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Blues You Can Use (Philadelphia PA 1987 Broadcast)
Blues · 2016

Blues You Can Use (Philadelphia PA 1987 Broadcast)

Stevie Ray Vaughan

June 17, 2016 · Parachute Recording Company

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This 1987 broadcast catch Stevie Ray Vaughan at a fascinating crossroads.

Having recently emerged from a grueling rehabilitation process, his playing on this Philadelphia date is characterized by a terrifyingly sharp clarity. Gone is the drug-fueled haze of the mid-80s, replaced by a technical precision that feels like a man playing for his life.

The sound is thick with the smell of hot vacuum tubes and the crackle of an FM radio signal, giving the entire performance an urgent, archival grit that studio recordings often lack.

Moments Worth Listening For
The explosive opening of Scuttle Buttin where the guitar seems to outrun the rhythm section.
The mid-set transition into Tin Pan Alley where the volume drops to a whisper before a piercing high note.
The moment in Look at Little Sister where the piano and guitar lock into a frantic, synchronized shuffle.
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Blues You Can Use (Philadelphia PA 1987 Broadcast) sound next to the rest of Stevie Ray Vaughan's catalogue?

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This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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