Customer Reviews

In Step

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"In Step" is often cited by critics as Stevie Ray Vaughan's best studio album. And his playing on this album is actually a bit more economical, maybe even a bit more mannered, than on his earlier releases...whether or not that's a good thing is a matter of taste, I suppose.

The production is a bit more slick than usual as well, the tone of Vaughan's guitar is cleaner, and a keyboard player and occational horns have been added to the mix, but that's not to say that Stevie Ray Vaughan had gotten soft on his final solo album before his tragic death in 1990 - he just turned a little bit more towards rock rather than blues.

"In Step" opens with a blistering rocker, "The House Is Rockin'", followed by the bluesy "Crossfire", which features a superb solo by Vaughan.
"Tightrope" ventures into hard rock territory, but Stevie Ray's cover of Willie Dixon's "Let Me Love You Baby" is genuine blues-rock, and it is followed by a good reading of Buddy Guy's slow, tortured blues "Leave My Girl Alone". Vaughan didn't quite have the pipes to match the intensity of Guy's original, but he does a fine job with what he has, and the guitar playing is superb as usual.

"Travis Walk" is a funky, up-tempo instrumental with some great drumming by Chris Layton (who, incidentally, used to play drums for Buddy Guy and Lightnin' Hopkins). "Wall Of Denial" is pretty well known, but it is perhaps one of the lesser tracks on this album, with some fine guitar playing but not much in the way of either hooks or a real "groove" to grab a hold of the listener.

"Scratch n' Sniff", however, is a fine up-tempo rock song with some excellent boogie piano fills by keyboardist Reese Wynans, and a great solo by Vaughan.

Stevie Ray Vaughan can't quite pull off Howlin' Wolf's "Love Me Darlin' (May I Have A Talk With You)", but if you aren't familiar with the original, this version will actually sound pretty great, I guess. And finally, the original "In Step" album winds down with the excellent nine-minute instrumental "Rivera Paradise", a slow, moody piece.

The five excellent bonus tracks begin with a short interview snippet. The remaining four songs are all live performances: "The House Is Rockin'" and "Let Me Love You Baby" from "In Step", "Texas Flood" from Vaughan's 1983 debut album of the same name, and "Life Without You" from "Soul To Soul".
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a terrific live performer, and it's pure joy to listen to the raw, fiery live versions of the two songs from this album, which to me work better than the originals.

Highly recommended, as are all Vaughan's studio albums (although I don't agree with those who call it his best).
You should also check out Stevie Ray Vaughan's excellent live albums.

I had heard the name Stevie Ray Vaughan a lot, and I believe I had heard one or two songs on the radio, but for some odd reason, I never really heard his music until a little while after his passing. Then, in 1991, I got a job with a blues band in Dallas playing piano and organ. Stevie's from Oak Cliff - a section of Dallas. I love playing blues, because when the band members listen to each other, things fall together. It has a lot of similarities to jazz that way. So, it tuned out that many of the songs started by the guitarist (who had known Stevie and was excellent in his own right), were SRV songs. A joy to play. During breaks, customers would play the jukebox, and that was the time I wanted to unwind in. It seems like every break, someone's quarter went to selecting this long, absolutely beautiful, slow 6/8 instrumental. I could literally feel stress evaporating from my body. I found myself going into a meditative state, just smiling and feeling total relaxation. It wasn't like any new age massage music, though... it had grit. I later found out that it was Riviera Paradise by Stevie Ray. Wow! A twelve minute cure for what ails you... with all the grit & beauty; the bittersweet quality of life itself.

I love all of Stevie's upbeat rockers with his satisfyingly fluid guitar work that flows like a river with a mission. This particular album, which expresses many things he had learned while struggling with the addictions of show biz fast lane life, is perfection. There's an understanding of life well lived that oozes through the most down to earth blues feelings you can find. And when Riviera Paradise comes on, it literally transports you to a place of receptiveness... where you can accept yourself, both strengths and weaknesses, and allow the better life that's available for anyone that will let it in.

It's so unfortunate for us that Stevie Ray was taken so suddenly; so soon. But it's clear from this album that he was intact and ready for anything. And when you take in his entire catalog of recorded music, you experience a man on a journey, who, no matter what he was going through, was always able to speak volumes through his guitar, and who's wonderfully unique voice (which I think sometimes is overshadowed by the guitar virtuosity) has the perfect man-on-the-street way of letting us all relate. If you like blues at all, this is an absolute must. Also, if you're not a blues fan, try starting with Riviera Paradise. Several times I have played that cut for people who have said they wouldn't be interested in SRV. I haven't told them what or who it was... just let it play. It's ALWAYS met with ooohs and ahhhs. "Who is that?" "What CD is that on?" They then have to hear more from the creator of that slice of heaven.

everytime i hear the live recording on life without you i get all choked up. stevie played every note from some other source, he had a superhuman quality to channel emotion into a piece of wood and strings to produce the most incredible music ever played... the blues. stevie was the modern ambassador of the blues, and he brought it home to me, especially through this album. thanks Stevie.

