Rick Derringer: Time Warp

Back in 1973, manager Steve Paul created a label imprint originally distributed by Columbia Records named “Blue Sky Records.” Blue Sky was an umbrella label for all of the acts that Paul managed and included Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Muddy Waters, Steve Perry, and Dan Hartman. By the 1980s, CBS moved the distribution of this label from its Columbia division to Epic where all other CBS specialty labels eventually were housed.

One of the first releases (and perhaps the very first release) from Blue Sky was Rick Derringer’s “All American Boy” album in 1973. The LP’s associated single, “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo” – a song originally recorded by Johnny Winter when Rick was a member of his band, charted for Derringer in 1974. The song peaked at #23 on the Hot 100.

The instrumental “Time Warp” was the flip to Derringer’s hit and features Rick on a variety of guitars including a Coral Electric Sitar. Prominent in this tune are the excellent bass playing of Kenny Passarelli and the congas and timbales of Joe Lala. Edgar Winter’s organ swells are also worth mentioning. Bill Szymczyk produced the LP – a follow-up to his work as Edgar’s technical director on “They Only Come Out at Night." Rick produced the Edgar Winter LP.  

Szymczyk was known for his production skills on albums by The James Gang, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The J. Geils Band, Jo Jo Gunne, and others. He also methodically placed cryptic messages in the dead wax on the albums that he produced. While I don’t have this particular album, I did buy the single as a poor, starving college freshman when it was released. Therefore, I can’t tell you Bill’s message on this particular LP. Nonetheless, I remember playing this flip side nearly as much as the hit.