In the Beginning

This 1980 live broadcast from Austin, TX captures a young Stevie Vaughan (he had yet to become Stevie Ray) blasting the hometown crowd with a style that was already very well-formed. With Chris Layton on drums and bassist Jackie Newhouse (Tommy Shannon would join up a year later), his basic sound was already in place, albeit still in need of some polishing. Taken from the surviving two-track master, Vaughan's guitar is raw and in your face every note of the way. His takes on Freddie King's "In the Open" and the lengthy "Tin Pan Alley" are the real highlights here. Fans of this mercurial guitarist will want to add this one to the collection. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide