SRV

[ChuckE99]

OK, so I figure we just have to add Stevie to the list. I have to admit to never actually buying an SRV album, but I can say that one day, I turned on the radio and found myself in the middle of "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" a live version, deep in the solo. I was mesmerized, and was thinking that it was a Hendrix recording I had not heard before, and possibly some of the best lead playing I had ever heard from him. Imagine my surprise when, after the lead, when the vocals came back in, I realized it was Stevie.

-Chuck

[BluesMeister]

I have but one CD of SRV, The Essential double CD, and it's rather good. I suppose the best description of SRV's style of music is Hendrix meets Texas Blues and I, for one, love it. This one CD epitomises for me the SRV sound. I think if one had to narrow one's SRV collection down to one record, it would have to be this one.

Stevie rarely strays from the traditional 12-bar variety of blues, but he plays them with such passion and feeling that it's never tedious listening to him.

I have the Live In Montreaux double DVD, and that's well worth owning. The first concert, recorded in 1982, is the one where he was apparently booed by certain members of the audience. This is in my opinion the better of the two concerts on the DVD, he plays like a man possessed, and the band, as a whole are absolutely cooking. In the second concert, recorded in 1985, he's more mellow and seems to have less fire than in the first. Still, it's an enjoyable couple of hours viewing.

By complete contrast, the Vaughan Brother's Family Values CD is a dud. I was very disappointed with this, it really should have been a killer recording, but Nile Rodger's production renders it impotent. One to avoid, my friends.

[BluesMeister]

Erratum That's Family Style by the Vaughan Brothers.

[jimmys]

Aparently SRV made the Ibanez TS808 famous.  The original 70's pedals are now selling for about $700AUD on eBay I think.  I have a greatest hits CD.  

The tone that he could get was amazing. On one song (have to find out which) it sounds almost violin-like.  I think his main guitar had really low output pickups. The bridge was a left-hander also.  He also used really heavy strings.  Fender issued a pretty faithful replica of his really beaten up number one 60's Strat a couple of years ago.

Has anyone seen the video of him playing Texas Flood? Such a tragic loss.

[Juha T]

Texas Flood:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/yAxLgGVRV64&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/yAxLgGVRV64&rel=1</a>

Voodoo Chile:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5x78Nf6BpYg&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5x78Nf6BpYg&rel=1</a>

[tnadr]

I'm wondering which song has violin tones? "Lenny" sounded a bit Hawaiian in parts, "Riviera Paradise" is pretty jazzy, as is "Stang's Swang". Maybe you're thinking of "Chitlins Con Carne".

[JohnS]

I was checking out some Little Wing vids on YouTube and came across this Fender promo featuring SRV. I've always loved the fantastic job he's done on Jimi's classic song.

The REALLY funny thing is the guitar shown on the store rack at 1:49!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UdYRzH10L2M&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/UdYRzH10L2M&rel=1</a>

[ChuckE99]

Here ya go:

[BCy2k]

Thanks for that JohnS - I hadn't seen that one before. Very cool!

Best guitar concert I ever went to was Jeff Beck & SRV. JB played first - then he did a few tunes with SRV - and then SRV just tore the whole arena down. The most mesmerizing and sonically intoxicating evening of music I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Getting to see two of my favorite guitarists of all time jamming together like that was beyond description. And only a few weeks later he was gone.  :'(

Aparently SRV made the Ibanez TS808 famous.

I first encountered the secrets of the TS808 when producing a local metal band in the early '90's. With the right combination of settings they can produce amazing results. Definitely a 'secret ingredient' for a lot of players.

He also used really heavy strings. 

Yea - seems like I read he played .013s - brutal. Even when tuned down a half step!

[Roland_G303]

I have a few cd's of SRV.  He's an amazing player.  The TS-808 definitely attributed to his great tone as well as the amp work of Caesar Diaz and his ridiculously awesome Strat.

If you want to hear the absolute best SRV sound IMHO, then buy 'Live at the El Mocambo' DVD.  You won't regret it and IMHO that is SRV at his best.

Patrick

[KD]

You beet me to it Patrick, I was going to recommend that DVD also. Fantastic. I bought years ago to try to steer my son towards blues.

Chuck, you mentioned "Voodoo Chile", Guitar World Magazine September 2008 Issue has a great piece on the 40 year anniversary of Jimi H's "Electric Ladyland". Several great articles including interviews with Al Kooper and Steve Winwood who contributed to the album. The mental, physical and technical input to the album was phenomenal. Good read.

[BCy2k]

Yes - I've had that "Live at the El Mocambo" for a while. Absolutely brilliant stuff. Y'know, I'm really thankful for the musical legacy he's left behind for all of us to enjoy, but Gawrd, don't you all still miss him too? I do.

[KD]

Yes BC, I do miss SRV. I'm dangerously close to 59 now, but for the past ten or so years I have been reliving the past. Most of the stuff on my MP3 player is late sixties and early seventies and mostly blues. I never realized how technically astute those guys were; Jimi, SRV, ZZ Top, Clapton, Beck, et all. The previously unheard of chord progressions, alternate tunings and string attack. I was aware of those guys in my prime, but only what was on top 40. It wasn't until way later I dug into their other offerings and realized what I have been missing.

[bobzilla]

SRV is God's guitar player. Stevie could really handle a 12 string acoustic as well. Most folks only think of the electric stuff and that's understandable but he was something to see on acoustic as well.
There's a few guys out there right now....that have more than borrowed from Stevie.
Kenny Wayne Sheppard being one of them. (Is that his name?) In any event, I like him alot too.

If anyone ever asks me who my favorite guitar player of all time is...
I think of Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Strange to think of him as Bowie's guitar player but... he was for a short burst there.
Strange for sure.
Their styles could not be any more diverse.

What a tremendous tremendous tremendous loss.
There are so many other people I would have rather seen go down in a helicopter.
If I'm not mistaken, Clapton was supposed to be on that flight but... change of plans at last moment.

When are theseguys gonna learn to stay on the ground?
Too many air disasters have taken rockers.

Listening to an album nowhere approaches what he did as a live performer.
Now, all we got is the recordings...
You need guys like Stevie these days.
He is a good barometer of rock and roll and TALENT.
Put his worst song against anything that's come out on the radio in the last ten years and maybe then these young folk may have a vague idea of what TALENT truly is. I feel bad for the kids today, they obnly know what they hear and so, if all they hear is garbage, they think it's good because they have no other frame of reference.

I'm as old as the hills but I'm so glad that we had... Beatles, Stones, Floyd, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray, Yes, etc. etc. etc. as the "new bands" that were coming out all the time.

Now you get rap (Crap), Madonna, and bands of 15 year olds who get funny haircuts because they think it makes them rock and rollers. It's sooooooooooo pathetic.

I miss Stevie Ray Vaughn rather badly.
He should be here.
Puff Daddy should take a helicopter ride.
(or P. Diddy or P. of Crap.... whatever he calls himself.)

Ween your children on Stevie Ray Vaughn, they'll turn out just fine.
 

[KD]

My 18 year old is a fine guitarist and I have made sure he is familiar with the excellent artist of that period. He has been doing his best at "Rude Mood". Not quite there yet, but someday soon.