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During the 1960s, Liberty Records, an American label founded in the mid-1950s, expanded its roster to include a diverse mix of genres, particularly rock, pop, and jazz. By the late 1960s, as blues-rock gained traction, Liberty recognized the growing appeal of electric blues and moved to sign promising artists in this space, including Johnny Winter, whose raw, intense sound was resonating with the counterculture.
One of Liberty's notable releases from this era was The Progressive Blues Experiment, originally recorded independently by Johnny Winter in 1968. After Winter's breakout at the 1968 Texas Pop Festival and his subsequent rise in the blues-rock scene, Liberty acquired the rights to this album, capitalizing on his newfound popularity. They reissued The Progressive Blues Experiment under their label in 1969, introducing Winter's intense guitar style and powerful vocals to a broader audience.
Liberty also released several singles from this album to promote Winter's blues prowess, making a clear effort to highlight tracks that showcased his deep roots in traditional blues infused with a modern, electrified edge. Some of these singles included “Mean Town Blues,” “Black Cat Bone,” and “Rollin' and Tumblin’.” Each single encapsulated Winter’s ability to merge gritty, authentic blues with a rock-driven energy that appealed to both blues purists and rock audiences.
These singles from The Progressive Blues Experiment helped solidify Johnny Winter's place in the late-60s blues-rock movement. Liberty Records, by championing Winter's electric blues, played a key role in bringing this genre to a larger audience and contributed to the broader blues revival that was gaining momentum during that period.