Couldn't Stand the Weather

Couldn't Stand the Weather
Studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Released	May 15, 1984 (1984-05-15)
Recorded	January 1984 Power Station (New York City)
Genre	Blues rock, Texas blues, electric blues
Length	38:08 (original) 54:46 (reissue) 154:40 (Legacy Edition)
Label	Epic, Legacy
Producer	Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Richard Mullen, Jim Capfer
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble chronology
Texas Flood (1983) Couldn't Stand the Weather (1984) Soul to Soul (1985)

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.

Background

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.

Recording and production

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]

Touring

Further information: Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour

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.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[18]
Robert Christgau	(B+)[19]
Entertainment Weekly	(B+)[20]

Track listing

All songs were written by Stevie Ray Vaughan, except where noted.

1. "Scuttle Buttin'" – 1:52
2. "Couldn't Stand the Weather" – 4:40
3. "The Things That I Used to Do" (Eddie Jones) – 4:55
4. "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" (Jimi Hendrix) – 8:01
5. "Cold Shot" (W. C. Clark, Michael Kindred) – 4:01
6. "Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town)" (Robert Geddins) – 9:11
7. "Honey Bee" – 2:42
8. "Stang's Swang" – 2:46

1999 Reissue

1. "Scuttle Buttin'" – 1:52
2. "Couldn't Stand the Weather" – 4:40
3. "The Things That I Used to Do" (Jones) – 4:55
4. "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" (Hendrix) – 8:01
5. "Cold Shot" (Clark, Kindred) – 4:01
6. "Tin Pan Alley" (Geddins) – 9:11
7. "Honey Bee" – 2:42
8. "Stang's Swang" – 2:46
9. "SRV Speaks" – 1:08
10. "Hide Away" (Freddie King, Sonny Thompson) – 4:04
11. "Look at Little Sister" (Hank Ballard) – 2:46
12. "Give Me Back My Wig" (T. R. Taylor) – 4:07
13. "Come On (Pt. III)" (Earl King) – 4:33

Legacy Edition

Disc One

1. "Scuttle Buttin'" – 1:52
2. "Couldn't Stand the Weather" – 4:41
3. "The Things That I Used to Do" (Jones) – 4:55
4. "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" (Hendrix) – 7:59
5. "Cold Shot" (Clark, Kindred) – 4:01
6. "Tin Pan Alley" (Geddins) – 9:11
7. "Honey Bee" – 2:43
8. "Stang's Swang" – 2:50
9. "Empty Arms" – 3:28
10. "Come On (Pt. III)" (E. King) – 4:33
11. "Look at Little Sister" (Ballard) – 2:46
12. "The Sky Is Crying" (Elmore James) – 4:11
13. "Hide Away" (F. King, Thompson) – 4:03
14. "Give Me Back My Wig" (Taylor) – 4:07
15. "Boot Hill" (Sly Williams) – 2:23
16. "Wham!" (Lonnie Mack) – 2:26
17. "Close to You" (Willie Dixon) – 3:10
18. "Little Wing" (Hendrix) – 6:48
19. "Stang's Swang" (alternate take) – 2:44

Disc Two

1. "Testify" (The Isley Brothers) – 4:36
2. "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" (Hendrix) – 11:53
3. "The Things That I Used to Do" (Jones) – 5:30
4. "Honey Bee" – 2:32
5. "Couldn't Stand the Weather" – 4:53
6. "Cold Shot" – 4:05
7. "Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town)" (Geddins) – 10:29
8. "Love Struck Baby" – 3:00
9. "Texas Flood" (Larry Davis, Joseph Wade Scott) – 9:38
10. "Stang's Swang" – 3:07
11. "Lenny" – 11:07
12. "Pride and Joy" – 4:59

Personnel

Musicians

• Stevie Ray Vaughan – guitar, vocals
• Tommy Shannon – bass
• Chris Layton – drums
• Jimmie Vaughan – rhythm guitar on "Couldn't Stand the Weather" and "The Things That I Used to Do"
• Fran Christina – drums on "Stang's Swang"
• Stan Harrison – tenor saxophone on "Stang's Swang"

Production

• Producers – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Richard Mullen, Jim Capfer
• Executive producer – John H. Hammond
• Engineer – Richard Mullen
• Assistant engineer – Rob Eaton
• Cover art – Holland MacDonald
• Photography – Benno Friedman

