Couldn't Stand the Weather

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.

Couldn't Stand the Weather
Studio album by
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
ReleasedMay 15, 1984 (1984-05-15)
RecordedJanuary 1984
Power Station (New York City)
GenreBlues rock, Texas blues, electric blues
Length38:08 (1984 issue)
54:46 (1999 reissue)
154:40 (2010 Legacy Edition issue)
LabelEpic, Legacy, Music On Vinyl, Pure Pleasure, Sundazed
ProducerStevie 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)

Stevie Ray Vaughan wrote half the tracks on Couldn't Stand the Weather. The album went to No. 31 on the Billboard 200 chart and the music video for "Couldn't Stand the Weather" received regular rotation on MTV. The album received mostly positive reviews, with AllMusic giving it a four out of five stars. It received praise for Vaughan’s playing and highlighted songs such as Voodoo Child and Tin Pan Ally, but received criticism for the lack of original songs and forgetability of some of the songs.

In 1999, a reissue of the album was released which contains an audio interview segment and four studio outtakes.

In 2010, the album was reissued again as the Legacy Edition containing two CDs with a previously unreleased studio outtake and an August 17, 1984 concert at The Spectrum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Recording and production

During January 1984, Vaughan and Double Trouble spent 19 days at the Power Station in New York City. John Hammond was executive producer and supervised the sessions.[1][2]

The first track recorded was the old blues standard, "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."[2]

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.[3]

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.[1] Graphic artist Holland MacDonald designed the album cover art with assistance from Shostal Associates for the tornado image.[4]

Touring
Further information: Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour

In support of Couldn't Stand the Weather, Vaughan and Double Trouble toured throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan from February 1984 to December 1984. On April 15, 1984, they performed a concert at the Austin Opera House in Austin, Texas, which was broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour.[5] They also opened for Huey Lewis & the News on August 3, 1984, at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.[6]

The band went to Canada and performed three shows with one being at The Spectrum in Montreal which was also broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour.[7][8] From Montreal, they went to Germany and performed at the Loreley Open-Air Theatre which was broadcast on Rockpalast.[9]

After returning to the United States, Vaughan and Double Trouble appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City on October 4, 1984.[10][11] The show featured many special guests and was released on the CD entitled Live at Carnegie Hall.

They did a tour of Australia and New Zealand in November 1984 including two sold-out concerts at the Sydney Opera House.[12][13] The tour wrapped up in the United States.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[15]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[16]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[17]
MusicHound Rock4/5[18]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[19]
The Great Rock Discography6/10[20]

The album was another commercial success for Stevie Ray Vaughan, selling 1,000,000 copies within five weeks. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic wrote: "Stevie Ray Vaughan's second album, Couldn't Stand the Weather, pretty much did everything a second album should do: it confirmed that the acclaimed debut was no fluke, while matching, if not bettering, the sales of its predecessor, thereby cementing Vaughan's status as a giant of modern blues.", but lamented that "Vaughan didn't really push himself as hard as he could have, and the feeling that if he had, he would have come up with something a bit stronger."[21] Robert Christgau said in his review that "Though he comes close sometimes, this Texan ain't Hendrix. But between earned Jimi cover and lyric refreshment, album two is almost everything a reasonable person might hope from him: a roadhouse album with gargantuan sonic imagination"[22]

Track listings

1984 issue

All tracks are written by Stevie Ray Vaughan except where noted.

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Scuttle Buttin'" 1:52
2."Couldn't Stand The Weather" 4:40
3."The Things (That) I Used to Do"Guitar Slim4:55
4."Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"Jimi Hendrix8:01
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Cold Shot"(originally credited to Michael Kindred and W. C. Clark; later incorrectly credited to only Michael Kindred)4:01
6."Tin Pan Alley"originally credited to Robert Geddins; later credited to James Reed9:11
7."Honey Bee" 2:42
8."Stang's Swang" 2:46

1999 reissue bonus tracks
  1. "SRV Speaks" – 1:08
  2. "Hide Away" (instrumental) (Freddie King, Sonny Thompson) – 4:04
  3. "Look at Little Sister" (Hank Ballard) – 2:46
  4. "Give Me Back My Wig" (T. R. Taylor) – 4:07
  5. "Come On (Part III)" (Earl King) – 4:33

