Product Description

Movie DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5211 in DVD
• Brand: SONY MUSIC
• Released on: 1999-12-21
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 63 minutes

Amazon.com
In 1990, Texas bluesman Stevie Ray Vaughan was just emerging from a long period in which drugs had taken their toll: the previous year's In Step album was the first he had made drug free, and the results were a marvel. But then, after sharing a stage with Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, and Eric Clapton, he boarded a helicopter to Chicago. It crashed, and the career of one of the great blues guitarists was ended.

Rewind to 1983 and here is Stevie Ray at the beginning of his fame, his first album with his backing band Double Trouble, Texas Flood, having just been released to critical and popular acclaim. The venue is the El Mocambo club in Toronto, a dark, smoky joint with a laid-back but appreciative clientele. Vaughan, drummer Chris Layton, and bassist Tommy Shannon share the tiny stage. The guitarist, bedecked in trademark hat and alligator-skin boots, is pale of complexion, sweating from the heat and physical exertion, and physically much smaller than Shannon, who towers over him. But Vaughan dominates, as much by the magnetism of his flamboyant personality as his guitar playing. And what playing: by turns fiery, funky, then limpid and surprisingly graceful. Here is an authentic blues artist captured in the throes of living through his music. At this early stage in his career he was still very much in thrall to Jimi Hendrix (the flower-power shirt gives it away), as covers of "Voodoo Chile" and "Third Stone from the Sun" (the latter a Hendrix-inspired guitar-abuse session) indicate. The highlight of the show, however, is his rendition of "Texas Flood," which turns out to be an amazing essay on the art of blues guitar. This is a raw, intimate, and spontaneous record of a one-time event. All fans of the blues will be grateful to those who had the foresight to capture it on film. --Mark Walker

DVD features
The DVD allows the viewer to chose a lyrics on/off option, as well as different audio mixes (Dolby Surround or Stereo). There's also a short interview with Double Trouble's Clayton and Shannon, recorded in 1999, in which they reveal that Stevie never bothered with a set list, a biography, discography, and timeline.

From the back cover
As with any great artist, particularly those of the blues persuasion, Stevie Ray Vaughan was constantly taking chances, stretching out, discovering new possibilities even in songs he performed nightly. Brother Jimmie Vaughan hit the nail on the head as only he could: "He never played it the same way once, much less twice." As impressive as Stevie's too-brief studio career was, the records represent only freeze-frame stills of songs (and a guitarist) that were continually evolving. And like any self-respecting guitarslinger, Stevie Ray's flamboyant, in-your-face style blossomed most in front of a live audience. Such was obviously the case one night in 1983 when Double Trouble played Toronto's El Mocambo. Luckily, the entire event was captured on film.

Drummer Chris Layton recalls, "It was just a straight live performance; there just happened to be cameras there." In other words, this wasn't a "studio audience"; there were no retakes, no fixing or sweetening after the fact. Clearly, the El Mocambo crowd witnessed an emerging guitar legend and his topnotch band on an extraordinary night. Even with bassist Tommy Shannon towering over him, Stevie appeared almost larger than life. Four of the songs included here were never released on LP in Vaughan's lifetime. The eight remaining tunes include favorites from Double Trouble's early repertoire: "Love Struck Baby," "Pride and Joy," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and Stevie's homage to his hero Jimi Hendrix, "Voodoo Chile." Another Hendrix vehicle, "Third Stone from the Sun," is a tour de force of acrobatics, both sonic and physical, while "Lenny" reveals the guitarist's lyrical, sensitive side. And his rendition of "Texas Flood" is without doubt one of the most overwhelming recordings of Stevie Ray (or any guitarist) ever documented--a textbook (make that an encyclopedia) of incandescent licks streaming forth like a thunder shower. Like a flood. --Dan Forte

Customer Reviews

Stevie's Best, But the DVD Could Use Some Work
There is nothing like seeing great blues in a small club. Stevie has done a lot of great live work (except while in the depths of his drug abuse), but this video is the pinnacle of what he was capable of. This small club in Toronto, with rowdy fans has more energy and fire than any arena, stadium or theatre could match.

This was also a musical high point of Stevie's career. He was older than the "In the Beginning" disc (also taken from a small club), and his playing reflects it. He was more fluid and confident, and you can see that he was REALLY feeling "it" the night of the El Mocambo show. I have never heard or seen a better rendition of Texas Flood. I have never even seen a beter blues guitar performance by anyone on any song compared to it. The versions of Tell Me, Wham!, So Excited, Testify, Voodoo Chile, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and Lenny also are the best I have heard from any recording (official or bootleg) of Stevie's.

As for the DVD, it could use some work. I noticed, in comparison with the VHS version, the mixers have brought the volume down a bit on Stevie's guitar, while making the low end sounds more prominent. This takes away from the power of Stevie's performance a bit. They also still have not included the version of Little Wing that was performed right before Third Stone From the Sun! Please! Include it, I will buy the DVD again! On a bright note for the DVD, the interview included is quite interesting, with Tommy and Chris' thoughts and relflections on Stevie and the night of the El Mocambo show.

All in all, I would still get the DVD over the VHS copy. But regardless, every fan of the blues, Stevie, and/or guitar should buy this video. Ever hear Eric Clapton describe Stevie as an open channel, in which musical ideas just flowed through him? This video is proof, and it is amazing.

SRV Must Have
I am quite happy with this disk. The 5.1 sound is excellent. The video is very good but not great; the issue being the simplistic camera angles - remember this was filmed in a bar 16 years ago.

The real joy of this disk is of course the performance, SRV before his excess of the mid 80's. The playing is fluid and graceful and gives us an insight into one of the greatest guitarists since Hendrix. Speaking of Hendrix, the version of Third Stone SRV does is a real high point of the show.

In short if you like SRV you will not be disappointed with this disk.

BUY THIS NOW!
I have been a huge fan since the beginning but the person that turned me onto this video was not. But even for someone who does not like the blues he was thoroughly blown away by this performance. This is one of the most amazing shows one could ever hope to witness EVEN IF YOU DONT LIKE THE BLUES! From the get-go SRV rips it up with Testify. Every song thereafter is a bonus:So Excited,Voodoo Chile(there were only two people that could do this song justice Jimi and SRV),Pride & Joy, Tell Me, Mary Had a Little lamb, Texas Flood, Love Struck Baby, Hug You, 3rd Stone,Lenny and WHAM. You will find yourself laughing in awe of how truly great a SRV show could be. In an age when "rock stars" put on a "show" this video is raw musical performance without any back tracks or effects. It's just a man and his guitar. I can say without a doubt this is one the greatest buys you can ever make and I will say it again-Even if you don't like the blues! Buy this video and play it as loud as you can, you will not be disappointed.