Stevie Ray Vaughan
In Step
Jason Landry, contributor
The Soundwaves Vinyl of the Week is In Step by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. This was the last studio album released prior to Stevie’s untimely passing in 1990. It includes some classic tracks including “The House Is Rockin’”, “Crossfire”, and “Tightrope.”
“Riviera Paradise”, the last track on this album is a nine-minute crowning jewel—go ahead, debate me. It’s soul-cleansing and moody and it’s Stevie’s masterclass in atmospheric guitar. Yes, it is a departure from the Texas-sized blues that he is known for, but trading it in for jazz-infused chord voicings and sophisticated phrasing isn’t such a bad thing. Backed by Reese Wynans' keyboards, Stevie navigates the fretboard with this late-night elegance that proves he was far more than a speed demon with a Stratocaster. It is hauntingly beautiful and one of my favorite instrumentals of all times.
This album wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a few songs that they covered, including Willie Dixon’s “Let Me Love You Baby”, the Buddy Guy track “Leave My Girl Alone”, and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Love Me Darlin”.
In Step won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Recording, and it was well deserved.
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The Double Trouble band included:
Stevie Ray Vaughan – guitar & vocals
Chris "Whipper" Layton – drums
Reese Wynans – keyboards
Tommy Shannon – bass