The Sky Is Crying (album)

Last updated
The Sky Is Crying
SRVtheskyiscrying.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 5, 1991 (1991-11-05)
RecordedJanuary 1984 – May 1989
Genre
Length38:28
Label Epic
Compiler Jimmie Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble chronology
In Step
(1989)
The Sky Is Crying
(1991)
In the Beginning
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [2]
The Great Rock Discography 7/10 [3]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]

The Sky Is Crying is the fifth and final studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, compiling songs recorded throughout most of their career. Released 14 months [5] after Vaughan's death in 1990, the album features ten previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1984 and 1989. Only one title, "Empty Arms" (complete reprisal), appeared on any of the group's previous albums. The tracks were compiled by Vaughan's brother, Jimmie Vaughan, and was Vaughan's highest charting album at number 10. [5]

Contents

The album received mostly positive reviews. Critics praised the blues and jazz styles, and the solid track listing, but criticized the lack of original songs.

The Sky Is Crying illustrates many of Vaughan's musical influences, including songs in the style of traditional Delta blues, Texas blues, Chicago blues, jump blues, jazz blues, and Jimi Hendrix's blues-rock. The album's tone alternates primarily between uptempo pieces and gritty, slow blues. The album includes a Grammy-winning extended instrumental cover version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing"; Kenny Burrell's "Chitlins con Carne", a jazz instrumental; and, "Life by the Drop", a song written by Vaughan's friend Doyle Bramhall and played on a twelve-string acoustic guitar.

Track listing

Album details are taken from the original 1991 Epic Records CD liner notes and may differ from other sources; [6] track timings are from the AllMusic album review. [1]

  1. "Boot Hill" (Unknown) [7] – 2:15
  2. "The Sky Is Crying" (Elmore James, Morris Levy, Clarence Lewis) – 4:38
  3. "Empty Arms" (Stevie Ray Vaughan) – 3:31
  4. "Little Wing" (instrumental) (Jimi Hendrix) – 6:50
  5. "Wham" (instrumental) (Lonnie Mack) – 2:27
  6. "May I Have a Talk with You" (Chester Burnett a.k.a. Howlin' Wolf) – 5:50
  7. "Close to You" (Willie Dixon) – 3:13
  8. "Chitlins con Carne" (instrumental) (Kenny Burrell) – 3:59
  9. "So Excited" (instrumental) (Vaughan) – 3:32
  10. "Life by the Drop" (Doyle Bramhall, Barbara Logan) – 2:27

Personnel

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Production

Recorded at Kiva Studios, Memphis, Tennessee, 2/89–4/89
Engineered by Jim Gaines and Richard Mullen
Assistant engineers – Evan Rush, Danny Jones
Recorded at The Dallas Sound Lab, Dallas, Texas, 3/85–5/85
Engineered by Richard Mullen
Assistant engineer – Ron Cote
Recorded at The Power Station, New York City, 1/84–2/84
Engineered by Richard Mullen
Assistant engineer – Rob Eaton
Recorded at Sound Castle Studios, Los Angeles, 4/89–5/89

Charts

Chart (1991–1992)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [8] 33
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [9] 15
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] 74
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [11] 18
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [12] 20
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [13] 16
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [14] 46
US Billboard 200 [15] 10

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [16] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [17] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Ray Vaughan</span> American blues guitarist (1954–1990)

Stephen Ray Vaughan was an American musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Although his mainstream career spanned only seven years, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the history of blues music, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was the younger brother of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.

<i>Texas Flood</i> 1983 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Texas Flood is the debut studio album by the American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released on June 13, 1983, by Epic Records. The album was named after a cover song featured on the album, "Texas Flood", which was first recorded by blues singer Larry Davis in 1958. Produced by the band and recording engineer Richard Mullen, Texas Flood was recorded in the space of three days at Jackson Browne's personal recording studio in Los Angeles. Vaughan wrote six of the album's ten tracks.

