Live at Montreux... [Import, Box set]

Well, first of all, the 1985 Montreux show is very good. The fact that several of the '85 cuts were released back in '86 on the "Live Alive" album is a bit of a drawback, but the performance itself is flawless. Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band perform superbly throughout the set, resulting in magnificent renditions of "Tin Pan Alley", "Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love" and several more.

But the 1982 show is the real revelation here. I have heard all the official live albums by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and this magnificent performance outdoes them all.
It is somewhat unpleasant to hear the crowd's reaction (unlike the 1985 show, Vaughan was met with indifference and even hostility when he first performed in Montreux), but the music is white-hot.

Opening with two instrumentals, Freddie King's "Hide Away" and his own "Rude Mood", Stevie Ray Vaughan plays some of the very best and bluesist guitar you'll ever hear, particularly on a smouldering ten-minute version of "Texas Flood".
He was sometimes accused of playing ten notes when three would have done the job, but that accusation certainly doesn't hold up on these fabulous recordings.
Also, his vocal performance is superb. He rocks on "Give Me Back My Wig" and growls menacingly on "Dirty Pool", and the production is excellent. Sometimes a live album will suffer from the vocals being too low in the mix, but here the mixing is perfect. And Vaughan's playing on "Pride And Joy" and "Love Struck Baby" makes it hard to believe there was only one guitar player present.

This is by far one of the very best live blues and blues-rock albums I have ever heard, and if you like the genre you can't go wrong with "Live in Montreux".Well, first of all, the 1985 Montreux show is very good. The fact that several of the '85 cuts were released back in '86 on the "Live Alive" album is a bit of a drawback, but the music is excellent. Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band perform superbly throughout the set, resulting in magnificent renditions of "Texas Flood", "Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love" and several more.

Shemekia's dad, guitarist Johnny Copeland, lends a hand on the awesome 12-minute "Tin Pan Alley", and there is some amazing guitar playing on this 76-minute set. Copeland actually appeared on two more songs, including a great rendition of "Cold Shot", but those have been cut in order to keep the 1985 concert on one disc. You can hear it, and "Look At Little Sister", on the 2004 DVD issue of these two shows.

The 1985 show is great, but the 1982 show is the real revelation here. I have heard all the official live albums by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and this magnificent performance outdoes them all.
It is somewhat unpleasant to hear the crowd's reaction (unlike the 1985 show, Vaughan - or possibly the sound system - was met with indifference and even hostility when he and Double Trouble first performed in Montreux), but the music is white-hot.

Opening with two instrumentals, Freddie King's "Hide Away" and his own "Rude Mood", Stevie Ray Vaughan plays some of the very best and bluesist guitar you'll ever hear, particularly on a smouldering ten-minute version of "Texas Flood".
He was sometimes accused of playing ten notes when three would have done the job, but that accusation certainly doesn't hold up on these fabulous recordings.
Also, his vocal performance is superb. He rocks on "Give Me Back My Wig" and growls menacingly on "Dirty Pool", and the production is excellent. Sometimes a live album will suffer from the vocals being too low in the mix, but here the mixing is perfect. And Vaughan's playing on "Pride And Joy" and "Love Struck Baby" makes it hard to believe there was only one guitar player present.

This is one of the very best live blues and blues-rock albums I have ever heard, and if you like the genre you can't go wrong with "Live in Montreux".

This has to be one of the most amazing blues albums ever released. We are lucky that it was actually recorded - particularly the first disc wherein SRV is boo'ed by the yahoos of Montreux... (Well - what can you say for a continent that thinks that Johnny Halliday rocks..?) (They are great on jazz but know squat about the blues!)While I adore that Chris Layton is introduced before one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th century, scant attention is paid to the fact that this is one of the raunchiest, rawest, most real of SRV's recordings. It makes you want to DO things! The difference between the '82 recording (SUBLIME) and the '85 (disc 2)has naught to do with talent but merely with polish and experience. Disc 1 will blow even the most devoted Mitch Miller devotees out of their socks. Disc 2 (1985) is delicious and shows how much a talent can evolve in just a few years. The entire compilation is inspired and a great tribute to the development of the blues. A must for any collector - serious or not. Heaven to listen to and a thrill to own. BUY IT!

Don't get me wrong, this is brilliant 2 Cd set, lovely booklet and the music as ever is top notch. But having already had Live ALive from 1985, maybe it is time for SRV live material from 1989?

As far as live CDs goes, this is an excellent package. The contrast from the 1982 (crowd booing SRV!!!!) and 1985 (Crowd cheering as though SRV is a hero) is great to "witness".

Sony Epic Legacy do a lovely job with SRV CDs. Professionally researched and put together.

My only gripe is, this CD is for collectors only. And so long as SRV material gets released, I will buy it. But having already had Live Alive from 1985, this CD is more or less the same... but there are a few exceptional stand out "jewels" on this set.

1. Couldn't Stand the Weather from '85 is great to hear live....not available elsewhere.

2. Gone Home. The Jazzy instrumental is performed with SRV swagger!

3. Life Without You. Lovely song, soul fully performed.

All in all no complaints....

But a live CD from 1989 with full set list would be excellent!

So in summary, if you collect SRV CDs buy this.
If you deciding to buy an SRV live CD, buy this double set over the Live Alive CD.