Customer Reviews

Do You Get the Blues?

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With this release, Vaughan picks up where he left off on his previous CD, "Out There" and proves that consistency can be a good thing. The CD opens with the moderate tempo instrumental, "Dirty Girl" which features some good guitar work by Vaughan and closes in similar fashion with the flute and bongo laced instrumental "Planet Bongo".

In between these two instrumentals the CD features three songs, "Out of the Shadows", "Power of Love" and "In the Middle of the Night" featuring Lou Ann Barton. The latter song was recorded for, and is also featured on, Double Trouble's "Been A Long Time". Lou Ann's vocals on all three songs are very strong and Jimmie offers a nice compliment throughout.

On "The Deep End" Jimmie demonstrates his capabilities on the slide guitar and the song also features some nice harp work by harp master James Cotton. This may well be the highlight of the disc.

Finally, another Vaughan, Tyrone, is quietly introduced on "Without You" which he wrote and performs ryhthm guitar. Overall, another excellent release by Jimmie Vaughan.

...absolutely brilliant! Jimmie's unique adaptation of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's guitar style is as authentic and surreal as little brother Stevie's remarkable Albert King influenced bends. This is one great album from beginning to end. It begins and ends with smokin' B-3 driven instrumentals that ooozzzz (the latter including bongos and an uncredited flute). I never cared much for the Thunderbirds days, but this release solidifies a trifecta of fantastic solo albums for Jimmie.

Brother Stevie used to say that Jimmie was the best guitar player he ever knew. Well, he may not be the best ever, but man this guy has a cool groove and tone out the wazoooo! Guest vocalist on a few tunes is long-time Dallas/Austin friend of the Vaughan brothers Lou Ann Barton. Its 55 minutes in length so trigger the repeat button, relax with your favorite libation, and enjoy the ride.

Jimmie Vaughan is really beginning to put the pieces together here. If you have Strange Pleasure and/or Out There, you'll detect hints of both here. But there is so much more to this disc.
The feel range is broad. The familiar tilt-o-whirl of Pumping B-3, almost lazy, even tempo, sparse peppery licks.
Beautiful harmonies in a too-cool do-wop style. And Jimmie seems quite comfortable with his smooth as glass, breathy voice that was preserved for too many years.
The Deep End features a spirited taste of slide guitar that jangles and slithers in and out of some deep beautiful picking.
Miss Lou Ann Barton sits in and does an intensely soulful Power Of Love with Jimmie chiming in and they fit together like a glove.
Tyrone Vaughan makes a groove-chill rhythm-wah appearance on Without You, a sweet tune he co-wrote with C. Paxton.
There's plenty more. Including a little help from a bunch of cool people like James Cotton, Double Trouble, George Rains, Bill Willis, Rayvon Foster, Greg Sain, Greg Piccolo, Billy Horton and Herman Green.
But this is Jimmie Vaughan emerging, as a solo artist crafting a smooth, gritty, haunting, dare I say romantic blues style that is indeed unique.
I'm impressed.

Jimmie Vaughan literally smokes on this Grammy-nominated set from 2001. The entire CD is great with 4 tracks hitting "classic" status for me. The opener instrumental "Dirty Girl" smokes with a classic Chicago blues feel; penned by organist Bill Willis, his Hammond B-3 blazes through the track. On "Power of Love" Lou Ann Barton's churning vocal blows through Jimmie's guitar like a cyclone making this track one that smokes with the best classic tracks. On "Let Me In" Jimmie creates a throbbing track with a deep groove that mesmerizes. Johnny Wilson's "In the Middle of the Night" has Lou Ann Barton coming back for another guest vocal that smokes from beginning to end. The other tracks are also great such as "Don't Let the Sun Set" with its extended instrumental opening before Jimmie lays down some impassioned vocals, "Are you just going to stand there and watch me go?" "Do You Get the Blues?" is another strong outing for Jimmie Vaughan, some of the hottest grooves you'll hear. Enjoy!

