Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Couldn't Stand the Weather: Legacy Edition

The two-disc package of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble's second studio Album, Couldn't Stand The Weather, adds to the legacy of this contemporary bluesman through a combination of studio outtakes and a complete concert recording.

Disc one contains the original follow-up to Texas Flood (Epic, 1983), that effectively ignited a blues revival in the Eighties. By adding a homage to Jimi Hendrix, in the form of "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)," as a crowning touch, Vaughan thoroughly honored the genre's tradition, confirming its extension through his late idol from the roots of Albert King and Wes Montgomery.

The bonus tracks include three cuts never before released, in addition to performances from other vault titles, the sum of which outnumbers the eight official cuts to bring the CD to maximum playing time. Comparatively stripped-down versions of "Stang's Swang" and "Honey Bee" demonstrate how many different ways the threesome was so prolific so early in its career, and further solidifies Vaughan's distinction as a guitarist equally skilled in blues and jazz. Hearing the threesome's tender instrumental take on Hendrix' "Little Wing" also foreshadows the delicate touch they began to nurture with original material like "Lenny," as they continued to evolve.

So, the appearance of that ballad on the second full-length CD's live take of every studio track is ore revelation than redundancy. Quite the contrary, as close listening to this 1984 Montreal concert (taken from both of two shows this August day) is testament, not just to Vaughan's electric approach to playing live, but to the sympathetic accompaniment of his rhythm section—drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon, not to mention the shiny but not over- polished production evident on all SRV & Double Trouble recordings.

Combining a genuine eagerness to please with the readily palpable joy he derived from playing, SRV manifested a deep-rooted desire to compare favorably to his influences rather than merely emulating them, imparting a charge to his live playing that was even more ferocious than his studio work.

From the opening "Testify," through extended workouts on the Hendrix riff- rocker and "Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town)," the trio seeks not just to entertain, but to inspire its Canadian audience. Even the comparatively shorter cuts, such as the title song from the recently- released album and the four minutes-plus "Cold Shot," radiate an honest depth of feeling that permeates Vaughan's vocals, as well as his guitar playing.

Because Stevie Ray Vaughn had successfully conquered his demons before his tragic death in 1990, the myth surrounding his life and music continues to grow, and archival projects like this one only justify that process. Accordingly, Andy Aledort's accompanying essay in the Legacy Edition never turns merely academic, but radiates a passion comparable to the music about which he's writing.

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