Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood

It's hard to overestimate the impact Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut, Texas Flood, had upon its release in 1983. At that point, blues was no longer hip, the way it was in the '60s. Texas Flood changed all that, climbing into the Top 40 and spending over half a year on the charts, which was practically unheard of for a blues recording. Vaughan became a genuine star and, in doing so, sparked a revitalization of the blues. This was a monumental impact, but his critics claimed that, no matter how prodigious Vaughan's instrumental talents were, he didn't forge a distinctive voice; instead, he wore his influences on his sleeve, whether it was Albert King's pinched yet muscular soloing or Larry Davis' emotive singing. There's a certain element of truth in that, but that was sort of the point of Texas Flood. Vaughan didn't hide his influences; he celebrated them, pumping fresh blood into a familiar genre. When Vaughan and Double Trouble cut the album over the course of three days in 1982, he had already played his set lists countless times; he knew how to turn this material inside out or goose it up for maximum impact. The album is paced like a club show, kicking off with Vaughan's two best self-penned songs, "Love Struck Baby" and "Pride and Joy," then settling into a pair of covers, the slow-burning title track and an exciting reading of Howlin' Wolf's "Tell Me," before building to the climax of "Dirty Pool" and "I'm Crying." Vaughan caps the entire thing with "Lenny," a lyrical, jazzy tribute to his wife. It becomes clear that Vaughan's true achievement was finding something personal and emotional by fusing different elements of his idols. Sometimes the borrowing was overt, and other times subtle, but it all blended together into a style that recalled the past while seizing the excitement and essence of the present. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Quaglieri Research Assistant Allen Weinberg Artwork, Art Direction Andy Denemark Producer Andy Schwartz Editorial Director Bob Irwin Reissue Producer Brad Holland Cover Art Chris Layton Drums Danny Kadar Mixing Darcy Proper Dialogue Editor Don Hunstein Photography, Tray Photo, Photography Don Wershba Mixing, Assistant, Mixing Assistant Double Trouble Producer George Deahl Research Assistant Harry Spiridakis Assistant, Mixing, Mixing Assistant James Geddes Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Assistant John Berg Artwork, Art Direction John F. Hammond Executive Producer John Hammond, Jr. Executive Producer John Hammond, Sr. Producer, Executive Producer John Naatjes Research Assistant Josh Cheuse Artwork, Art Direction Ken Robertson Mastering Lincoln Clapp Mixing Engineer, Engineer, Mixing, Mix Down Matthew Kelly Research Assistant Michael Ventura Liner Notes Mike Harris Production Assistant Mikie Harris Production Assistant Norm Pattiz Executive Producer Richard Mullen Producer, Engineer Stevie Ray Vaughan Vocals, Performer, Guitar, Producer Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Performer Tim White Author, Producer Timothy White Producer Tommy Shannon Bass Tony Martell Executive Producer Vic Anesini Engineer, Mastering