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The Sky Is Crying gathers ten previously unreleased tracks that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble recorded between 1984’s Couldn’t Stand The Weather and 1989’s In Step, their final album before Vaughan died in a helicopter crash. Mobile Fidelity has released all five recordings, including the debut, Texas Flood, on outstanding SACDs (Analogue Productions has the vinyl covered). Though each of these recordings displays Vaughan’s jaw- dropping talent, The Sky Is Crying most reveals the many styles he soaked up like a musical sponge. Check out Vaughan’s jazz chops on Kenny Burrell’s “Chitlins Con Carne,” and Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” arguably this collection’s most staggering achievement, alternately whisper-sweet and screamingly fierce. Other tips of the hat are to Muddy Waters, Lonnie Mack (“Wham”), Elmore James, and Albert King (the title track), yet each song is pure, unleashed SRV. The sound is big, bold, up front, and clean as a whistle. Vaughan’s different tonal shadings—from warmly purring, to raggedly distorted, to wasp-tailed sting, plus a rare acoustic turn on the gorgeous closer, “Life By The Drop”—are all superbly captured, and the drums and bass have plenty of clarity and wallop. A brilliant musical document…if a sad reminder.
By Wayne Garcia
Although I’ve been a wine merchant for the past decade, my career in audio was triggered at age 12 when I heard the Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! blasting from my future brother-in-law’s giant home-built horn speakers. The sound certainly wasn’t sophisticated, but, man, it sure was exciting.
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