Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan [2 LP]

The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble capsulizes the professional career of the incandescent Texas guitarist, bringing together 17 tracks drawn from his studio and live albums. Originally released as a CD compilation in 2002, this double vinyl edition arrived in 2016, offering the definitive overview of Vaughan's work with his power trio Double Trouble, featuring bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. The collection emphasizes the Epic album recordings released during his lifetime, spanning from his breakthrough in the early 1980s through his creative peak before his tragic death in a 1990 helicopter crash at age 35.

The collection showcases Vaughan's ferocious guitar technique and deep blues soul across two LPs. Opening with the fiery "Love Struck Baby" and the swaggering "Pride and Joy," the set captures the raw intensity of his 1983 debut Texas Flood alongside the title track and the tender instrumental "Lenny." His evolution continues through "Couldn't Stand the Weather" and "The Things (That) I Used to Do," while "Tin Pan Alley" demonstrates his ability to push the blues into hard rock territory. Later material includes the funk-infused "Say What!" and "Look at Little Sister," the radio hit "Crossfire," and his soaring interpretation of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing." His reverential treatment of "Little Wing" reaffirms the league of guitar player Stevie Ray Vaughan resided in and his reputation as Jimi's definitive interpreter. The set closes with "Life by the Drop," offering a poignant acoustic farewell.

Mastered by Vic Anesini at Sony Music Studios, this double LP pressing delivers the clarity and dynamics needed to appreciate Vaughan's explosive playing. The black vinyl format allows his tone, from scorching leads to delicate flourishes, to cut through with maximum impact. From the opening notes to the final track, this collection demonstrates why Vaughan remains one of the most influential blues guitarists in rock history.

• Format: Black 2LP
• Standout tracks: "Texas Flood," "Pride and Joy," "Little Wing"
• Pressing details: Double LP compilation, mastered by Vic Anesini at Sony Music Studios
• Genre/style: Blues Rock, Texas Blues, Electric Blues, Hard Rock
• UPC: 889853577514

This double LP compilation provides the perfect entry point into Stevie Ray Vaughan's catalog while serving as a powerful reminder of his unmatched virtuosity and emotional depth.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Love Struck Baby
2. Pride And Joy
3. Texas Flood
4. Lenny
5. Cold Shot

Side B:

1. Couldn't Stand The Weather
2. The Things (That) I Used To Do
3. Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town)

Side C:

1. Say What!
2. Look At Little Sister
3. Change It
4. Little Wing

Side D:

1. The House Is Rockin'
2. Crossfire
3. Tightrope
4. Long Way From Home (The Vaughan Brothers)
5. Life By The Drop