Customer Reviews

In the Beginning

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

when i first listened to the first track, i was simply blown away, this album has so much more energy than Live Alive (not better, its jus faster and has more muscle). i think every song on this album is awesome, this is a must-buy for srv fans or ppl new to his incredible guitar talents.
the only guitarist to rival srv, in my opinion, was jimi hendrix and theyre both unbeatable in speed and style (or their variety of styles i should say).
this is one of my favorite srv albums and definitely my all-time fav live srv album (out of the 3 out right now). an incredible, i dont know if i can say that word enough its just simply amazing at this guy's skill. a must-buy for blues/rock fans.

Before the Montreaux Jazz Festival, before Bowie's "Let's Dance" album, before "Texas Flood", before the Grammys, before the cocaine and alcohol abuse, before the redemption of sobriety, before the joyful "In Step" and "Family Style"..... before August 27, 1990..... before the all-star tributes, before "The Legendary Stevie RAY Vaughan"......

There was an unknown, hardworking 24-year-old gunslinger named Little Stevie Vaughan, learning his craft the hard way in the trenches of the Austin Texas clubs, trying his darndest to get out of the shadow of his famous older brother Jimmie.

It wouldn't be long.

Anyone lucky enough to have been in the audience at this early live show, on April Fools Day in 1980, could have told you that.

Here we have a rare glimpse into the evolution of a blues legend.

For those of us who play the guitar, this album is inspiring. I'll tell you why:

Even at this young age, Stevie still has that musical "feel" that you just can't teach. He is never musically lost, seeming to know exactly where to go every moment. His playing is filled with the passion of youth.... but even with all of that, this is still---quite clearly--- an immature and not-yet-fully-developed Stevie. His solos aren't as complicated as they WILL be.... the rhythm work is a bit more repetitive than it WILL be.... his technique is a bit sloppier than it WILL be.... it's like peeking over the shoulder of a teenage Picasso, and seeing glimpses of "Guernica."

I say this is inspiriing, because it shows that even our "Holy Legends" did not drop, God-like, from the sky fully-formed. They had to WORK HARD, they grew, they changed... they IMPROVED. In short, they were HUMAN, just like you and me. Listening to this album we are reminded that there was a time when Stevie Ray Vaughan was just Little Stevie Vaughan-- a great guitar player, but not yet a legendary one.

But the album is also depressing.... because we are left wondering: "How much better would he have gotten if he had never gotten into that helicopter?"

Because, even then--- even during the recording of "In Step" and "Family Style"--- he was still improving.

I guess this world was just not yet ready for a guitarist even BETTER than "The Legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan."

I miss him dearly.

A warm spring night, a small packed Austin club, a local radio show, all there to witness a Six Stringed Inferno, a local stud who`s guitar prowess would soon teach a whole new generation a new reverance for the Blues. This is Stevie Ray Vaughan and his incredible band, Double Trouble, implementing the scorched earth policy. By the time you caught your breath from one blistering run, he was firing off the next. This live broadcast from the Steamboat 1874 club highlights the group in it`s early incarnation, just before national recognition, an opening salvo in the rebirth and wide spread acceptance of the Blues.

Showing he learned his lessons well from his idols, especially Albert King, and his older brother Jimmie, lead guitarist for the Fabulous Thunderbirds at the time, SRV is in his element, Live. If you like your Blues hot, there`s Guitar Hurricane, or if you like slow and moody,there`s Tin Pan Alley. Bottom line, this set is essential.

