Customer Reviews
With this album, Stevie Ray dethroned Eddie Van Halen 
2006-12-06
The first time I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan on the radio, I thought it was Hendrix. And I think he ranks with Hendrix as one of the two greatest guitar players in Rock history.
From the late 1970s until this album came out, Eddie Van Halen seemed to be the undisputed King of Rock guitar. With this album, Stevie Ray Vaughan left no question as to who, among the living, was #1. Although, like Hendrix, Vaughan would be cut down in the prime of his life, he left gargantuan tracks. (Why is it always the best who die young? Why couldn't they have gotten Jon Bon Jovi in that helicopter? "C'mon Jon, there's a hairdresser on board. Yeah, yeah, get inside Jon!")
The album contains an excellent cover of Guitar Slim's blues tune "Things that I Used to Do," as well as divine original tracks such as "Scuttle Buttin", "Honey Bee" and the title track. But the CD's highlight for this reviewer is Vaughan's cover of Jimi Hendrix' "Voodoo Chile."
While Stevie Ray's musicianship really shines through on this CD, when I saw him live for the first time, opening up for Dire Straights at the Montreal Forum in the mid-80s, it was just jaw-dropping amazing! He blew Mark Knopfler and the boys off the stage. If you like the music on this CD and haven't seen Vaughan perform in concert, I highly recommend his Live at Montreux DVD.
Unoriginal, but enjoyable 
2006-03-30
Whether you know it or not, you've heard an LP like this before. But the difference between Couldn't Stand the Weather and other similar LP's; you'd be hard-pressed to find a better guitarist than Stevie. That being said, don't expect to shelve your Allman Brothers Band so you can devote your life to the music of SRV. However, you should expect to enjoy this every time you hear it.
The two finest cuts on this LP are the title track and Cold Shot. The latter was so good, it led me to buy the album when I heard it on the radio at a ribs joint. The title track would stand as the best to be found here, though the stop-start pattern is annoying. The two instrumentals that bookend the LP (Scuttle-Buttin' and Stang's Swang) are both solid, energetic and enjoyable, though not all that memorable.
One reason why I was looking forward to hearing this LP was for the cover of Hendrix's Voodoo Child (Slight Return), which has always been one of my favorite songs. And though bits of it cut too close to the original (something a cover should NOT do), it's still worth having around strictly for the guitar solos. Another great jam track is Tin Pan Alley, though it does drag a bit, still a nice piece of music!
If you're into the blues, pick this up, but don't expect the Revolution. (Speaking of which, that Prince vynil in the basement calls...)
Hendrixian Genius 2005-11-27
For a person who has so many opposite characteristics to Hendrix - white, right handed, slightly overweight Texan - he sure shows alot of similarities to the legendary guitarist; proof that looks, race and location have no effect on good music. His playing style consists of the same adventurous stage ploys- playing behind the back, through the legs, and everywhere else- while also containing the ability to go from hard hitting romps to soulful ballads and still be the master of the instrument. Hendix covers by SRV always stand up well to the original and stand as a tribute to the first master. "Voodoo Child" holds it's ground extremely well, but no one can do the opening wahwah riffs as well as Hendrix. After a only decent opening, the song opens up as a masterpeice that hits harder than the original.
While all roads apear to lead back to Hendrix, Vaughn's original peicies and covers of old blues songs are always amazing and original. "Cold Shot" and "Couldn't Stand The Weather" are quintessential blues guitar romps. "Tin Pan Alley" is in the style of Little Wing, but fairs extremely well on its own. "Scuttle Buttin" is an absolutely crazy opener and "Stang's Swang" is one of the first jazz songs by Vaughn-both highlights of the album. SRV made a name for himself with originality and brillance, often surpassing his inspiration. This album is my favorite Vaughn, followed closly by Texas Flood and should be picked up by any blues or hendrix fan (or anyone else who enjoys good music).
****1/2. Even better with bonus tracks 2005-06-10
While not quite matching the greatness of Stevie Ray Vaughan's debut album, "Couldn't Stand The Weather" is a terrific album in its own right.
It opens with one of Vaughan's best instrumentals, the fiery "Scuttle Buttin'", and while some may find that it relys too heavily on covers and instrumentals, Vaughan and the band do very well by W.C. CLark's "Cold Shot" and Eddie 'Guitar Slim' Jones' classic "The Things That I Used To Do".
