Sealed - Brand new triple audiophile vinyl. Stunning trifold cover.

A dream meeting between Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan, 25 years ago, now in brilliant remastered 180 gm vinyl acoustic glory…

Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan – In Session – Craft Recordings/ Stax # CR00675 – Three 180 gm vinyls – 1983 – ****1/2

(Albert King – electric guitar, vocals; Stevie Ray Vaughan – electric guitar, vocals; Tony Llorens – piano, organ; Gus Thornton – bass; Michael Llorens – drums)

When electric blues guitar master, Albert King, met the upcoming young guitar slinger, Stevie Ray Vaughan, in an Hamilton, Ontario, Canadian TV studio on Dec. 6, 1983, it was an occasion for a symbolic passing of the torch. Stevie had burst on the scene at that time, and Albert had reached the pinnacle of success (along with B.B. King) as the epitome that the new generation of guitarists, like Eric Clapton admired, and emulated.

Stevie was only 29 years old at the time, and Albert was 60. Sadly, Vaughan would die in a helicopter crash seven years later, and two years later, King would pass.

Their time together that day in December, 1983, was recorded for television, and it has stood the time, receiving adulation when released in 1999, as a double CD, and again when it came out on DVD in 2010.

Now for vinyl lovers, the definitive three LP release, 25 years later, is happening . Craft Recordings, the boutique collector label, has remastered the set onto 180 gm vinyls, with lacquers cut by Jeff Powell, and remastering by Paul Blakemore. The acoustics are a dream come true for lovers of electric blues guitar.

It is complete with brief commentary tracks, mostly Albert full of admiration of his young protege, and Stevie Ray, expressing deep appreciation for the compliments. King had been hesitant to accept the gig, only to find out that it was “little Stevie Ray,” then remembering he was the “kid” who set in with him on a gig in Texas.

Vaughan more than holds his own on their roughly 90 minute set. The song list is mostly Albert King staples, with the exception of the break-out hits of “Pride and Joy,” and “Texas Flood,” that had set Stevie’s career in an upward trajectory.

Throughout the ten musical tracks, the two men trade solos. It was not a “cutting session,” but rather an opportunity to share in each others joy of playing the “git fiddle”- (Albert’s description of their guitars.) The two bend notes, with yelps of glee, especially moving on the longer tracks, where they can really stretch out.

Highlights are numerous. Albert revisits his time at the Fillmore West in San Francisco in the late 60s, where he crossed paths with Janis Joplin (“who always had a drink in her hand”) on “Blues at Sunrise,” which starts out as the closest thing to a ballad, before each ratchets up the tension. 

We get a brief chance to hear the organ of Tony Llorens on “Overall Junction,” as the track heads into a vibe bringing back memories of the Allman Brothers, when Duane Allman was aboard. (I still remember fondly seeing the then, mostly unknown Allmans, opening for BB and Albert at the Fillmore West in the late 60s…)

“Match Box Blues” has Albert describing the hard scrabble beginnings for blues men starting their careers, wondering whether their clothes “would fit into a matchbox.” The blues veteran, and the star in the making, share equal footing on Stevie’s “Texas Flood,” beginning  with a searing opening section by Vaughan lasting till mid-tune, when King ups the ante. The track ends with both on fire to an ecstatic finish.

Lovers of electric blues guitar wanting a definitive dose of two of their favorite “slingers” should put this vinyl release at the top of their list for purchase. The superb acoustics just adds icing to the cake.

—Jeff Krow

Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan – In Session

Tracklist:
Side A: Introduction, Born Under a Bad Sign
Side B: Texas Flood

Side C: Call it Stormy Monday, “Old Times,” Pride and Joy, Ask Me No Questions
Side D: “Pep Talk,” Blues at Sunrise, “Turn It Over,” Overall Junction

Side E: Match Box Blues, “Who is Stevie?,” Don’t Lie to Me
Side F: I’m Going to Move to the Outskirts of Town, “Outro”