Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Universal Ampitheatre, Universal City (LA), California
November 21, 1984

One of the hottest SRV shows ever caught on tape IMHO!

Unknown cassette>Creative>Cdwave to split tracks>Flac

I have traded for this show several times trying to find the best quality recording I could get. This cassette is the best of the bunch. It is possible that there are 2 sources. IF YOU HAVE THE MASTER OR A VERY LOW GEN. COPY PLEASE POST IT!

Aud. See mp3 samples. I do not want to mislead anyone about the quality of the recording. In the samples, you can hear enthusiastic crowd response to exceptional playing. There is a fair bit of this in this recording. There is also some occasional yelling, but no regular screamers, talkers. For the most part, it is just an enthusiastic crowd being blown away. I still can only rate this VG- at the most, perhaps that is generous. If there was ever a show you should download with questionable sound, this is it.

Please read the following:

This is the latest installment in my ongoing effort to circulate lesser-known SRV recordings that represent the best available shows in terms of both performance and sound quality. I am focusing on shows that are not already widely traded, but that are worthy additions to any SRV fan's collection. These recordings are not "for completists only," but rather choice audience recordings from throughout Stevie's career with the intention of saving the collector time and trouble by drawing on the experience of hardcore collectors to bring you the best shows out of the hundreds available. This particular show was chosen for outstanding performance as opposed to sound quality. I'm really sorry I can't bring this to you with better quality. This recording has a little harshness in the top end, is missing some mids in the guitar tone, and needs a bit of boost in the lows. For now, I have left it as is.


I think it helps to put this show into historical perspective. Stevie went through several phases in his career. IMHO, the 1984 period was when he was at the absolute top of his game prior to his drug problems catching up with him. Stevie and Double Trouble played more gigs in 1983 and 1984 than they had ever played before. This was the last year for the classic trio format which went to a quartet during 85. Stevie Ray was the most badassed guitarist alive and he damn well knew it on this night. After 2 years of relentless touring and having just returned from the Australian/New Zealand tour, Stevie was in top form. Taking the stage in his red velvet mariachi outfit in front of an LA crowd of musicians, record executives and friends (he was living in LA at the time), Stevie held nothing back. This recording is a document of the peak of the trio in their post-recording contract era.
This is just a smoking perfomance. Were there a soundboard tape, it would be the holy grail.

Exceptional version of Voodoo Chile has a jam at the end with hints of "Drivin' South" and the "With the power of soul" groove, but never really goes into either.

The intro to CSW was cut in two places, the very first second or so is missing, and again after several seconds. I did my best to splice the intro onto the rest of the track.

Set List
01 Scuttle Buttin'
02 Say What! (early version)
03 Voodoo Chile (slight return)
04 King Bee
05 Mary Had a Little Lamb
06 Tin Pan Alley
07 Pride & Joy
08 Cold Shot
09 Couldn't Stand the Weather
10 Tell Me
11 Texas Flood
12 Band intros
13 Rude Mood
14 Stang's Swang
encores
15 Lenny (Stevie sat on a monitor smoking a big pipe)
16 Testify