I knew of Crossfire and Walkin' the Tightrope from the radio, and The House is Rockin' from sports stadiums. But it's the blues and Wall of Denial that blew me away. Buddy Guy's Leave My Girl Alone and Howlin Wolf's Love Me Darlin' (Or is that the real May I Have a Talk With You?) are emotion-tinged rock blues at its best. My only disappointment about these songs was their length. (I envisioned both songs as 9 minute jam sessions, but that would've tired the other bandmates out.) Whereas I liked the original Leave My Girl Alone for Buddy's screaming, Stevie's guitar solo did the trick for me here. As for Wall of Denial, this song transcends substance abuse. Sometimes I get angry at women for not wanting to date me for whatever reason, and I build up my own wall instead of buiilding up a new relationship. While I still struggle in tearing down my wall the way Stevie tore down his in late '86 and early '87, I know that it's going to "tumble down to the ground" eventually. As for the extra tracks, they speak for themselves. I don't have Soul to Soul yet (don't ask me why), so before I bought the remastered In Step, my only way of hearing Life Without You was in the snippet on VH1 Legends where he talked about his troubles. After hearing this version of Life Without You, I stood still for 10 minutes because I was so mesmerized by his rap and the two blistering solos where he hit some incredible high notes that I didn't think he was capable of hitting. The first time I played it at home, I sang the opening lyric differently: "Well hello Stevie, tell me how have you been, we all have missed you and the way you grin..." If any artist dares think about covering Life Without You, I wouuld strongly suggest using this lyric at the start. Rave On Stevie, and I'll see you someday at the real Great Gig in the Sky.

I first heard about SRV from a friend I was visiting in Austin Texas in 1977; but it wasn't until last year that I took the time to listen to his music, tuning in to a 2 hour special on Sydney's progressive radio station 2JJJ FM. I was totally amazed. I'd always loved the blues, but listening to Stevie I realised he'd taken the music somewhere it was meant to go, but had never been before. Mournful, moving, gutsy, fluid, intricate beyond belief, but every note spot on. And what a range of styles - R&B, rock, rockabilly, jazz, psychedelic - all played better than anyone had ever played them before. Soul max. I would never have believed that any guitarist could master Hendrix, let alone rework him into something even more marvellous. But Stevie could do just that, from Voodoo Chile to Little Wing and on through Third Stone from the Sun. Out of this world, and yet right from the heart of it at the same time. If you like the blues, or any kind of electric guitar, then there is no better place to start than with his last studio album In Step. Just check out his cover of Buddy Guy's Leave My Girl Alone and his own Riviera Paradise for starters. You'll be back for more. Like every fan I ache to think where he would have taken us if still around. But his legacy is incredible, and I know some day some kid is gonna come along and do to Stevie what he did to Jimi and all other guitar kings (Albert, Freddy, BB and so many more). That I should live so long!

I'm embarrassed to admit that the first time I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan, I had my eyes closed "watching" MTV before they found reality shows more popular. He was alone, lip-synching something in garish lighting, but the song was HOT. I was fortunate enough that when this album was released, Stevie and Double Trouble promoted it in its entirety at the Arizona State Fair "in the round". People from five years old to 70 were rocking to the music; in my experience, only an Elvis Presley concert crowd matched this crowd's reaction. Stevie got a standing ovation for "Leave My Girl Alone". When I later got the album, I realized he sounded in concert as right-on as he did on the album. I have other of his CDs now but this is the best. Eric Clapton has said he didn't know where those hot licks of Stevie's came from (high praise); B. B. King said Stevie was "one of his children"; the producer of Austin City Limits on PBS said Stevie's concerts (old repeats) are the most requested. For the uninitiated. buy this CD, and you will find out why.

Stevie's last album is terrific in its original form. Released after he had cleaned up his life, it's some of his most powerful guitar playing and lyrics. As an instrumental, Riviera Paradise is fantastic. However, the addition of the live tracks make this a must have. Personally, I would buy a CD of the live version of "Life Without You" alone. I was fortunate enough to have driven Stevie and his band to a 1988 show in Santa Barbara, CA, and was priveledged to watch the show from backstage. The most memorable part was his spoken interlude during "Life Without You" about where he had been in his life, and how much he cherished it at that point. When he tragically died, the first song KLOS in Los Angeles played, was "Life Without You." This version with the interlude was never available until now, and it only serves as a reminder of what we truly lost when Stevie died.

Mr. Vaughn's recovery from addiction comes through loud and clear while he loses none of the passion and style that made him so popular to begin with. Every song is like a self-portrait of an man who has finally found the way to real success. The songs are upbeat and make you want to dance with the newfound joy of the artist. Some of the best that SRV has to offer.

Stevie Ray Vaughan's In Step is indeed a powerful blues album released in 1989. Stevie Ray Vaughan had grown sooooo much as a musician his sound was more cleaner, with a sweeter touch than his previously albums with a rawer texican guitar sound. Resse Wymans really adds a special keyboard sound to the band Double Trouble. Chris Layton also sounds alot better, so does Tommy Shannon who in the 60's played with Johnny Winter. Their are many great blues songs including Leave My Girl Alone, and The House Is Rockin'. Their is also a really good slow song titled Riviera Paradise. This album should be considered in anyboy's musical collection. Highly Recomened!

His last album. It was really tragic that we lost yet another amazing talent. One of the 5 best guitar players ever, easily, Stevie explores his blues roots, rock, and even flirts with some jazz on Riviera Paradise. His mind blowing guitar solos on Crossfire and Tightrope make me think that if Stevie were style alive, music today might not be so pathetic. House is Rockin is a great rock and roll song. Stevie could do it all. Let Me Love You Baby is straight up blues, as it is the incredibly souful Leave My Girl Alone. No weak songs and the Bonus tracks make me wish I could have seen him live.