In the Beginning . . . ironic to say that this was the last and final cd to go into my srv collection, (i don't have the box set, but the thought of it makes me salivate) and it's quite possibly my favorite.
The announcer comes on plugs a few ads then he says here's "Stevie Vaughan and Double Trouble!", and before you know it your hairs blown back, you've fallen outta yer chair and your socks are across the room, and you stay that way for nearly the whole next hour. Stevie, being as generous as he is, gives you two breaks though, both to introduce his backup ("Jakie Newhouse on the bass, and Chirs Layotn on the drum")but they're hardly enough to get you to breathing normal. His covers are amazing, and his three originals surpass what they would later become, example; "Live another day" seems more alive on here than "I'm crying" on Texas Flood, but none the less they could both slay most band's top numbers.
Love Struck Baby, as always in pure Stevie style, is different from any version i've heard before and is full of enough electricity to power Panama.
Be warned though don't listen to Slide Thing while driving, you'll be going through six lanes of traffic and a hundred and six, moving like a bullet in and out and right into a wall it's so good.
All Your Loving is just a brilliant song, that no one can make it sound bad, but Stevie just does it better than anyone else.
Tin Pin Alley on here is what Texas Flood is on "The Sky Is Crying, or the El Mocambo Video, he just slows you down but with licks that could jump start yer heart.
And Guitar Hurrican is such a fitting title you wonder why THAT wasn't the title any of his albums. He plays with such conviction and sheer geniusness that it doesn't come as a cover, but Stevie simply telling you "I'm here, listen up."
So all in all what do we learn? That stevie Ray was a genius long before his crash into abus, recovery, and death? That Stevie had a fuel that would burn better and brighter than anyone since Robert Johnson? That the small Austin club audience heard some of the best music to grace theis earth? Yes we learn all that and more, we learn what5 it was like before the Flood.

-Drew Patowsky

Most of these songs aren't on SRV's studio albums. This album is loose but it is right on blues and rock, and listening you have to wonder how many songs Stevie Ray and Double trouble cut the first time off out of all their records. This does not feature Tommy Shannon and Whipper Layton as DT but rather Layton and Jackie Newhouse. Though the excellent Bassist is not here, the rythm section is still great and the show is just another look at Stevie who here seems to remain mostly more casual and free flowing except on Tin Pan Alley which must have dropped the audience's jaws, because it was by far the most intense track, and differs from the rest of the good time music that is played. There are two or three instrumentals and alot of light lyrical content with alot of room to jam. This album sounds alittle more clear in some ways than that of Live Alive which has the acoustics of a larger arena and screaming audience. It's like a private concert which is a great sound for a live album. The sound quality is better than most live albums which is what many people worry about. This is just a great musical jam session for putting on without skipping and letting play in the background while you work, drive etc. It's another great look at Vaughan's skill and he and whoever he plays with having that dynamic energy that good and similar musicians can have together.

This is the album that proves Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble could rock the house, and even with a less than perfect master recording, Tin Pan Alley still makes hair on the back of my neck tingel. His riffs can carry you away and let the neighbours know how good your sound system really is. Stevie Vaughn and Double Trouble is the most music ever to come from a trio: No dis. to CREAM, but SRV & Double Trouble is the bomb!

what separates this from other live SRV albums or recordings is one thing: the fire in his playing. In his emotional playing, you can hear how much passion he played with. He was young, and you can hear how much he wanted to succeed. Every note is powerful and grabs your attention, and you'll only want to hear more. There is no negative aspect to this album. "All Your Loving" and "Tin Pan Alley" are my favorites, as they showcase Stevie's talent.

You've already read the amazon review, so you know the history behind this early live recording. Stevie really pull all the stops on this one and ends up with an EXCELLENT record! Tin Pan Alley is incredible. His cover (with slight title change) of Guitar Slim's "They call me Guitar Slim" is phenomenal. My favorite song is probably the cover of Otis Rush's "All Your Love I Miss Lovin'." Starts out kinda melodic, and ends up in a flurry of bends and string pounding reminiscent of Chuck Berry (only better). Get this CD.

Be aware that there are two errors in Amazon text above: "Features the same remastering from the 1999 issued pressing" and "Extra Tracks" are incorrect.

This 2009, Japan-only mini-sleeve remaster HAS been newly remastered, but does NOT contain additional tracks. The mastering on this Japan disc is a definite improvement over the old domestic CD.

This CD set is part of an nine title, all mini-sleeve SRV release, where some the albums are the same '99 remasters, but the three live albums, "In The Beginning", "Live At Carnegie Hall" and "Live Alive" (a 2CD expanded set), are newly remastered.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

A new 2009 Japan-only mini-sleeve remaster is now available. The mastering on the Japan disc is a definite improvement over the old domestic CD.

Also, be aware that the Amazon text for the Japan set is incorrect. It states: "Features the same remastering from the 1999 issued pressing." In actuality, the Japan "In The Beginning" is part of an 9 title, all mini-sleeve SRV release, where some the albums are the same '99 remasters, but three, including "Beginning", "Live At Carnegie Hall" and "Live Alive" (a 2CD expanded set), have all been newly remastered.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.