Solos, Sessions and Encores
by: Stevie Ray Vaughan
(Epic/Legacy)
When Stevie Ray Vaughan died in 1990, the world of Southern blues and rock and roll was dealt a devastating blow. We had lost another great in his prime, and the wounds we all felt left scars that remain unhealed eighteen years later. Thankfully, Stevie left behind some amazing music that will forever keep his legacy and memory alive.
Solos, Sessions and Encores collects Stevie’s finest collaborations, from his career launching guitar work on the 1983 #1 hit by David Bowie, “Let’s Dance” to a live version of “Goin’ Down” with Jeff Beck, to a duet with Lonnie Mack, recorded live at The Fox in Atlanta. Surf fans will love Stevie’s teaming with Dick Dale on “Pipeline,” and there is a show-stopping live version of “The Sky is Crying” with Stevie Ray cooking alongside B.B. King, Albert King and Paul Butterfield. The blues never sounded so good.
The collection includes several previously unreleased cuts, including a duet with Katie Webster at the 1988 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and a fantastic version of “Texas Flood” with Bonnie Raitt. And then there’s a version of “Albert’s Shuffle” with Albert Collins.
Solos is an outstanding collection, one that burns like a blue flame from start to finish. It stands as a testament to one of the best guitar slingers of all time.
-Michael Buffalo Smith