Stevie Ray Vaughan was one of the key figures in the blues revival of the 1980s. A Texas-born guitarist with a ferocious but deeply rooted style, he brought traditional electric blues to a much larger rock audience with his band Double Trouble. After the breakthrough of Texas Flood in 1983, he quickly became known as one of the era’s outstanding guitar players.
Cold Shot
“Cold Shot” appeared on the 1984 album Couldn’t Stand the Weather. It wasn’t written by Vaughan—it was written by Michael Kindred and W. C. Clark, whom Vaughan knew from the Austin music scene—but SRV made it very much his own. The song’s tight, funky guitar riff, restrained vocals and simmering rhythm give it a wonderfully bitter breakup feel.
- Album: Couldn’t Stand the Weather (1984)
- Band: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
- Style: Texas blues / blues-rock / R&B
- Writers: Michael Kindred and W. C. Clark
- Notable feature: A strong, rhythmic guitar groove rather than a nonstop guitar showcase
- Live connection: “Cold Shot” remained an important part of SRV’s concert repertoire; a 1984 performance from Montreal was later released officially.
SRV was great, still is!