JC Disciples

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Commerical Released CDs - Detailed Reviews

The following information is purely a subjective review by me about the following commercial released CDs that I own.


Couldn't Stand the Weather:	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).	Back to main page

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 remastering 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.	Back to main page

Family Style:	I personally enjoy listening to this CD because it gives me a real feeling of the love that Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmie Vaughan shared. If you are looking for a CD that sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, then do not buy this album. The style of this CD is very different from the other work Stevie did. Memorable songs include: White Boots, Good Texan, Hillbillies from Outerspace, Tick Tock and Brothers.	Back to main page

Greatest Hits:	Don't buy this SRV & DT CD until you own every other commercial CD. There is only one new song on this CD, Taxman.	Back to main page

Guitar World Interview/Lessons:	This CD is a Guitar World exclusive offer to the subscribers of Guitar World. The offer was made in 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.	Back to main page

In The Beginning:	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 cover songs on this live CD, including Tin Pan Alley, In the Open, They Call me Guitar Hurricane, Tell Me, and Shake for Me.	Back to main page

In Session:	From CD jacket: "Anyone who's witnessed a much anticipated jam session only to be disappointed -- with each participant deferring to the other, the end result being that neight ever got out of first gear -- will welcome this pairing of two giants of blues guitar. Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan obviously shared mutual admiration. But it simply wasn't in either one's makeup to a) be intimidated or b) take a backseat to anyone. Not without kicking up a little dust." Previously the only way to get this session was in Import form, on Jammed Together - Texas Style. Now it is possible to get a totally 'legal' copy of this incredable live performance between Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King. Albert King, as the blues master, careful instructs and encourages Stevie Ray to keep working and improving his skills. This CD has Stevie Ray Vaughan playing with Albert King at the CHCH Studios (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - 11/1983). You can hear every note and all of the vocals on this CD. I really enjoyed listening to Stevie and Albert King talking to each other between the tracks. It was also great to hear Stevie playing something other than his standard fair. If you like Albert King at all, then you have to get this CD.	Back to main page

In Step:	After Stevie Ray Vaughan and the members of Double Trouble cleaned up from their drug and alchohol problems, SRV & DT put out this explosive CD. More than half of the CD contains memoriable songs, including: Crossfire, Tightrope, Leave My Girl Alone, Wall of Denial, and Riviera Paradise.	Back to main page

In Step (Remastered):	After Stevie Ray Vaughan and the members of Double Trouble cleaned up from their drug and alchohol problems, SRV & DT put out this explosive CD. More than half of the CD contains memoriable songs, including: Crossfire, Tightrope, Leave My Girl Alone, Wall of Denial, and Riviera Paradise. The remastered version of In Step contains five new tracks plus the effects from remastering the original CD. The four tracks are SRV Speaks, The House is Rockin' (Live), Let Me Love You Baby (Live), Texas Flood (Live), and Life without You (Live). Each of these new tracks are excellent tracks to include with In Step. I might have picked some other songs from the In Step CD but these are good tracks. 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 In Step. I like the fact that they picked material that was from the time frame when In Step was originally released. It should also be noted that it is possible to get this CD for ~$12.00. And in my case I traded in a bunch of CDs I don't listen to for store ` credit which paid for the remastered In Step.	Back to main page

Live Alive:	Don't buy this CD until you own every other SRV & DT commercial CD (except for Greatest Hits). Although the CD is called Live Alive, it is very hard to tell if any of the tracks are from a live venue, except for the occassional audience hiss between tracks. The ** and *** reviewed Import SRV & DT CDs are better representations of SRV & DT in a live venue.	Back to main page

Live At Carnegie Hall:	This live CD is in fact truly a live show, unlike Live Alive. This CD contains smokin' versions of Scuttle Buttin', Testifyin', and Cold Shot. The second half of the show Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble bring on George Rains (a 2nd drummer), Dr. John (on organ & piano), the five-man horn section from Roomful of Blues, Jimmie Vaughan on rhythm guitar, and Angela Strehli for vocals on C.O.D. SRV & DT knew that their blues heros never got a chance to play at Carnegie Hall, so they decided to play some classic blues songs. On this CD there are excellent versions of Letter to My Girlfriend (Guitar Slim), The Things That I Used to Do (Guitar Slim/Muddy Waters), C.O.D. (Albert King), and Iced Over (Albert Collins). There are two problems with this CD. The first one is the crowd noise, especially during the song Lenny. The second problem is that the original show was much longer than ~71 minutes (as found on this CD). The entire show was recorded with the intent of making a live show available on CD. For some reason this show was not released as a double CD set.	Back to main page

Live at Montreux 1982 and 1985:	This live two (2) CD set is in fact truly two live shows, unlike Live Alive. This is an excellent live recording of SRV & DT. The first CD is the 1982 show where the audience booed and whistled their displeasure about a "white Texas blues band". This show also contains the version of Texas Flood that won a Grammy for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. The second CD is the 1985 show where SRV & DT return as blues rock heros. The crowd response during this show is excellent.	Back to main page

The Sky is Crying:	The Sky is Crying was released after Stevie Ray Vaughan's death. All of the songs on this CD (except for Empty Arms) were previously unreleased. Many of the songs are cover songs of SRV & DT's favorite blues and jazz artists. The variety of songs on this CD make it one of the strongest SRV & DT CDs that a fan can buy.	Back to main page

Soul to Soul:	The third studio release from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble reveals the destructive power of drugs on an artists ability to perform. During the recording of Soul to Soul, it was reported by Doyle Bramhill that there were mounds of cocaine on top of the keyboards. There are really only two memoriable songs on this CD - Ain't Gone'n'Give Up on Love and Life Without You.	Back to main page

Texas Flood:	If you are a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble you have to own their debut CD. SRV & DT power comes ringing through on songs like Love Struck Baby, Pride and Joy, and Rude Mood. SRV & DT also provide a satisfying meal of blues classics like Texas Flood, Tell Me, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Dirty Pool.	Back to main page

Texas Flood (Remastered):	If you are a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble you have to own their debut CD. SRV & DT power comes ringing through on songs like Love Struck Baby, Pride and Joy, and Rude Mood. SRV & DT also provide a satisfying meal of blues classics like Texas Flood, Tell Me, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Dirty Pool. The remastered version of Texas Flood contains five new tracks plus the effects from remastering the original CD. The four tracks are SRV Speaks, Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town), Testify (Live), Mary Had a Little Lamb (Live), and Wham (Live). Each of these new tracks are excellent tracks to include with Texas Flood. I might have picked some other songs from the Texas Flood CD but these are good tracks. 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 Texas Flood. I like the fact that they picked material that was from the time frame when Texas Flood was originally released. It should also be noted that it is possible to get this CD for ~$9.00. And in my case I traded in a bunch of CDs I don't listen to for store ` credit which paid for the remastered Texas Flood.	Back to main page

David Tannen

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