1999 reissue

• Producer – Bob Irwin
• Executive producer – Tony Martell
• Mastering engineer – Vic Anesini
• Tracks 10-13 mixed by Danny Kadar
• Dialogue edited by Darcy Proper
• Research assistants – George Deahl, Al Quaglieri, Matthew Kelly, Jon Naatjes
• Art director – Josh Cheuse
• Editorial director – Andy Schwartz
• Liner notes – Bill Milkowski

Legacy Edition

• Photography – Jean Krettler, Robert Matheu, James Minchen III
• Liner notes – Andy Aledort

Notes

1. ^ Gregory August 2003, p. 74
2. ^ Kitts September 1997, p. 7
3. ^ Gregory August 2003, p. 78
4. ^ Prial June 2006, p. 295
5. ^ ^{a b} Album notes March 1999, p. 5
6. ^ ^{a b} Prial June 2006, p. 298
7. ^ Album notes March 1999, p. 6
8. ^ Album notes March 1999, p. 4
9. ^ Wolfgang's Vault 2011a
10. ^ The Ledger August 1984, p. 20
11. ^ Wolfgang's Vault 2011b
12. ^ Wolfgang's Vault 2011c
13. ^ Der Spiegel August 1984, p. 160
14. ^ The New York Times October 1984
15. ^ Gregory August 2003, p. 87
16. ^ Gregory August 2003, p. 88
17. ^ Dickerson September 2004, p. 64
18. ^ Allmusic 2009
19. ^ Christgau 2005
20. ^ Schinder April 1999

References

• Miranda, Randy (August 7, 1984). "Huey Lewis packs the Sun Dome". The Ledger (Lakeland). http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S9QvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3134,2707873. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 

• "This Week on TV". Der Spiegel (Hamburg: SPIEGEL-Verlag) 38 (34): 160. August 20, 1984. http://wissen.spiegel.de/wissen/image/show.html?did=65917382&aref=image040/2009/07/01/cq-sp198403401580160.pdf. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 

• Holden, Stephen (October 8, 1984). "Stevie Ray Vaughan, guitarist, at Carnegie Hall". The New York Times (New York City: The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/08/arts/pop-stevie-ray-vaughan-guitarist-at-carnegie-hall.html. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 

• Kitts, Jeff (September 1, 1997). Guitar world presents Stevie Ray Vaughan: from the pages of Guitar World. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0793580804. http://books.google.com/books?id=Mf6L5Q3_62IC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

• (1999) Album notes for Couldn't Stand the Weather by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble [booklet]. New York City: Epic Records (65871).

• Schinder, Scott (April 2, 1999). "Studio album reissues". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc.) (479). http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,272922,00.html. Retrieved February 24, 2011. 

• Gregory, Hugh (August 1, 2003). Roadhouse blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Milwaukee: Backbeat. ISBN 978-0879307479. http://books.google.com/books?id=iWkzJssSXcEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

• Dickerson, James (September 25, 2004). The fabulous Vaughan Brothers: Jimmie and Stevie Ray. Lanham: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-116-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=NrAOD3qhANAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+fabulous+vaughan+brothers&src=bmrr#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

• "Texas Flood Review". Robert Christgau. 2005. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=2137. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 

• Prial, Dunstan (June 27, 2006). The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music. New York City: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374113049. http://books.google.com/books?id=OLO0sRm_dsEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

• "Couldn't Stand the Weather Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. 2009. http://allmusic.com/album/couldnt-stand-the-weather-r21044/review. Retrieved March 4, 2011. 

• "Austin Opera House (Austin, TX) Apr 15, 1984". Wolfgang's Vault. Norton LLC. 2011. http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/stevie-ray-vaughan/concerts/austin-opera-house-april-15-1984.html. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 

• "Spectrum (Montreal, Quebec) Aug 17, 1984 Early Show". Wolfgang's Vault. Norton LLC. 2011. http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/stevie-ray-vaughan/concerts/spectrum-montreal-august-17-1984-early-show.html. Retrieved March 2, 2011. 

• "Spectrum (Montreal, Quebec) Aug 17, 1984 Late Show". Wolfgang's Vault. Norton LLC. 2011. http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/stevie-ray-vaughan/concerts/spectrum-montreal-august-17-1984-late-show.html. Retrieved March 2, 2011.