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Blue Sky Records was a record label established in the 1970s, closely associated with Johnny Winter and his work. Initially set up as a subsidiary of Columbia Records (CBS), Blue Sky was intended to provide a dedicated platform for the blues and rock musicians that Johnny Winter was championing. Although Winter was not the official founder, his influence and involvement were instrumental in its creation, and he was its most prominent artist, helping define the label’s musical direction and identity.
Blue Sky Records primarily focused on blues-rock, a genre that Johnny Winter was known for revitalizing during this period. The label became a home for artists who embodied a raw, unfiltered rock and blues sound. Winter himself released several key albums through Blue Sky, including Still Alive and Well (1973), Saints & Sinners (1974), and John Dawson Winter III (1974), which were significant to his career and brought considerable attention to the label. His involvement added credibility to Blue Sky, establishing it as a haven for authentic blues and rock talent.
Aside from Johnny Winter, Blue Sky Records also signed his brother Edgar Winter, another influential artist in the blues-rock and rock fusion scenes. Edgar released successful albums under the label, such as They Only Come Out at Night (1972), which included his hit “Frankenstein.” Additionally, legendary blues musician Muddy Waters recorded three Grammy-winning albums with Blue Sky in the late 1970s (Hard Again, I’m Ready, and King Bee), all produced by Johnny Winter. This collaboration with Waters added prestige to Blue Sky, solidifying its reputation in blues music.
Blue Sky Records ceased operations in the early 1980s, largely due to shifts in the music industry and changes in CBS’s strategic direction. However, its impact on blues and rock remains noteworthy, with Johnny Winter’s contributions to the label leaving a lasting legacy. Today, Blue Sky Records is remembered for its role in Johnny Winter’s career, its contributions to the blues revival of the 1970s, and its commitment to the raw energy of blues-rock music.
Rock, Blues Rock
JOHNNY WINTER
SKY S 3092
Blue Sky
Urheber- und Leistungsschutzrechte, ausser zum privaten Gebrauch, bleiben vorbehalten
GEMA
Single 1
2:57
SKY S 3092
Stereo Germany
Screen Gems-Columbia Music Inc. /
Marks Music Inc.
(P) 1975
45 RPM
RAISED ON ROCK
(Mark Jones)
Produced by Shelly Yakus
From the LP CBS 80 586
JOHN DAWSON WINTER III
JOHNNY WINTER
Made in Germany
CBS INC. / STEREO / GERMANY CBS SCHALLPLATTEN-GMBH, 2000 HAMBURG 19 / ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE WORK REPRODUCED RESERVED. UNAUTHORIZED COPYING, HIRING, LENDING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED.
Rock, Blues Rock
JOHNNY WINTER
SKY S 3092
GEMA
Side 2
2:54
SKY S 3092
Stereo Germany
Winter Blues Music Inc.
(P) 1975
45 RPM
STRANGER
(J. Winter)
Produced by Shelly Yakus
From the LP CBS 80 586
JOHN DAWSON WINTER III
JOHNNY WINTER
Made in Germany
CBS INC. / STEREO / GERMANY CBS SCHALLPLATTEN-GMBH, 2000 HAMBURG 19 / ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE WORK REPRODUCED RESERVED. UNAUTHORIZED COPYING, HIRING, LENDING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED.