Number 63 - Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Number 63: Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

The greatest guitar prodigy since Hendrix

Release: June 13th, 1983
Genre: Blues
Favorite Tracks: Texas Flood, Rude Mood, Lenny

 

Where I heard it: 

Please join me once again, as I recant the tale of the mystical stack of CDs I bought off someone at a garage sale in mid 2010. Texas Flood joins the list with the likes of Pearl Jam's Ten and Van Halen's debut release as albums in the stack with an entry on this list. I think back to that varied collection of albums (more to come later on!) which only shared the connection of my loose knowledge of each band from Guitar Hero III, and I'm amazed at how different they are musically. Stevie Ray Vaughan's unmistakable blues classic Pride and Joy first caught my attention for its complicated fret work that seemed to lack meter while always staying in time. When I started high school, my mom's boyfriend would often play one of the numerous blues CDs he had collected over his living room sound system, where I began to hear more of Vaughan's solo guitar performances. I'd play my copy of Texas Flood on his speakers when he wasn't home and groove along with the beat of the band, washing away my teenage troubles at the time. Years later, I still can't stop tapping my toe to some of these tracks.

 Well you've heard about love giving sight to the blind
My baby's lovin' cause the sun to shine
She's my sweet little thing
She's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby
I'm her little lover boy
~ Pride and Joy

What to expect:

From a standpoint within the genre of blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan is a highly notable but otherwise common performer. His distinct southern drawl paired with a jazz-inspired Texas blues style produces a versatile range of tracks on Texas Flood that are at times a sleazy crawl and others a rambunctious hoedown. Vaughan garnered much of his early success from renditions of blues legends like Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters. In fact, Texas Flood includes a handful covers from acts like the Isley Brothers, Howlin' Wolf, and Larry Davis. However, from a guitar playing perspective, Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of the greatest of all-time without a doubt. His prolific guitar solos are captivating and evocative in ways that vocals cannot attain. This exceptional talent greatly excuses the reliance on borrowed material throughout Texas Flood, as even classics like Mary Had a Little Lamb can sound completely reinvented through Vaughan's musical vision. But Stevie ain't no one trick pony. His composition skills shine through brightest when he is allowed to let loose and improvise whatever he wants to. These moments are best characterized by chaotic chord changes, blistering note runs, and textbook wails from Vaughan's signature guitar Lenny. While his virtuosic abilities earn him top billing, I'd be remised not to acknowledge the incredible supporting cast of Double Trouble's Tommy Shannon on bass and Chris Layton on drums. Together, the trio lays down jam after jam, some of which are entirely instrumental and display remarkable musical chemistry between the group. Double Trouble's flawless accompaniment blends perfectly with Vaughan's energy and provides a vital backbone for every song in Texas Flood's diverse repertoire. 

You know I love you baby
I'll do anything for you
But when we start to fightin'
I just get these same old blues
So I'm cryin'
Why do I have to feel this way 
~ I'm Cryin'

Why it's my favorite:

I have such intense nostalgia for the albums of my youth that shaped my musical preferences for years to come. Texas Flood introduced to the blues, a genre with deep generational history rooted in feelings of sorrow, grief, and retribution. Stevie Ray Vaughan's expressive style of play humbly pays homage to the masters that preceded him, respecting the culture of blues music and earning the admiration of his peers as a result. Vaughan breathes life into every guitar string he touches, extracting the cleanest and most beautiful notes I've heard since perhaps Jimi Hendrix. Both Jimi and Stevie have a relationship between their passionate playing and emphatic vocal style that trades off between verses to help compliment one another. Such is to be expected out of the blues format, but the flow between phrases is executed so brilliantly. Even being considered in the same league as Hendrix is an honor in and of itself. But on the same pedestal? That's a level of prestige worthy of only the best, and Stevie Ray Vaughan deserves every bit of it. All the proof you need is right here on Texas Flood.