Been a Long Time

Double Trouble | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tone Cool
• ASIN: B000E23ZPQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Been a Long Time - Double Trouble Chris Layton - Tommy Shannon Plus: Doyle Bramhall II, Dr. John, Lou Ann Barton, Eric Johnson, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Lang, Malford Milligan, Willie Nelson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Charlie Sexton, Jimmy Vaughan, Reese Wynans, Gordie Johnson. 1. Cry Sky 2. Turn Toward The Mirror 3. Say One Thing 4. Rock And Roll 5. Skyscraper 6. In The Middle Of The Night 7. She's Alright 8. Ground Hog Day 9. In The Garden 10. Baby, There's No One Like You 11. Bonus Track

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can Double Trouble succeed without SRV (rip)? YES!, February 6, 2001

By 

Shannon Dew (Lawrenceville, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Been a Long Time (Audio CD)

Ok, I may be a bit biased, I love these guys, but as a musician and purveyor of all things blues, I'm critical of EVERYONE's music. This CD is a welcome change from most new music coming out today. From Susan Tedeschi's soulful performance on "In The Garden" to Doyle Bramhall II and DT performing a trippy version of Muddy Waters' "She's Alright" (with a definite Hendrix vibe!), I'm in love with this recording. Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton team-up with Double Trouble on a great rendition of "In The Middle Of The Night" with J. Vaughan's subtle, yet knock-your-socks-off playing peppered throughout the song. Jonny Lang lends his voice to an original, "Groundhog Day," evoking get-down and boogie rock and roll emotions reminiscent of Led Zeppelin or the Black Crowes. Dr. John and Willie Nelson pitch in for the closing track, "Baby, There's No One Like You." These are just SOME of the highlights of this album. Treat yourself to a copy and try not to wear your CD player out with all of the other great songs. No, this isn't a Stevie Ray Vaughan album. This is a Double Trouble album, filled to the brim with quality songs and performances. Tommy and Chris share writing credits on many of the songs and follow it up with superb execution and performance. This CD should silence critics and perhaps be the first in a long line of great recordings to come from this dynamic duo!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good album, but not SRV, February 10, 2001

By 

Kenneth Falkenstein (Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Been a Long Time (Audio CD)

For those of you who, like me, scoop up anything and everything that is related to Stevie Ray Vaughan, be warned: The music on this album is NOT reminiscent of SRV's. In fact, there is hardly a trace of the Texas blues that was the core of SRV's vast repertoire. It is, however, a very good album with a variety of blues styles from traditional electric blues (e.g. Muddy Waters) to the more recent style of blues rock.

In its own way, Been A Long Time is a touching tribute to SRV, not because of the songs, but rather because of the cast of musicians who played with or were influenced by SRV. It is, of course, moving to hear Stevie's older brother (and biggest influence), Jimmie, play with Stevie's old back-up band on the fantastic song "In the Middle of the Night." But what makes the song even more special is the fact that Jimmie performed it as a duet with Lou Ann Barton, who was the lead singer in the first band SRV formed, Triple Threat. (When Lou Ann left the band, SRV changed the band's name to Double Trouble and took over the lead singing job himself.) Rounding out the SRV alumni reunion, former Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans also appears on a couple of songs on the album. And for good measure, also featured prominently on the album is singer/guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, the son of Doyle Bramhall, Sr., who literally taught Stevie how to sing.

The album also features a terrific soulful song fronted by the legendary Dr. John, who played often with SRV, most notably at SRV's Carnegie Hall concert. Willie Nelson, who recently released his own blues collaboration album, provides a guitar solo in this piece, entitled "Baby, There's No One Like You."

Rounding out the tribute musician cast are three young SRV proteges who have taken the electric blues world by storm over the past few years -- Kenny Wayne Shepherd (who was inspired to learn to play guitar after meeting SRV backstage at a concert when he was seven years old), Jonny Lang, and Susan Tedeschi. Unfortunately, while Jonny Lang sings lead on one song (and does so brilliantly), he does not play guitar on the album at all!

The most interesting thing about this album is the extent to which the Double Trouble members themselves, Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton, remain in the background. In fact, they are even more in the background on this album than they ever were on any of Stevie Ray Vaughan's albums. Part of the secret to SRV's music was that it was basic and raw. Very frequently, SRV's arrangements featured just SRV, Shannon, and Layton, as did most of their live concerts. Thus, although the focus was always clearly on Stevie, Shannon and Layton's background sounds were important and appreciable. On this album, which purports to FEATURE Shannon and Layton, there is so much else going on that the two Double Trouble players simply melt into the background. To be fair, both musicians do an excellent job of providing the bass and percussion support that is essential to good electric blues music. But the Double Trouble name on this album seems to relate more to the reunion of great musicians linked to SRV than to Shannon and Layton specifically. Nevertheless, those of you who, like me, were disappointed with Shannon and Layton's departure from the blues with their Storyville albums will be heartened by this high-quality blues effort.

The most ironic thing about this album is that although it features numerous musicians who played with or were inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan, the album sounds nothing at all like a Stevie Ray Vaughan album. However, the album is a very good collection of blues and blues-oriented songs that will thoroughly entertain most blues enthusiasts.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is great music, April 12, 2002

By 

Jeffrey J. Smith (Des Moines, IA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Been a Long Time (Audio CD)

I stumbled across this CD at my local library about a year ago. I have 2 SRV&DT CDs, so I thought "What the heck?" I expected raw blues like SRV but I got a pleasant surprise. So after renewing it twice, I thought I better buy it. It is great blues ("In The Middle of the Night" with vocals by Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie's brother), funk ("Ground Hog Day" with vocals by Johnny Lang), Rock and Roll ("Rock and Roll" with killer vocals by Susan Tedeschi--better than the original Led Zeppelin version), another rocker "Say One Thing" with vocals and a great guitar solo by Doyle Bramhall II), ballads ("In The Garden" with Susan T. again on vocals), and my two favorites sung by Malford Mulligan, "Cry Sky" and the incredible "Skyscraper." But the two stars of the show are the ones you never hear vocally--Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon. These are two of the most incredible musicians I have ever heard. There are musicians that have alot of flash, but these guys are just plain tight. The bass never sounds muddy and the drums are always just right--never too skimpy, never too much. I hope these guys continue making records--whether it is with guest stars like this CD, or if they go ahead and get a permanent singer, guitarist, and keyboard player. Stevie is gone and is sorely missed, but long live Double Trouble!