Stevie Ray Vaughan – In Step (LP, Analogue Productions)

With his amazingly mature guitar, Stevie Ray Vaughan ignited the blues revival of the 1980s. Vaughan oriented himself equally to blues musicians such as Albert King, Otis Rush and Hubert Sumlin as to rock ‘n’ roll musicians such as Jimi Hendrix or Lonnie Mack and also to jazz guitarists such as Kenny Burrell; he developed a unique, versatile, fiery style with no resemblance to other guitarists of any genre. On 1989’s “In Step,” Vaughan found the voice to suit his own songs, uniquely blending blues, soul and rock and writing with startling emotional honesty. Sure, there are a few covers interspersed, all well chosen, but the heart of the album are the songs he co-authored with Doyle Bramhall, the man who also titled the highlight of “Soul To Soul”. “Change It” wrote. Fueled by a desire to make up for lost time and to rejoice in his renewed commitment to life and sobriety, Vaughan produced what is considered by many to be his greatest artistic achievement – an album amid sweat, soul and determination, without even a gram of filler material.