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Three years after the magnificent "Live Alive" with heart-stopping performances of the repertoire from the first three albums, which included impeccable renditions of “Willie The Wimp” and “Superstition” (the latter being a cover of a Stevie Wonder hit), the great studio return is "In Step" (1989): the fourth amazing album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and the complete Double Trouble band.
This record surpasses a million copies sold and grants the artist from Dallas absolute consecration on the international scene: Stevie Ray has become a true "star" with extensive public approval (as mentioned, notoriously unusual for blues) alongside the already acclaimed critical acclaim, reaffirmed by winning another Grammy for "Best Contemporary Blues Recording" for the album in question.
With the usual modesty that distinguishes him, the student becomes the master and gives a modern blues lesson in “Wall Of Denial,” while with the splendid cover of a Buddy Guy song titled “Leave My Girl Alone,” he reminds us that he has remained faithful to the classic blues patterns, without necessarily being forever anchored to them: “Crossfire” and “Tightrope” (which I consider the two best tracks on the album) are there to warn us. In simple terms, even without renouncing his blues roots, Stevie Ray wants to carve out his own space indicating a possible evolution towards that Jazz-Rock otherwise (and impurely, I would add) defined as "Fusion" (of the likes of Metheny, Scofield, Di Meola for instance) into which he seems, quite shamelessly, to venture with the magnificent closing instrumental track of this last studio work recorded in his lifetime: namely “Riviera Paradise.”
A little curiosity: in “Riviera Paradise” Stevie Ray Vaughan uses a Fender Stratocaster which he had named “Lenny” in tribute to his wife from whom he had received it as a gift (compared to the original version, Stevie Ray had replaced the original thin rosewood neck, which was not suitable for his large hands, with a thicker non-Fender maple, apparently given to him by the great Southern guitarist and singer Billy Gibbons of the famous Texas band ZZ TOP). Unlike the more famous “Number One,” “Lenny” is equipped with lighter strings that Stevie Ray Vaughan (whose initials, SRV, are engraved here on the pickguard) plays without a pick to achieve, also through the combination with that neck and the original pickups, a more vibrant yet softer tone, and therefore much more jazzy.
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Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The House Is Rockin' (02:24)
Well- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother come on in
Kick off your shoes start losin'
The blues
This old house ain't got nothin'
To lose
Seen it all for years start
Spreadin' the news
We got room on the floor
Come on baby shake sumpin' loose
Well- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother come on in
Solos: Guitar & Piano
Well- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother come on in
Walkin' up the street you can
Hear the sound
Of some bad honky tonkers
Really layin' it down
They've seen it all for years and
Got nothin' to lose
So get out on the floor
Shimmy' til ou shake sumpin' loose
Well- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother knockin'
Yeah- The house is a rockin'
Don't bother come on in
I said the house is a rockin'
Don't bother come on in
By: Thomas K. Pedersen
02 Crossfire (04:11)
Day by day night after night....blinded by the neon lights
Hurry here hustlin there....no ones got the time to spare
Moneys tight nothin free....wont somebody come and rescue me
I am stranded....caught in the crossfire
Stranded....caught in the crossfire.
Tooth for tooth eye for an eye....sell your soul just to buy buy buy
Beggin a dollar stealin a dime....come on cant you see that i
I am stranded....caught in the crossfire
I am stranded....caught in the crossfire.
I need some kind of kindness....some kind of sympathy oh no
Were stranded....caught in the crossfire
Save the strong lose the weak....never turning the other cheek
Trust nobody dont be no fool....whatever happened to the golden rule
We got stranded....caught in the crossfire
We got stranded....caught in the crossfire
We got stranded....caught in the crossfire
Stranded....caught in the crossfire
Help me
03 Tightrope (04:41)
Caught up in a whirlwind, can't catch my breath
Knee deep in hot water, broke out in a cold sweat
Can't catch a turtle in this rat race
Feels like I'm losin' time at a breakneck pace
Afraid of my own shadow in the face of grace
Heart full of darkness, spotlight on my face
There was love all around me, but I was lookin' for revenge
Thank God it never found me, would have been the end
Walkin' the tightrope, steppin' on my friends
Walkin' the tightrope, it was a shame and a sin
Walkin' the tightrope between wrong and right
Walkin' the tightrope, both day and night
Lookin' back in front of me, in the mirror's a grin
Through eyes of love I see I'm really lookin' at a friend
We've all had our problems, that's the way life is
My heart goes out to others who are there to make amends
We've been walkin' the tightrope, tryin' to make it right
Walkin' the tightrope every day and every night
Walkin' the tightrope, bring it all around
Walkin' the tightrope from the lost to found
Walkin' the tightrope stretched around the world
Walkin' the tightrope, save the boys and girls
Walkin' the tightrope, let's make it right
Walkin' the tightrope, do it do it tonight
Walkin' the tightrope
07 Wall of Denial (05:36)
A wall of denial - is fallin' down
Wo it's fallin' so hard - down to the ground
Never knew something so strong could be washed away by tears
But this wall of denial was just built on fear
We've all had our demons from the garden of white lies
Dressed them amused them pullin' wool over our eyes
Go so far as to love them to keep from letting them go
All the while they we're killin' us but we couldn't let it show
No matter what the trouble we carry round inside
We're never safe from the truth but in the truth we can survive
When this wall of denial comes tumblin' down
Down to the ground
Simple things in life bring the greatest pleasure
A smile, a kiss, a little baby's laughter
It makes no difference if we run away in fear
The little things in life hold us so near
No matter what the trouble we carry round inside
(We're) never safe from the truth but in the truth we can survive
When this wall of denial comes tumblin' down
Yeah this wall of denial must tumble down
Down to the ground
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