[Flood of Blues] -- The summer of 1983 was not the most likely time for a renaissance of blues. However, that's pretty much what happened in the wake of Texas Flood, the studio debut of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. Released on June 13, 1983, forty years ago this week, Texas Flood made the blues something it had not been since the 1960s: cool, hip, and commercially viable. Not that the blues had no fans by the 1980s; but as a genre, it was pretty much a niche for both fans and performers. Vaughan's guitar virtuosity combined with the steady rhythm section of Tommy Shannon (bass) and Chris Layton (drums) all but revitalized the blues' perception, breathing new life into the genre and steering new fans into Vaughn's influences.
Texas Flood reached the Top 40, or nearly so, in several countries: Australia (#46), Canada (#15), New Zealand (#16), and US Billboard 200 (#38). This debut even spent over half a year on the charts. The album was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Performance (lost to B.B. King's Blues 'N' Jazz), and the non-single track "Rude Mood" was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (lost to Sting's "Brimstone & Treacle"). Of the album's two singles – "Love Struck Baby" and "Pride and Joy" – the latter reached #20 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.
The two singles are great, but the standout tracks for me are "Testify," "I'm Crying," and the previously mentioned "Rude Mood."
Flashback: Texas Flood (June 13, 1983)
That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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