In the Beginning
This visceral live recording from April 1, 1980, was broadcast on radio from the Steamboat 1874 club in Stevie Ray Vaughan's adopted hometown, Austin, Texas. It circulated among collectors, and his manager used some of the tape as a demo before Vaughan was signed to Epic Records by John Hammond. Young Stevie Ray's performance bristles with uncorked energy. Vaughan is caught improvising on raw slide guitar, growling through Otis Rush's "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)," and pushing his fretboard speed and vocal limits on Guitar Slim's "They Call Me Guitar Hurricane." Also offered are unpolished versions of tunes that became fan favorites: "Tin Pan Alley," "Love Struck Baby," and "Tell Me."--Ted Drozdowski