Search - Stevie Ray Vaughan :: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Have you heard? What the word? A THUNDERBIRD

political idiot | california | 12/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well it is finally here. The much anticipated Stevie Ray Vaughan box set. For most SRV fans, this will be a satisfying set. Of course some of us would like to have seen much more unreleased material included and less of the album version stuff. But we all know the powers that be had to appeal not just to us SRV freaks but to the casual listener as well. No problem. I think this box set offers a nice balance for all. Tracks run in chronological order beginning in 1977 with only one cut from the Cobras days (I wish there were more) and ends on disc three with a few tunes from the second to last show in Alpine Valley. More than half of the material is officially previously unreleased and is high quality live and outtake material. Many of the great live tracks like the Timothy White show version of "Dirty Pool" and the MTV tracks are here too. These will be a great surprise for those that haven't heard them before. The live cuts are from some of the best shows like Montreux (even a little of the booing after Texas Flood is there), Houston, Austin, Philadelphia, New Mexico, Alpine Valley, etc.; though I am surprised none of the excellent Tokyo, Japan 1985 show is included. In addition, there are a few cuts of other artists on whose albums Stevie Ray appeared.For the hard-core collector you probably already have almost everything. However, the good news is that the quality on these discs blows away anything you most likely have on a boot. The fourth disc is a thirty or so minute DVD with five never-aired and never-issued performances from the television program Austin City Limits, recorded on October 10, 1989. I am not sure why these five tunes were cut from the commercial DVD release but I guess it might be because he broke a string on a tune or two during the performance. Who knows they are good regardless. Also included is a 72-page booklet of pictures, session details, essays, discography, and quotes from other musicians and friends. My favorite quote is on the last page, "The world misses his music, but I miss my brother." -Jimmie Vaughan."

A guitar legend gets his due

Jeffrey Harris | South San Francisco, CA United States | 12/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following last years excellent reissues of his four original studio albums comes this devestating box set of Stevie Ray Vaughn in his natural environment, the stage. Of the 49 tracks that are included here, more than have of which have never been commercially released before, it makes you wonder what they left off. What's here is simply amazing, including performances with his mentor Albert King, to Jeff Beck, Lonnie Mack, and Johnny Copeland. There are also tracks from the rarely seen MTV Unplugged program he did in 1990. There are essays and quotes in the book from fellow musicians and admirers like Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Carlos Santana, Robert Cray, and even Stevie's guitar tech Rene Martinez talks about how Stevie got his amazing guitar tone. The icing on the cake is the DVD that's included in the box. Five songs that were cut from the appearance that SRV and Double Trouble made on Austin City Limits in 1989, incredible stuff!!! For fans that have bootlegs of some of tracks included here, the sound quality of whats on the box as well as the other rarities included here make this set worth picking up. One of the best of 2000."

Damn Good, But Could have been better

Bruce J. Wallwin | Peoria, AZ United States | 11/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, let me start by saying that I am a huge SRV fan, and giving this box set any less than 5 stars is hard to do just becauase of the brilliant musician SRV was. But I had to give it 4 stars because of the inclusion of existing tracks from SRV's existing studio albums. I know for a fact that there is much more live stuff available than was in the box set, so why they chose to throw in existing studio tracks is beyond me. For example it is well known that the entire last show at Alpine Valley was recorded and I would have loved to hear more from that show.But that being said this box set minus the studio tracks just continues to show why SRV was and is one of the greatests guitarists/signers/song writters around. His boundless energy and creativity comes a live on every track. Of particular note is the Little Wing/Thrid Stone From The Sun, and Willy The Whimp. The DVD is awesome. These should have been included in the original Austin City Limits release but why they weren't I don't know. This is the first time I have seen this footage and it is like watching him for the first time. His extended version of Mary Had A Little Lamb and VooDoo Chile are awesome.I would tell any SRV Fan to go and get this box set and add it to your collection."