Customer Reviews

Solos, Sessions & Encores

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Judging from the spate of negative reviews posted here, you would think that Solos, Sessions and Encores is the biggest piece of musical garbage to be released since Justin Timberlake's latest CD. But if you read closely, what you'll find is that most reviewers are just mad that the record company is squeezing yet more profit from the storied legacy of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Listen closely to the CD then ask yourself "Is it really that bad?".
I own just a half-dozen or so SRV CDs, so in no way could you call me a completeist. I saw him play in San Antonio before the release of Texas Flood brought him national then international fame, so I am not at all a newcomer to his sound. I followed him religiously for a while but then after his untimely death I kind of lost track of what was issued in his name. I was attracted to this when I saw it on sale partially because of the price, and partially because of who he appears with. Also, I did not yet own any of the songs except Marcia Ball's Soulful Dress. It took me only a couple listens to decide that this was money well spent.
If this recording was made by anyone but SRV, I have a feeling that the ratings would be skewed in a more positive direction. There is some great music here including five out of the six songs that the record company claims are previously unreleased. If you like the blues, you should enjoy this regardless of your feelings about the profit motive. My favorites are: The Sky Is Crying, On the Run, Albert's Shuffle, Change It, a live Texas Flood, and a magnificent Pipeline. About the only ones I don't care for are the silly Oreo Cookie Blues (which is not one of the better Lonnie Mack compositions) and the awful disco of Let's Dance, which served to remind me why I was never into David Bowie. SRV joins such luminaries as Paul Butterfield, Albert and BB King, Jeff Beck, Albert Collins, surf music legend Dick Dale, and some excellent but lesser-known blues musicians to deliver almost 70 minutes of mostly very listenable music.
My complaints? The cheap booklet, though informative, was miscut so I am missing some information. Then there is the inclusion of that Bowie tune, so out of place on a blues album even if SRV did play in the song.
Nearly two decades after SRV's death, none of us should be expecting anything new to appear in his name. When a "new" SRV recording does appear, of course its because the record company is trying to make a buck. That's what they are in business for. From the sales ranking, it appears that despite the negativity that the record company in question is going to make money on this too. If you are a blues lover, you should find that if you focus on the music itself and not the motivations of its release that this is worth owning.

What is wrong with some of these people? I don't think Stevie Ray is coming out of his grave to put out any new material. Enjoy it for what it is, material from the vault that most people haven't heard. Hendrix stuff has been coming out almost 40 years after his death. Zappa has almost 200 hours of material stashed away. The record companies suck, it's true, but this is for the hardcore fan. Stop bitching. I don't normally post but some of you guys are ridiculous.

I was shocked to see how few stars this product has received. I purchased it myself through amazon a little while back before there were the reviews, and when I came back to see what people had reviewed, I was amazed that the average review was 2 stars. While this certainly is not the best collection of Stevie Ray Vaughan material, it certainly is not as bad as the reviews make it out to be.

I also have to disagree with many people who say it's bad because it's the record companies cashing in... while this maybe be more or less true, it's still a decent collection of some hard to find (and great) material. I've read that many people said they already had half these songs... Not every music fan has the entire Stevie Ray Vaughan catalog... hell, I have all of his studio albums and some unofficial bootlegs, and I still only had about 3 or 4 songs out of the whole album already in my collection. For those of us that are fans of his music, you will enjoy this album. Especially if you want to hear how he interracts with other guitarists and musicians.

My personal favorite cuts would be The Sky Is Crying (With Albert King, B.B. King & Paul Butterfield), Goin' Down (with Jeff Beck), Oreo Cookie Blues [Live] (With Lonnie Mack) and Albert's Shuffle (with Albert Collins). It really is a good collection from Stevie's shortlived career, with material as early as 1978, to material as late in his career as 1988.

All in all, a good collection. There are a few tracks that don't really showcase Stevie's playing, that probably could have been better replaced (Let's Dance), but I think the point of this album was to showcase the versatility of the great Stevie Ray Vaughan. If you already have everything ever done by Stevie, you can skip this, since you've probably already come across the good tracks on this album. If you've got some SRV material but would like to hear a few of the other artists Stevie's performed with, get this album. It's not as bad as all the reviews make it out to be. I'd say probably 3.5/4 stars. I've heard better Stevie compilations, but this is still something that any blues fan should have.

...about this album are the fickle complaints that this somehow 'pillages' the legacy of SRV (whaaa...?) or that it's only the record label trying to make some cash. (Again - whaaa....?)

Gues what - don't wanna hear it? Don't %$#! buy it. If you really have to ask whether this disc was "necessary," you probably shouldn't have spend the cash on it in the first place, and quite honestly, you're probably a total snob. :(

Guess what else - every label in history that has ever printed music albums has done so only for the purpose of making cash. The record industry only put this together to make money? Sure. The same could be said about Texas Flood or In Step. This is, afterall, a free-market economy.

