Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - In Step

Stevie Ray Vaughan had always been a phenomenal guitarist, but prior to In Step, his songwriting was hit or miss. Even when he wrote a classic modern blues song, it was firmly within the genre's conventions; only on Soul to Soul's exquisite soul-blues "Life Without You" did he attempt to stretch the boundaries of the form. As it turns out, that was the keynote for In Step, an album where Vaughan found his own songwriting voice, blending blues, soul, and rock in unique ways, and writing with startling emotional honesty. Yes, there are a few covers, all well chosen, but the heart of the album rests in the songs he co-wrote with Doyle Bramhall, the man who penned the Soul to Soul highlight "Change It." Bramhall proved to be an ideal collaborator for Vaughan; tunes like the terse "Tightrope" and the dense "Wall of Denial" feel so intensely personal, it's hard to believe that they weren't the product of just one man. Yet the lighter numbers -- the dynamite boogie "The House Is Rockin'" and the breakneck blues of "Scratch-n-Sniff" -- are just as effective as songs. Of course, he didn't need words to make effective music: "Travis Walk" is a blistering instrumental, complete with intricate fingerpicking reminiscent of the great country guitarist Merle Travis, while the shimmering "Riviera Paradise" is every bit as lyrical and lovely as his previous charmer, "Lenny." The magnificent thing about In Step is how it's fully realized, presenting every facet of Vaughan's musical personality, yet it still soars with a sense of discovery. It's a bittersweet triumph, given Vaughan's tragic death a little over a year after its release, yet it's a triumph all the same. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Quaglieri Research Assistant Alan Messer Photography Andy Schwartz Editorial Director Bill Milkowski Liner Notes Bob Irwin Reissue Producer Bob Lacivita Assistant Engineer Chris Layton Drums, Percussion Danny Jones Assistant Engineer Darcy Proper Dialogue Editor Darrell Leonard Horn Dave McNair Mixing David Coleman Art Direction, Artwork, Design Double Trouble Producer Evan Rush Assistant Engineer Jim Champagne Assistant Engineer Jim Gaines Engineer, Producer, Mixing Joe Sublett Horn Josh Cheuse Artwork Matthew Kelly Research Assistant Nancy Donald Artwork, Art Direction Reese Wynans Keyboards Richard McKernan Engineer Richard Mullen Engineer Ryan Dorn Engineer Stevie Ray Vaughan Vocals, Main Performer, Guitar, Producer, Performer Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Performer Tommy Shannon Guitar (Bass), Bass Tony Martell Executive Producer Vic Anesini Mastering