What can you say about poor old Stevie Ray?
Born in Dallas ('Texas Flood' was his 1983 debut), it's hard to mention any great guitarist without his name up there. A stunning virtuoso of the Hendrix school. Blues Rock.
Having worked through school in various bands, he came to fame (or infamy) at The 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival attracting the attention of Jackson Brown and notably, David Bowie. Stevie Ray played on Bowie's next 1983 Album 'Let's Dance' on 6 tracks but particularly, 'China Girl'. He quit the consequent 'Serious Moonlight' Bowie tour for the Album 10 days before it started, after a row about fees.
'Texas Flood' then followed under his own steam with "Love Struck Baby" as the single. 'Pride and Joy', 'I'm Cryin' and 'Texas Flood' are the standout tracks but 'Testify' and our own favourite 'Mary had a little lamb' as well as the amazing 'Wham!' make this a real superb recording of a genius in his prime.
The cover, if you look closely, is actually a Brad Holland illustration and not a pic as it seems. Stevie Ray did have a small problem with the drugs (coke) and the drink but that being said, died tragically in a Helicopter crash in 1990 at 35. It was on his way home after two shows with Clapton
A quart of whiskey and a quarter ounce of coke a day and it's a Helicopter that gets him...... Here's 'Pride and Joy' on an acoustic 12 string....Genius. That it is.
And the Album version
Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog (you can search them in the Search top left on the Blog)......Frank Ocean 'Blond': Jimmy Buffett 'Son of a Sailor': Marc Cohn 'Marc Cohn': Bill Withers 'Complete Sussex and Columbia': Hendrix 'Electric Ladyland': ABC 'Lexicon of Love': Rickie Lee Jones 'Rickie Lee Jones': Billy Joel "Glass Houses": Rodriguez "Cold Fact": Prefab Sprout 'Steve McQueen'; Chet Baker 'Live 64-79'; The Stone Roses 'Stone Roses'; Joe Jackson 'I'm the Man'; Oasis 'Morning Glory'; Bob Dylan 'At The Budokan'; Van "It's too late to stop now Volume 2/3/4"; Air 'Moon Safari'; Talking Heads 'Stop Making Sense'; Lynyrd Skynyrd 'One for the road'; Marvin Gaye 'Whats Goin on'; Mercury Rev 'Deserters Songs'; Dave Matthews 'Crash'; Beyonce 'Lemonade'; Prince 'Sign O the times'; Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'; Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black';Police 'Outlandos D'Amour'; Michael Jackson 'Off the Wall'; Carole King 'Tapestry'; Beatles 'Red Album'; Sex Pistols 'Never mind the Bollocks'; Sam Cooke 'Live at Harlem Square'; The Doors 'LA Woman'; Thin Lizzy 'Live & Dangerous'; Kendrick Lamarr 'Butterfly'; Aretha Franklin 'Amazing Grace'; Clapton '461'; Massive Attack 'Blue Lines'; The Clash 'London Calling'; Chris Isaak 'At The Filmore'; Bob Dylan 'Street Legal'; Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'; Jackson Browne 'Love is Strange'; Lou Reed 'Transformer'; Steely Dan 'AJA'; Stones 'Black+Blue'; Stephen Bishop 'Careless'; Nils Lofgren 'Night after Night'; Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells'; Neil Young 'Harvest'; Led Zep '4'; David Bowie 'David Live'; Van Morrison 'It's too late to stop now'; Wings 'Band on the Run'; Rod Stewart 'Atlantic Crossing'; Ryan Adams 'Heartbreaker'; Santana 'Essential'; Bob Dylan 'Desire'; Roxy Music 'For your pleasure'; Bob Marley 'Legend'; Stephen Fretwell 'Magpie'; James Taylor 'Sweet Baby James'; Deep Purple 'Machine Head'; Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'; Leon Bridges 'Coming Home'; Eagles 'Hotel California'; Jungle; Aretha 'Soul Queen'; Neil Young 'After the Goldrush' ; Zappa 'Overnite Sensation'; Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'; Keith Jarrett 'Koln Concert'; Doobies 'Southbound'; Stevie Earle 'I feel Alright'; Tom Waits 'Closing Time'; Pink Floyd 'Dark Side'; Van Morrison 'Moondance'; Eric Church 'Caught in the Act'; Randy Newman 'Little Criminals'; Elton John 'Madman across the water'; Patti Smith 'Horses'; Doobies 'Captain and Me'; Steely Dan 'Can't Buy a Thrill'.
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