Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Live Alive (1986)

 (U.S 1978 - 1990)

He’d have been remarkable in any era, but Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) arrived just at the right time in the long history of the electric blues. The late 70's and early 80's were not halcyon days for the art form: Eric Clapton’s star had waned with so-so albums such as Another Ticket and Money And Cigarettes, ZZ Top were delving into the sequencer-driven MTV-rock that made them millions but ripped up their roots: the rejuvenation of Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker and other elder legends was still some way off… the underrated Robert Cray was making waves, but his gentler, more soulful style didn’t deliver the power-blues thrills many guitar players sought. Indeed, in a flurry of hairspray and spandex, hair metal was the 80's habitat stalked by many guitarists with cranked amps seeking to summon the spirit of Jimi.

But Stevie Ray was different. Refreshing, in that he looked even further back. Yes, Hendrix was a huge influence, but he also a keen student of Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddie King, Chuck Berry, Lonnie Mack and Otis Rush. He incorporated the jazz styling of Django Reinhardt, Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery.

He made his name with his band Double Trouble in the Austin, Texas music scene, and by the turn of the 80's had bridged the gap back to the 60's blues explosion like no other. Mick Jagger was an early admirer – inviting SRV to play a private party – and after a 1982 performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, David Bowie was immediately another. Vaughan was thus soon in the unlikely position of club-level hero and simultaneous sidekick to superstars.

There’s no doubt SRV’s guesting on Bowie’s Let’s Dance album broke his name in a way no critical roots acclaim ever could. SRV played on six of the eight Let’s Dance tracks, and a solo deal with Epic records was soon sealed (after an offer of free studio time from Jackson Browne). Controversially turning down the offer to tour with Bowie, SRV got back with Double Trouble and delivered a trio of outstanding blues albums for a new era: Texas Flood (1983), Couldn’t Stand The Weather (1984) and Soul To Soul (1985).

Alcoholism and collapse interrupted this incendiary run – filled by the in-concert Live Alive – but Vaughan returned clean and correct with In Step (1989) before tragedy struck. If he was in the right place at the right time for his rise, it was the exact opposite when he was killed in a helicopter crash in 1990. SRV had just completed an August 1990 live show in Wisconsin with those mentors who he could now consider peers: Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, his brother Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray. At just 35, Stevie Ray Vaughan was taken down just as he reached a personal summit. [extract from guitar.com - Article by Michael Leonard]

Album Review

Live Alive is a magnificent double-length showcase for Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar playing, featuring a number of extended jams on a selection of most of the best material from Vaughan's first three albums, plus covers of "Willie the Wimp," "I'm Leaving You (Commit a Crime)," and Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." The album may not be exceptionally tight or concise, but then again, that's not the point. The renditions here sound less polished than the studio versions, with Vaughan's guitar tone bitingly down and dirty and his playing spontaneous and passionate.

Live Alive is the first live album compiled from four live performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. The performances were recorded on July 15, 1985 at the Montreux Jazz Festival; July 17–18, 1986 at the Austin Opera House; and July 19, 1986 at Dallas Starfest. Much of the album was overdubbed in the studio.

Stevie's Stratocasters

My first encounter with Stevie Ray Vaughan was when I heard his Texas Flood album at a wild party in Carlton back in 1983 and immediately hunted down the album from Readings Records the day after.  I've never looked back since and have acquired most of his releases over the years. Although I have this double live album on vinyl as well, I still think Texas Flood is Stevie's best release and will post it at a later date. 

In the mean time, I am posting his 'Live Alive' album in MP3 (320kps) format for your enjoyment, along with both vinyl and CD artwork.   Favourite tracks are "Voodoo Chile" and of course "Texas Flood"

Tracklist

01 Say What! 4:43

02 Ain' T Gone 'N' Give Up On Love 6:26

03 Pride And Joy 4:59

04 Mary Had A Little Lamb 4:20

05 Superstition 4:33

06 I'm Leaving You (Commit A Crime) 5:40

07 Cold Shot 5:36

08 Willie The Wimp 4:51

09 Look At Little Sister 4:06

10 Texas Flood 6:36

11 Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) 9:42

12 Love Struck Baby 3:41

13 Change It 4:53

14 Life Without You 9:30

SRV were:

Guitar, Vocals – Stevie Ray Vaughan

Bass – Tommy Shannon

Drums – Chris "Whipper" Layton

Keyboards – Reese Wynans

Stevie Ray Vaughan Link (238Mb)