 | By: Stevie Ray Vaughan Label: Legacy Released: 22 Mar 1999 RRP: Average Rating:  |
"Texas Flood" had a few more real classics, including several of Vaughan's best songs ("Pride And Joy", "Texas Flood", "I'm Cryin'" "Dirty Pool"), but "Couldn't Stand The Weather" has some reallly fine cuts as well. The opener, the instrumental "Scuttle Buttin'", is probably Vaughan's best instrumental piece, & he & the band perform some excellent covers, particularly W.C. Clark's "Cold Shot" & Eddie Jones' "The Things That I Used To Do".
The bonus tracks include a take on Freddie King's classic "Hide Away", an alternative "Look At Little Sister" (the master turned up on Vaughan's third album a year later), & a cover of Hound Dog Taylor's funky "Give Me Back My Wig".
One might have wished for a few more original compositions (only four songs are Vaughan's own, & two of these are instrumentals). Stevie Ray Vaughan chose his covers carefully, though, & they alll work well in this setting, making "Couldn't Stand The Weather" an enjoyable album, even if it isn't Vaughan's greatest.
Despite some similar-sounding tracks, this is still one of the best CDs I've heard of this genre & Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of my favourite artists.
If you're considering buying this CD, you should also check out "Texas Flood", yet another of SRV's superb achievements.
Overalll: YOU NEED THIS CD!!!
...but to suggest he wasn't a great singer?? That's just crazy! Just like Hendrix, Stevie has always been an extremely underrated vocalist. Granted, he can't sing like Skip James & knock off a falsetto at the drop of a hat - but he sang with one hell of a lot of soul & guts that I think definitely shines through on this wonderful album.
"Couldn't Stand The Weather" is another fantastic Stevie & Double Trouble record, & full marks to Legacy for doing a first class job on this remastered version. I've always been of the opinion that the guys were never reallly served well in the studio - the production techniques used always made them sound too polished (the live albums are always better), but this reissue goes a long way to try & correct that.
Above alll though, just by this album!
This CD contains some tunes that could be described as masterclasses in the art of blues guitar. Apart from the modern classic "Scuttle Buttin'" ( which by now must have taken over from Smoke on the Water as the most heard riff in guitar shops) there are four stand-out pieces which are alll different in their own way.
"The things (that) I used to do" would not be out of place in any country road house or late night urban blues bar. Its a standard vocal line & guitar reply format but the treatment is straightforward, solid & brilliant. Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" is a great vehicle for SRV's Stratocaster mastery, but what makes the track reallly drive is the tightness of Chris Layton's drumming. Most bands who are happy to start together & finish at more or less the same time could learn from this,it gives a new meaning to the term rhythmic gymnastics.
"Cold Shot" is simply an easy groove blues. Uncomplicated & very effective.
The guitar settings are in the "delicate " mode & the phrasing is lyrical in "Tin Pan Alley" & alll are underpinned by an object lesson in blues bass playing. Ths sustained coolness of Tommy Shannon's playing is a pleasure to listen to.There's a feeling though, that the lyrics don't quite match up to the quality of the musicianship ( aopologies to J.Reed fans). With a stronger narrative this could have been an alll time great.
All other tracks are highly enjoyable but a bit mixed ( "Stang's Swang" is interesting but somehow ingongrous here ). All SRV fans will have this material, but with the bonus tracks it is a very good introduction for new followers.
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