Stevie Ray Vaughan

[TightWad]

Okay, I'll start by saying that I'm really not much of a "blueshead", my only previous experience being downloading a few John Lee Hooker songs from Monk's "Top Ten John Lee Hooker" list a while back. Anyway, I thought it was a cool break from my usual music routine (mostly based around Beatles, Doors, S&G, Counting Crows, Dylan, Clapton)...but I didn't really get too much into it.

Yesterday, I bought a Stevie Ray Vaughan album ("Couldn't stand the weather") and was promptly told afterwards that I should've picked up "Texas Flood" instead. Oh well! Anyway, I'm really not into music in general enough to be able to rate guitarists like I'm sure some of you can...andI guess if I played the guitar, I'd be able to more accurately judge what's really impressive as opposed to what's easy but sounds impressive...anyway, is it just me or is this guy fucking amazing?

I'm thinkin I could really get into stuff like this, does anybody have any recommendations as to some other similar artists I should look for? I'm definitely looking more for newish blues guitarists moreso than older stuff...also, if anyone wants to toss out a SRV top 5 or somethin, that'd be likewise helpful!

[piersmajestyk]

Hey bro,

SRV is definately some good stuff. Just cranked in some In Step myself. I only have a couple of his albums (In Step, his last, and Soul to Soul) and they are both good. Another person you might like is Buddy Guy. I don't know what the name of his last album is as my friend downloaded it for me but it is one where he is front of his old house but is is some real good stuff. And for some just damn good blues try Howling Wolf.

[Dumb Snowman]

SRV is definately rated as a top ten electric guitarist. Although come to think of it, I've probably only heard a song or two... but yeah, word on the street is he's awesome

[SebQtaneus]

Try Robert Cray. SRV used to tour with Cray and Bonnie Raitt opening for him. That was an awesome show I can tell you from personal experience. If you like the sound and style of SRV then Buddy Guy will be the closest you will come to it as Stevie styled his playing a LOT after Buddy. Another guy that is fun to listen to is Jeff Healey. He's the blind guitarist from the movie Road House. There are others but you did say you wanted more modern ones.
As for other SRV CD's to check out, he did one called "Family Style" at least I think that was the name of it, with his older brother Jimmy Vaughn who is the guitarist for "The Fabulous Thunderbirds". That was a decent CD but it was definitely more "mainstream" than good old Texas Blues/Rock. "The Sky Is Crying" is a good one to get in addition to the ones Piers suggested. "In Step" is definitely my all time favorite of his though.
I saw him as an opening act for Joe Cocker just a week or 2 before his unfortunate death in a helicopter crash. I couldn't believe he was the opening act! Joe Cocker didn't compare AT ALL!!!! Anyway, I was a huge fan and have always kind of felt like music has pretty much gone downhill since his death.
Basically the best advice to give would be to just get any of his CD's as they are all good to listen too. If you want to see him in action, and you definitely should, get the DVD "Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double trouble - Live at the Mocambo". It's from fairly early in his career. It was filmed at a night club in Canada. If you think listening to him play is awesome, then there is really no way to describe just how "awesome" it is to watch him. He definitely put his all into playing that strat.
I hoped this helped,
SebQtaneus

[Cactus Jack]

A month or so ago, there was a special on PBS, speaking of guitarists. It was a concert that Clapton put on, inviting his favorite guitarists to play. It was spectacular. I wish I had ordered the DVD. Some of those cats can really, really play the axe.

SRV is rated way high on the scale by guitarists. He's one of the few that changed the way guitarists play.

Clapton, of course, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jon Bon Jovi, and SRV are the top of the list, imho. I'd also throw in a personal favorite, Brian May, but he didn't change the way people played as much as the above. Nobody plays the way Brian May plays. The last licks of Bohemian Rhasody, tapping the strings to make that sound, is unique.

A far better musician than I--make it a real guitarist--could explain what makes these guys different than anyone before them. I wish I could, but I just bang around on the instrument.

CJ

[rdale]

I like Santana a whole bunch the older stuff will fit in with your normal listening, and some of the newer stuff isn't so bad...

[woody]

[Dumb Snowman]

[Felonius_Monk]

[Felonius_Monk]

[JDLush]

I saw SRV in concert back in the late 80s, not long after he got 'clean' from drugs/alcohol/whatever. It wasn't his best show, but everyone I know that had seen him before and after he got clean said he was better before. Same with Clapton, until a few years ago.

Texas Flood is the album of choice for me, but as Monk said, Couldnt Stand the Weather is right up there. You can also pick up David Bowie's Let's Dance album, Stevie played all the guitar tracks on it and it was pretty much his jumpstart to stardom. That album (Let's Dance) is generally given credit for the blues revival that occurred in the mid 80s and lasted for a while.

Jeff Healey is really good, and another great concert. See The Light was his first and probably best album.

Zakk Wylde had a project called Lynyrd Skinhead that I really wish would have put an album out. They did covers of Skynyrd, Sabbath, Outlaws, all kinds of different stuff with a Southern Rock twist on it.

Monk, I completely agree with you on Santana. I think he is way overrated, with nothing more than a great guitar tone to brag about. His only decent song is a cover of a Peter Green tune.

[Rhound50]

SRV is great, no doubt.

For a big Blues guy monk, I'm surprised you didnt mention Robert Johnson, one of the best Blues guitarist ever.

Also I am a huge fan of Muddy Waters, if you like blues.

[Cactus Jack]

[Felonius_Monk]

[Johnny Hughes]

I knew Stevie Ray before he got a record contract. When he was drugging and speeding, the record companies didn't want to touch him. One night I took three biggies from MCA to see Stevie and others play at Stubbs. They were not impressed even though he was as good as you hear on the records.

He knocked around broke and nearly broke more years than he was a star. Joe Nick Patoski, a writer at www.joenickp.com, and one my best friends wrote a book about Stevie Ray. The last time I saw Stevie, it was he and I and Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel in a motel room. The diminutive Stevie was showing Ray, who is six four four or so, guitar licks. The guy with the little hands was showing the guy with huge hands licks and chords. It is a shame Stevie died young. He was a nice guy.