In Step

Just listening to this record for the gazillionth time thinking about how much I miss this man and his guitar playing. This record represents SRV at his very best both personally and professionally. If you only own one SRV record, make it this one. (But once you get it, you'll want more.)

I was a late bloomer in the world of SRV, but I caught up fast - this guy is deep in my soul, and if you have been living under a rock and don't know this genius, you MUST hear this one now! Everyone knows (and loves!) Crossfire and Tightrope - classic SRV, and for the blues at its best, there's no better than Leave My Girl Alone. Wall of Denial had me hooked from the moment I heard it and remains one of my all-time favorites, as does the beautiful Riviera Paradise, a must-hear for those who lean more toward the smoother side of blues and jazz and might even be surprised by this subtler side of SRV. Listen and love!

Why are talentless freaks like Rhianna and the Jonas Brothers etc. getting more money for painfully simple music and purposeless lyrics while music geniuses like Stevie Ray and other blues artists aren't nearly as popular even though they're a lot better? Buy this album NOW

Stevie Ray Vaughan had been known throughout America as a phenomenal guitar virtuoso, who played a very technically solid, extremely fast guitar, rooted in the blues traditions of his native Texas. He was also a gifted vocalist, whose raspy tones lent emotion as well as credibility to the music he performed so well. This album was the final full-release album that Double Trouble would release with Stevie Ray Vaughan as the frontman (the other members of Double Trouble would re-form with other frontmen and always use another name other than Double Trouble to identify themselves). Vaughan recovered from his drug addictions that had peaked during the "Soul to Soul" sessions and marred that album, only to lay down the seminal album of his career in the form of "In Step". "In Step" is a masterpiece, with touching songs about the struggles of recovery and addiction (Tightrope, Wall of Denial), the obligatory dark blues (Leave My Girl Alone), the roadhouse rocker (The House is Rockin'), and a lovely instrumental (Riviera Paradise), all of which have elements of a mature, confident, clean SRV, and the result is almost pure magic. If you are a SRV fan and you don't have this album (shame on you!), buy it. If you are not familiar with SRV and want to buy one album to get an excellent taste of all Stevie has to offer, this would be the one to start with.

This album, the fourth and final album from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, marks SRV's triumphant return from his drug and alcohol addictions, and it shows. With such tracks as The House is Rockin', Crossfire, and Tightrope, just to name a few, showcase SRV's volcanic guitar playing and deep, bawling voice. You owe it to yourself to buy this CD. Why are you still reading this review? Buy the whole album. Get to it.

...Stevie Ray at his best and he had not peaked yet. This cd displays a small portion of his god given talent. If you love blues you have got to have this cd in your collection. Peace!