable taste, White Trash boasted chops galore, infectious enthusiasm and inarguable entertainment value. While LaCroix was an energetic but run-of-the-mill blues belter, Winter’s astonishingly dexterous pipes carried the day as he heroically scatted, screamed and growled like a roomful of soprano Sly Stones (“Save the Planet” and “Tobacco Road” are particular standouts). His quick-fingered alto work is frequently surprising as well.

A bonus track features Edgar’s brother--Johnny Winter, of course--in a blazing rendition of “Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo.” While “Roadwork” is amusingly dated in spots (“anybody wanna ROCK ‘N’ ROLL? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” cheerleads Derringer at one point), it remains just as listenable as it was when released more than 20 years ago: It’s big-time fun from a less self-conscious era.