2010 Legacy Edition issue

Disc 1
  1. "Scuttle Buttin'" – 1:52
  2. "Couldn't Stand The Weather" – 4:41
  3. "The Things (That) I Used to Do" (Eddie Jones) – 4:55
  4. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (Jimi Hendrix) – 8:01
  5. "Cold Shot" (Michael Kindred, Wesley Curley Clark; arr. by Stevie Ray Vaughan) – 4:01
  6. "Tin Pan Alley" (Robert Geddins) – 9:12
  7. "Honey Bee" – 2:43
  8. "Stang's Swang" – 2:50
  9. "Empty Arms" – 3:28
  10. "Come On (Part III)" (Earl King) – 4:33
  11. "Look At Little Sister" (Hank Ballard) – 2:46
  12. "The Sky Is Crying" (previously unreleased 1984 version) (Elmore James) – 4:12
  13. "Hide Away" (Freddie King, Sonny Thompson) – 4:03
  14. "Give Me Back My Wig" (Theodore Roosevelt 'Hound Dog' Taylor) – 4:08
  15. "Boot Hill" (previously unreleased 1984 version) (Sly Williams) – 2:23
  16. "Wham!" (Lonnie Mack) – 2:27
  17. "Close To You" (Willie Dixon) – 3:11
  18. "Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix) – 6:49
  19. "Stang's Swang" (previously unreleased, alternate take) – 2:44

Disc 2
  1. "Testify" (Live) (The Isley Brothers) – 4:37
  2. "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" (Live) (Jimi Hendrix) – 11:53
  3. "The Things (That) I Used To Do" (Live) (Eddie Jones) – 5:30
  4. "Honey Bee" (Live) – 2:33
  5. "Couldn't Stand The Weather" (Live) – 4:53
  6. "Cold Shot" (Live) (Michael Kindred, W. C. Clark) – 4:05
  7. "Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place In Town)" (Live) (Robert Geddins) – 10:30
  8. "Love Struck Baby" (Live) – 3:01
  9. "Texas Flood" (Live) (Larry Davis, Joseph Wade Scott) – 8:21
  10. "Band Intros/Encores" - 1:18
  11. "Stang's Swang" (Live) – 3:07
  12. "Lenny" (Live) – 11:07
  13. "Pride and Joy" (Live) – 4:59

Charts
Chart (1983) Peak

position

New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 5
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24] 14
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 36
US Billboard 200[26] 31

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Platinum 15,000^
United States (RIAA)[29] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Personnel
Double Trouble
Additional personnel
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
2010 Legacy Edition issue
  • Photography – Jean Krettler, Robert Matheu, James Minchen III
  • Liner notes – Andy Aledort

Notes
  1. Album notes & March 1999, p. 5
  2. Prial & June 2006, p. 298
  3. Album notes & March 1999, p. 6
  4. Album notes & March 1999, p. 4
  5. Wolfgang's Vault 2011a
  6. The Ledger & August 1984, p. 20
  7. Wolfgang's Vault 2011b
  8. Wolfgang's Vault 2011c
  9. Der Spiegel & August 1984, p. 160
  10. The New York Times & October 1984
  11. Gregory & August 2003, p. 87
  12. Gregory & August 2003, p. 88
  13. Dickerson & September 2004, p. 64
  14. Allmusic 2009
  15. Christgau 2005
  16. Schinder & April 1999
  17. Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  18. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). "Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble". MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  19. Coleman, Mark; Ryan, Chris (2004). "AC/DC". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 4. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  20. "Couldn't Stand The Weather". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  21. Couldn't Stand the Weather - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-04-29
  22. "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 2137". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  23. "Charts.nz – Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble – {{{album}}}". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  24. "Norwegiancharts.com – Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble – {{{album}}}". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  25. "Swedishcharts.com – Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble – {{{album}}}". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  26. "Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  27. "Canadian album certifications – Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble – Couldn't Stand the Weather". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  28. "NZ Top 50 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 March 1985. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  29. "American album certifications – S.R. Vaughan & Double Trouble – Couldn't Stand the Weather". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

References
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