CD Review


Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand the Weather (Remastered)

The second studio release from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble has all of the power and intensity as Texas Flood. Couldn't Stand the Weather contains three fantastic blues songs: The Things (That) I Used to do, Cold Shot and Tin Pan Alley. In my opinion Cold Shot and Tin Pan Alley are the quintessential SRV & DT blues songs. This CD also contains SRV & DT's first Hendrix cover song, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return).

The remastered version of Couldn't Stand the Weather contains five new tracks plus the effects from re-mastering the original CD. The four tracks are SRV Speaks, Hide Away, Look at Little Sister (alternative version), Give Me Back My Wig, and Come On (Pt III) (alternative version). Each of these new tracks are excellent tracks to include with Couldn't Stand the Weather.

I have read on some newsgroups (and email lists) devoited to Stevie Ray Vaughan that some fans are upset that the new material was not put onto a single new CD. For me this is a non-issue. Sony is a company that wants to make money. I don't begrudge them for this and I don't have a problem with the repackaging and remastering of Couldn't Stand the Weather. I like the fact that they picked material that was from the time frame when Couldn't Stand the Weather was originally released. It should also be noted that it is possible to get this CD for ~$12.00.

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan - Family Style

I personally enjoy listening to this CD because it gives me a real feeling of the love thatStevie Ray Vaughan and his brother

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Greatest Hits

Don't buy this SRV & DT CD until you own every other commercial CD. There is only one new song onthis CD, Taxman.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Guitar World Interview/Lessons

This CD is a Guitar World exclusive offer to the subscribers of Guitar World. The offer was madein 1999 and I don't know how long the offer is (was) good for and if they ever plan on making the CD a general release.

The CD is a compilation of from two different interviews by Guitar World's senior editor Andy Aledort.The first ten tracks were recorded at the NY offices of Epic Records on June 23, 1989. Tracks 11-17 were recorded on December 2, 1986, in Poughkeepsie, NY. The CD provides some excellent information on SRV guitar playing and setup. The liner notes also come with tablature so it is possible to learn how to play along with Stevie during the interview.

This CD is a must for any guitar playing SRV fan. For other SRV fans, this CD is not particularly valuable or interesting.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - In The Beginning Review

From CD jacket: "In The Beginning is a snapshot of Stevie Vaughan before he became Stevie Ray Vaughan: before his silk kimonos and black somberos became trademarks, before his incendiary Montreux Jazz Festival appearance, before his recording contract, before his studio stint with David Bowie. but one listen to The Guitarist who ignites In The Beginning will reveal that Stevie Vaughan did not grow up in public. He emerged full-blown as essentially the same artist who played his last solos alongside Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Jimmie Vaughan on August 27, 1990."

In the Beginning captures SRV & DT playing live at Steamboat 1874 in Austin Texas on April 1, 1980.The show was broadcast live on KGSR-FM in Austin Texas. There are a number of smokin' blues coversongs on this live CD, including Tin Pan Alley, In the Open, They Call me Guitar Hurricane, Tell Me, and Shake for Me.