Search - Stevie Ray Vaughan :: In Step

Stevie Ray Vaughan teetered on the brink of superstardom after the release of In Step, his best studio album. It was his first recording after he'd beaten his drug and alcohol addictions. Some songs, like "Tightrope" and "Wall of Denial," reflect that struggle. Otherwise he blends full-tilt roots-rockers ("The House Is Rockin'") with deep blues (Howlin' Wolf's "Let Me Love You Baby" and the angry "Leave My Girl Alone"), flat-picking guitar pyrotechnics ("Travis Walk"), and one heart-achingly soulful instrumental (the closing "Riviera Paradise") that stands among the most elegant fusions of jazz and blues ever recorded. He'd also finally gained full control of his voice, taming his usual sore-throat bawl into an instrument rich in emotional character. Cut for cut, this is raw blues-rock perfection. --Ted Drozdowski