Jimmie's magic touch is back! You know, the touch. The style of those early Fab T-Bird albums that made you sigh in elation. The touch that turned Stevie Ray (you may remember him, the Double Trouble guy) into a master player. Whatever it is that he lost in a sea of boring, over commercial, T-Bird albums or his sub-par solo albums, he got back with a vengeance on this Grammy-winning blues classic.

So what is it that grabs you about this album? A stripped back production (reminiscent of the T-Bird's Girls Go Wild), less attention on outside instruments and more on what you buy a JV album for (that powerful guitar), the duets with fellow hot Texan Lou Ann Barton (as much soul as Janis Joplin, she has), and a unique sound just as powerful as brother Stevie. Though while Stevie leaned towards the on-edge, caffeinated, power blues of Buddy Guy and Hendrix, Jimmie goes for a more laid back feel, relying on jazz/R&B arrangements (use of flute on Don't Let the Sun Set and Planet Bongo) and loose bar band blues (the sparse, clublike production), ala Guitar Watson and T-Bone Walker. Too add, Jimmie has a voice that perfectly compliments it, when his guitar isn't doing the talking. He never seems to be taking the music very seriously, just kicking back and taking it easy. (For some of the newbies to the blues, think Norah Jones.) And really, don't we need that?

So if you feel music sometimes works too hard, and long for the days of the real T-Birds, then Jimmie Vaughan's Do You Get the Blues is a Godsend to you. He's on to something here, now let's hope he sticks to it.

The difference between JV and other guitar heroes is that he does not up the intensity as time goes by; he finds his groove and works it forever. If you're a rave-up fan, it'll never come, but if you settle in with the band, you'll get more and more out of it as the set unfolds. Still, only four stars; JV's 'tight' style only goes so far.

Though he seems born to it, as if without trying he's got a delivery others try a lifetime to learn, the friendly swagger Vaughan brings to the blues comes, I suppose, from his long tenure with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, not to mention his family pedigree. His choice of accompanying instruments is one key. The churchy jive organ (complete with foot-pedal bass), the rock-solid shuffle-swing drumming, the clapping and background talk, and Vaughan's impeccable feel and good-time vocals give Vaughan's last two releases an inimitable party attitude, even when the songs turn a bit dark or quirky. The CD opens with "Dirty Girl," which would very easily have fit on Out There, and a confident tone that remains throughout is set, even in the delta-sounding "The Deep End." Vaughan is one serious teacher. By the end of Do You Get the Blues?, we know the answer.

It's all true. Jimmie's vocals, guitar stylings, and a "sound" are so stark and simple they're sophisticated. I used to look at The Fabulous Thunderbirds as just a rhythm and blues review. Was I wrong! I believe Jimmie's legend as a bluesman will grow over time -- he has an uncanny ability to capture a vintage "vibe" while somehow making it sound fresh and new. This is a great listen. Years from now, Jimmie will be recognized as one of the great living bluesmen. Don't wait til then to buy this album - enjoy it as long as you can.

Sorry, but Jimmie Vaughan seems to be running low on ideas. His capo-at-the-third-fret Johnny "Guitar" Watson minimalist thing is getting tired to these ears. Realizing his vocals aren't his strong suit, he wisely brought on Lou Ann Barton to sing a few.
When I've seem Jimmie perform live, he seems ill at ease and uncomfortable in a front man's role.
There seems to be a lack of growth creatively when I listen to
his three solo CD's back to back. Adding flute & bongoes to the generic by-the numbers intsrumental shuffles is hardly a major step foreward. Also, his guitar tone seems to be a tad thinner than on past releases. Stevie Ray was quoted as saying "...Jimmie can play anything, Hendrix, you name it".
JUST ONCE, DO IT, JIMMIE! And please, lose the capo for a while.
Remember the great solo on the T-Bird's "Part Time Love"?
I do!

Not only are JV and Lou Ann Barton a treat to watch and listen to, they are the quintessential performers and showmen (lady). I thoroughly enjoyed their latest concert in D.C., but was totally blown away by the album...