Don't like the album? Get over yourselves and put it away or don't buy it in the first place. If these songs are so openly available on (illegal) bootlegs, then why did you even buy this disc?

And on that note, just what do you think Stevie Ray would have thought about his 'fans' buying his music on (illegal) pirate-profiteer bootlegs instead of published, official releases? Tisk tisk...

These songs are Stevie's songs...they are decent quality recordings...they were released on CD...yup, everything seems to make sense to me.

Four Stars.

I am suprised how poor this CD has been rated. I own just about everything from SRV, and I don't have most of these songs. The disc is very upbeat and pleasant to listen to. The "Going Down" w/ Jeff Beck rules! I hope they can dig up enough material like this for a follow-up disc.

Anyone who pays $20 for any CD is a sucker. That's your own fault for not shopping around.

This disc does not focus on Stevie Ray Vaughan's music, but rather Stevie Ray Vaughan's musicianship. These cuts are all in guest appearances on other artist's tracks. The Vaughan tone is easily recognizable and some tracks, such "Albert's Shuffle," are almost a head cutting contest. It is not the overall rocked up Texas blues experience that his studio albums were but it's definitely a look for any SRV fan.

This set is essential if you want to have a (almost) complete collection of SRV. However, my gripes are in the mixing, most noteably "Texas Flood" and "Sky Is Crying."

In "Texas Flood" Bonnie Raitt's guitar overpowers the mix and should have been remixed completely. With "Sky Is Crying" it is extremely apparent that this version was cut from a much longer one and you can here it 3:07. Even if this song were 20 minutes long I would have preferred a full version over the inclusion of "Oreo Cookie Blues" or "Pipeline."

I dig this disc for the inclusion of a handful of Stevie's guest appearances (for more you'll have to Google his discography to see other artist's whose music he had guested on). But the mixes could have been better.

Oh My God! I just read the other reviews for this CD, and found out that the RECORDING COMPANIES ISSUED IT ONLY TO MAKE MONEY!!! Not the recording companies! I guess I better go buy a different CD. Wait...what if the recording companies are just making money off of that too??!! NOOOOO!

By the way, this CD kicks butt, if that actually counts for anything.

For those who have panned this CD, I just have to quote the great Artie Shaw. --> "Go away!"

What a treat to hear the SRV's hot licks on the LIVE, "Albert's Shuffle" with Albert Collins.

"Goin' Down" with Jeff Beck. It's a challenge to tell who is who, but 'Becky' is playing his butt off, to stay up with the kid from Texas.

"Change It" is such an under rated jazzy, little rocker. Melodic vocal -Stevie just has such a soulful voice and on this live version which he sings perhaps better than the original studio track.

All the songs have something special. I would advise, to get away from the typical speakers, get some decent headphones and really listen to
what is going on...

Fantastic. A Solid Five Stars.
An excellent Live album that hasn't been fiddled with in post production.
Get those headphones and find a quiet corner to listen and enjoy.

When an album is created featuring the work of many artists, even with a genius like Stevie Ray Vaughan to tie them all together, it can be overwhelming. There are approaches to blues on this CD, all fine, and probably wonderful on their own. Put together, on one CD, it is hit and miss.
While Pipeline, featuring SRV and Dick Dale, is an instant classic and on my IPod's Top 25, Miami Strut, with AC Reed and Na-Na-Ne-Na-Nay with Bill Carter, could have been left off the compilation. Plus, Let's Dance, David Bowie? I realize the CD Let's Dance,kick started SRV's career, but Cat People would have been a better choice, with the rugged riffing guitar work.
Not to poo-poo all over this CD, there are other good songs. Albert's Shuffle, with Albert Collins smokes. Four songs featuring women lead singers are good, and lend interesting, "new" wrinkles to SRV's work. Those songs are You Can Have My Husband, with Lou Ann Barton, On the Run with Katie Webster, Soulful Dress by Marcia Ball and Texas Flood, with Bonnie Raitt. The first mentioned may be the best of the four, filled with wry Blues humor. Texas Flood, however, is also very good, a cool blues with some serious guitar work.
For a SRV completist, don't bother listening to me, just pick it up. For someone who likes SRV and wants to get something a little more off the beaten path, perhaps a bit meaty, get the SRV Box. It is a little more SRV as leader, with touches of special guests and early bands.
While this may be seen as a record company money grab, with a little under half of this CD being previously released, this CD, at a reasonable price, is worth it for Pipeline alone. Add the aforementioned Albert's Shuffle, and Texas Flood, and it's worth the three stars, maybe half a star more.