And Stevie Ray's take on Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" works very well also, even if it does resemble the original quite a lot, and the nine-minute "Tin Pan Alley" (which appeared as a shorter bonus cut on the remastered "Texas Flood" CD) is a great example of what Vaughan could do both as a vocalist and a guitarist - with no sustain, fuzztone or overdrive.
The bonus tracks include an early version of "Look At Little Sister" (later to turn up, with added boogie piano, on "Soul To Soul"), a fiery rendition of Freddy King's classic instrumental "Hide Away", and an equally great take on Hound Dog Taylor's best song, "Give Me Back My Wig".
This CD is highly recommended to all lovers of electric blues and blues-rock, and anyone with a liking for innovative, non-hysterical blues and rock guitar. Four-and-a-half big, shiny stars.
Couldnt not stand this album 2005-04-17
like most of my reviews,i dont have much to say, but here..
Scuttlebuttin'...10/10
Couldn't Stand The Weather...10/10
Things That I Used To Do...9/10
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)...10/10
Cold Shot...10/10
Tin Pan Alley...10/10
Honey Bee...8/10
Stang's Swang...8/10
Hide Away...10/10
Look At Little Sister...9/10
Give Me Back My Wig...10/10
Come On (Pt. III)...10/10
The Best of his Era 2008-06-27
Blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughn tears it up in this, his sophomore effort with backing band Double Trouble. From the electrifying opening track "Scuttle Buttin'" to the jazzy "Stang's Swing" Vaughn shows why he was the premiere axman of his era. There may have been guitarists in the past who were more in touch with the raw emotion of the blues, but nobody can match his technique, his precision, and his fire. Other standouts include the title track (with its unusual timings) "Things That I Used to Do" (applying his lightning fingers to a slower blues) and the delicious "Cold Shot". Throughout, Vaughn does a creditable job with the vocals, and his backing band wisely stays out the way. He fails to come up with anything special for his cover of Hendrix' "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" but then, when has anyone ever managed to improve on Hendrix? A must for aficionados of blues guitar.
Good, but not his best 2008-02-07
This has never been one of my favorite releases from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. It's not bad by any stretch, but it never hooked me that way I would have liked. For example, "Scuttle Buttin'" is a decent opener, and a high energy one at that, but I've never thought it to be quite up to some of their other instrumental pieces. And, while a bit of Jimi Hendrix is always appreciated, his treatment of "Voodoo Chile" doesn't really offer up anything new and, so, is a bit disappointing.
None of these songs are bad. They just don't grab my attention the way SRV did with his debut, Texas Flood, or would again on later albums. There are some very strong points, however, such as the soulful slow blues of "Tin Pan Alley," which really is a top notch track.
This seems like a negative review...but I really like this album! It's just that I have high standards when it comes to SRV, and this one doesn't quite measure up to his best work. But it's still good!
The album sounds great, so it gets high marks for the remaster.
The bonus tracks are always a nice addition, but they just don't make a big impact on this one. "Hide Away" is relatively mild and "Look at Little Sister" doesn't come across as much different than the version on Soul to Soul. Decent additions...but not much that's above and beyond.
one of the best blues albums 2007-10-05
one of my friends was trying to get me to buy this cd and I was septical because if you have heard one blues artist you have heard them all right? WRONG! this guys is probubly the best "blues" guitar players I have ever heard. He is nothing like anything you have ever heard. This earns 10 stars even though there is only room for 5. If your into blues music, do your self a favor and pic up this album. it will imediatly become the one you compair all the others to. ENJOY!
Bluesy, Jazzy Vaughan Breaks From the Pack 2007-04-06
On Couldn't Stand The Weather, Stevie Ray Vaughan began to separate himself from every other modern bluesman with his distinct playing style.
On this record, you can hear a number of influences both individual and stylistic. The obvious Hendrix influence in a scorching version of "Voodoo Chile," Guitar Slim/Albert King/Albert Collins on "The Things That I Used To Do," and jazzy influenced "Tin Pan Alley" and "Stang's Swang." These, plus "Cold Shot" and the title cut elevated Vaughan to a different level than most of his contemporaries.
This is a fantastic blues/jazz album.
Better than Hendrix! 2006-12-16
I defy anyone to tell me SRV does NOT do a better shot at Voodoo Chile!!
The man FOREVER!!