<i>In Step</i> 1989 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

In Step is the fourth studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released in 1989. The title In Step can be seen as referring to Vaughan's new-found sobriety, following the years of drug and alcohol use that eventually led Vaughan into rehabilitation. It was also Vaughan's final album with Double Trouble and the last album to be released during his lifetime. In 1990, he recorded an album with his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, called Family Style; later that same year, Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash.

<i>Couldnt Stand the Weather</i> 1984 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

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.

<i>Soul to Soul</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Soul to Soul is the third studio album by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble released on September 30, 1985, by Epic Records. Recording sessions took place between March and May 1985 at the Dallas Sound Lab in Dallas, Texas. Vaughan wrote four of Soul to Soul's ten tracks; two songs were released as singles. The album went to #34 on the Billboard 200 chart and the music video for "Change It" received regular rotation on MTV. In 1999, a reissue of the album was released, which includes an audio interview segment and two studio outtakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Shannon</span> American bass guitarist (born 1946)

Tommy Shannon is an American bass guitarist, who is best known as a member of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Shannon moved to Dumas, Texas when he was nine, where he originally started as a guitarist, though he started playing bass at the age of 21. He appeared with Johnny Winter at Woodstock in 1969. He later joined Double Trouble in 1981 and became a permanent member of Double Trouble until Vaughan's death in 1990. Shannon and bandmate Chris Layton later formed supergroups such as the Arc Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voodoo Child (Slight Return)</span> Song written by Jimi Hendrix

"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1968 that appears as the final track on the groups's third studio album, Electric Ladyland, released that year. It contains improvised guitar and a vocal from Hendrix, backed by Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The song is one of Hendrix's best known; it was a feature of his concert performances throughout his career, and several live renditions were recorded and released on later albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Trouble (band)</span> American blues rock band

Double Trouble is an American blues rock band from Austin, Texas, which served as the backing band for singer-guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. The group was active throughout the 1980s and contributed to reviving blues music, inspiring many later blues and rock acts. Formed in Austin, Texas in 1978, the group went through several early line-up changes before settling on a power trio consisting of Vaughan, Chris Layton (drums), Tommy Shannon (bass). They became a four-piece by 1985 after adding Reese Wynans (keyboards). Whilst with Vaughan they were billed Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Rooted in blues and rock music, the group worked in various genres ranging from ballads to soul, often incorporating jazz and other musical elements.

<i>Live at Carnegie Hall</i> (Stevie Ray Vaughan album) 1997 live album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Live at Carnegie Hall is the third live album by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released by Epic Records in July 1997. The album consists of live selections from their sold-out October 4, 1984, benefit concert at Carnegie Hall for the T.J. Martell Foundation. Backed by a ten-piece big band for the second half of the event, Vaughan had celebrated his thirtieth birthday the night before, and called the concert his "best birthday ever, forever". The band's double-set performance, which included several blues and R&B standards, was highly successful, receiving mostly positive reviews from music critics.

<i>Live Alive</i> 1986 live album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Live Alive is the first live album compiled from four live performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. The performances were recorded on July 15, 1985 at the Montreux Jazz Festival; July 17–18, 1986 at the Austin Opera House; and July 19, 1986 at Dallas Starfest. Much of the album was overdubbed in the studio.

"Lenny" is the tenth and final track on the first Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble album Texas Flood. The song is in 4/4 time and notated in the key of E flat major. It is played very slowly and freely, with Vaughan alternating between jazz-inflected chords and solo runs. The main chord featured in the song is a movable major 6th chord to which Vaughan applies moderate vibrato with the tremolo bar. The solos incorporate the E major scale, the E minor pentatonic scale, and the E Minor blues scale. Its style is influenced by Jimi Hendrix ballads like "The Wind Cries Mary". The song was written and named for Vaughan's wife at the time, Lenora. Vaughan also named one of his guitars "Lenny", which he used on "Lenny" and on his later instrumental ballad, "Riviera Paradise". The track was often played at live shows.

