Couldn't Stand the Weather | ||||
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Studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble | ||||
Released | May 15, 1984 | |||
Recorded | January 1984 Power Station (New York City) |
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Genre | Blues rock, Texas blues, electric blues | |||
Length | 38:08 (original) 54:46 (reissue) 154:40 (Legacy Edition) |
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Label | Epic, Legacy | |||
Producer | Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Richard Mullen, Jim Capfer | |||
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble chronology | ||||
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Couldn't Stand the Weather is the second studio album by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. It was released on May 15, 1984 by Epic Records as the follow-up to the band's critically and commercially successful 1983 album Texas Flood. Recording sessions took place in January 1984 at the Power Station in New York City. Vaughan wrote half of Couldn't Stand the Weather's eight tracks. The album went to #31 on the Billboard 200 chart and the music video for "Couldn't Stand the Weather" received regular rotation on MTV. In 1999, a reissue of the album was released, which contains an audio interview segment and studio outtakes. In 2010, the album was reissued again as the Legacy Edition, containing two CDs that includes a previously unreleased studio outtake and a concert at The Spectrum in Montreal from August 17, 1984.
Contents |
Vaughan and Double Trouble had performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1982 and caught the attention of musician Jackson Browne, who offered the band free use of his personal recording studio in Los Angeles. During Thanksgiving weekend, they accepted Browne's offer and recorded a demo.[1] It was heard by record producer John H. Hammond, who had discovered artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen among many others.[2] He presented the demo to Greg Geller, head of A&R at Epic Records, and arranged a recording contract.[3][4] In June 1983, the demos were released as Texas Flood by Epic Records.
During January 1984, Vaughan and Double Trouble spent nineteen days at the Power Station on the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Hammond was named executive producer[5] and supervised the sessions.[6] The first track recorded was a Robert Geddins cover of "Tin Pan Alley," which was done in one take. Hammond said into the talkback microphone, "That's the best you'll ever get that song. That sounded wonderful."[6] Vaughan's brother, Jimmie Vaughan, played rhythm guitar on "Couldn't Stand the Weather" and "The Things That I Used to Do". For "Stang's Swang," drummer Fran Christina and saxophonist Stan Harrison recorded parts for the track.[7]
Couldn't Stand the Weather was produced by the band, along with Richard Mullen and Jim Capfer. The album was engineered by Mullen and Rob Eaton.[5] It was mastered by Vic Anesini in New York City. With the assistance of Shostal Associates for the photograph of a tornado, graphic artist Holland MacDonald designed the album cover art.[8]
Vaughan and Double Trouble toured North America, Europe, and Oceania in February through December 1984 to support Couldn't Stand the Weather. On April 15, 1984 they performed a concert at the Opera House in Austin, Texas and was broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour.[9] They also opened for Huey Lewis & the News on August 3 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.[10] The band went to Canada and performed three shows with one being at the Spectrum in Montreal; they were also broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour.[11][12] From Montreal, they went to Germany and performed at the Loreley Open-Air Theatre, which was broadcast on Rockpalast.[13] After returning to the United States, Vaughan and Double Trouble appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City on October 4.[14][15] The show featured many special guests and was released on the CD Live at Carnegie Hall. They did a tour of Australia and New Zealand in November including a two sold-out concerts at the Sydney Opera House.[16][17] The tour wrapped up in the United States.
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [18] |
Robert Christgau | (B+)[19] |
Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[20] |
All songs were written by Stevie Ray Vaughan, except where noted.
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