Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Texas Flood (1983)
35 years ago, Stevie Ray Vaughan burst upon the scene with Texas Flood, breaking into the Top 40, sticking to the charts for over a year, and almost single-handedly reviving the blues as a commercially viable genre in America.
But what probably looked like overnight success to most outsiders was, in fact, the result of over a decade of frustrating obscurity and tireless hustle playing seedy Texas clubs, backed since 1980 by bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton, a.k.a. Double Trouble.
And when Stevie finally caught a break, it ironically came from overseas, when he was booked and proceeded to demolish the1982 Montreux Jazz Festival (producer Jerry Wexler recommended SRV to festival organizer Claude Nobs), later leading to precious studio time donated by Jackson Browne, of all people.
Now, all of a sudden, Stevie Ray was signed to Epic Records, being championed by iconic A&R man John Hammond, cutting tracks for David Bowie’s imminent chart-topper Let’s Dance, and spilling his blood and guts into his long-awaited shot at the big time, Texas Flood.
And, man, did SRV take advantage, forcing stinging Texas blues upon a tight-arsed ‘80s music world that didn’t know how much it needed the urgent shuffle of “Love Struck Baby,” colossal swing of “Pride and Joy,” and devastating pathos of the title track.
The excitement rarely flags beyond this formidable opening trio, taking in the blistering jazz-rock of “Rude Mood,” the laid-back “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and another scorching slow blues called “Dirty Pool.”
By the time Stevie Ray winds down with the fluid, Hendrix-influenced six-string subtleties of “Lenny,” it was clear that one of the great electric guitar stylists of all time, and in any musical genre, had arrived.
So much so that, had he packed up his Strat and quit after just one LP, Vaughan’s legend would have probably been cemented, but I sure am glad he left us half-a-dozen recordings before his unfairly premature demise.
That’s why I had to put Texas Flood at No. 1 when I ranked Stevie’s discography from worst to best for Ultimate Classic Rock.
More Stevie Ray Vaughan: Couldn’t Stand the Weather, Soul to Soul, Live Alive.