<i>The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble is a compilation album of recorded material by American singer, songwriter and guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and his backing band Double Trouble, released in 2002. The album was released by Epic Records and includes songs from 1980 to 1990 including several live tracks on two discs. In 2008, the album was re-released as part of the Limited Edition 3.0 series, with a third bonus disc containing six additional songs culled from studio albums.

"Third Stone from the Sun" is a mostly instrumental composition by American musician Jimi Hendrix. It incorporates several musical approaches, including jazz and psychedelic rock, with brief spoken passages. The title reflects Hendrix's interest in science fiction and is a reference to Earth in its position as the third planet away from the sun in the solar system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Bramhall</span> American musician (1949–2011)

Doyle Bramhall Sr. was an American blues singer, guitarist and drummer with deep roots in the Austin, Texas music scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour</span> 1984–1985 concert tour

The Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour was a worldwide concert tour by blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Produced in support of their 1984 album Couldn't Stand the Weather, the tour visited North America, Europe, Australasia and Japan from 1984 to 1985. To reflect the new musical direction that the group took with Couldn't Stand the Weather, the tour was aimed to differ from their past and surpass expectations of the band. In comparison to Vaughan and Double Trouble's modest stage setup from the previous Texas Flood Tour, the Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour involved a slightly more elaborate production. It utilized grander amplifier setups and sound systems to take advantage of the larger venues in which they performed. To avoid their renowned strictly blues material, Vaughan and Double Trouble embodied a more expanded and varied repertoire during performances. In disparity to the previous tour, each of the Couldn't Stand the Weather shows opened with mostly the same three songs before other material was played. The album and the tour were the beginnings of the group's mid-eighties musical development.

<i>The Real Deal: Greatest Hits Volume 2</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Stevie Ray Vaughan

The Real Deal: Greatest Hits, Volume 2 is a compilation album of material by Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1999. The album was released by Epic Records and includes material from the five studio albums he released with Double Trouble as well as live material and collaborations with brother Jimmie and surf guitarist Dick Dale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Ray Vaughan discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and the frontman for the band Double Trouble. He is often regarded as one of the greatest guitarists and blues musicians of all time. During his career, he released four studio albums, one live album, and several singles.

<i>Live from Austin, Texas</i> (Stevie Ray Vaughan video) 1995 video by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Live from Austin, Texas is a live video by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. It is a retrospective of the band's two performances on Austin City Limits in 1983 and 1989. The film was released as a DVD on September 3, 1997.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Stevie Ray Vaughan album) Compilation album by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble released in 1995. It was also released on vinyl in the U.S.

<i>Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985</i> 2001 live album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985 is the fourth live album of American blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 17, 1982 and July 15, 1985, and released November 20, 2001 on Epic Records. Neither are complete concerts.

References

  1. 1 2 Huey, Steve. "Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan: The Sky Is Crying Review". AllMusic . Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  2. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble" . Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  3. Strong, Martin (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 1611. ISBN   1-84195-615-5.
  4. Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings . Penguin. p. 668. ISBN   978-0-140-51384-4.
  5. 1 2 "How 'The Sky Is Crying' Celebrated Stevie Ray Vaughan". Ultimate Classic Rock. 6 November 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  6. Forte, Dan (1991). The Sky Is Crying (Album notes). Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. New York City: Epic Records. pp. 2, 4. EK 47390.
  7. "Boot Hill" was recorded by the little-known Sly Williams (possibly a pseudonym) around 1958–1959 and released on the Jimmy Witherspoon album Stormy Monday and Other Blues (early 1960s, Sutton Records 316); Johnny Winter recorded a version for Guitar Slinger (1984) that also shows "Unknown" for the songwriter's credit.
  8. "Australiancharts.com – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  9. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2041". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  11. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  12. "Charts.nz – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  13. "Norwegiancharts.com – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  14. "Swedishcharts.com – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  15. "Stevie Ray Vaughan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  16. "Canadian album certifications – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying". Music Canada.
  17. "American album certifications – S.R. Vaughan & Double Trouble – The Sky Is Crying". Recording Industry Association of America.