Today would have been Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 60th birthday. The brilliant guitarist’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 35, when he died in a helicopter crash. But despite dying so young, Vaughan left an incredible legacy, particularly in his inspired live recordings. So, on his birthday, let’s take a look at some of SRV’s best live performances.
“Little Wing” – 1984
SRV’s cover of the Hendrix tune “Little Wing” is considered to be the definitive take on the song, and this 15-minute performance is a fine example of why, as it illustrates how much he made the song his own, as well as how willing he was to improvise within the live setting.
“The Sky Is Crying” – Live in Iowa (1987)
Another cover that SRV adds his own individual flourishes to. The original version, recorded by Elmore James in 1959, was just under three minutes long. Ten years later, it was recorded by Albert King, becoming one of his best-known songs. This version owes more debt to King’s version than to the original, but SRV’s signature guitar style is enough to distinguish it from any other take on the song.
“Lenny” – Live in Toronto (1983)
This instrumental jam — named for his wife — was the closing track on SRV’s debut album, Texas Flood. It illustrates that he could play more subdued numbers as well as the hard-rollicking blues tunes, while also being one of the best showcases of his virtuosity. At about four minutes in, the playing gets so unbelievably complex, you wonder how one human being was actually able to do this.
“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” – Live At The Montreaux Jazz Festival
Another Hendrix cover — this one stays a bit closer to the original than “Little Wing” — but it’s a thoroughly impressive performance all the same. Frankly, the fact anyone can even perform this song is a marvel in its own right. SRV manages to go the extra mile, and extend it into an 11-minute performance.
“Cold Shot” – Year Unknown
A killer take on the W.C. Clark tune that SRV first recorded on 1984’s Couldn’t Stand The Weather. While the studio take was just four minutes long, this version goes on for seven, and features a brilliant instrumental section. The interplay between the guitar and the keyboards is particularly impressive.
“Texas Flood” – Live From Austin, Texas (1983)
This 9-minute take on “Texas Flood” came from Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble’s first performance on Austin City Limits back in 1983, shortly after the release of their debut album of the same name. The band would take the stage at ACL again in 1989, and both performances are collected on the Live From Austin, Texas DVD, which is a must-own for serious SRV fans.
Best Solos – Various Years
This compilation — put together by the folks running the SRV YouTube account – collects 14 minutes worth of killer solos from a decade’s worth of live shows. If you’d rather see his genius in distilled form than watch each performance in its entirety, this clip is highly recommended.
