I love all of Stevie's upbeat rockers with his satisfyingly fluid guitar work that flows like a river with a mission. This particular album, which expresses many things he had learned while struggling with the addictions of show biz fast lane life, is perfection. There's an understanding of life well lived that oozes through the most down to earth blues feelings you can find. And when Riviera Paradise comes on, it literally transports you to a place of receptiveness... where you can accept yourself, both strengths and weaknesses, and allow the better life that's available for anyone that will let it in.

It's so unfortunate for us that Stevie Ray was taken so suddenly; so soon. But it's clear from this album that he was intact and ready for anything. And when you take in his entire catalog of recorded music, you experience a man on a journey, who, no matter what he was going through, was always able to speak volumes through his guitar, and who's wonderfully unique voice (which I think sometimes is overshadowed by the guitar virtuosity) has the perfect man-on-the-street way of letting us all relate. If you like blues at all, this is an absolute must. Also, if you're not a blues fan, try starting with Riviera Paradise. Several times I have played that cut for people who have said they wouldn't be interested in SRV. I haven't told them what or who it was... just let it play. It's ALWAYS met with ooohs and ahhhs. "Who is that?" "What CD is that on?" They then have to hear more from the creator of that slice of heaven.

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:


life without stevie  Dec 07, 1999 By Mikey C.
everytime i hear the live recording on life without you i get all choked up. stevie played every note from some other source, he had a superhuman quality to channel emotion into a piece of wood and strings to produce the most incredible music ever played... the blues. stevie was the modern ambassador of the blues, and he brought it home to me, especially through this album. thanks Stevie.

13 of 16 found the following review helpful:


His best album and one of my top 5  Oct 19, 1999
I knew of Crossfire and Walkin' the Tightrope from the radio, and The House is Rockin' from sports stadiums. But it's the blues and Wall of Denial that blew me away. Buddy Guy's Leave My Girl Alone and Howlin Wolf's Love Me Darlin' (Or is that the real May I Have a Talk With You?) are emotion-tinged rock blues at its best. My only disappointment about these songs was their length. (I envisioned both songs as 9 minute jam sessions, but that would've tired the other bandmates out.) Whereas I liked the original Leave My Girl Alone for Buddy's screaming, Stevie's guitar solo did the trick for me here. As for Wall of Denial, this song transcends substance abuse. Sometimes I get angry at women for not wanting to date me for whatever reason, and I build up my own wall instead of buiilding up a new relationship. While I still struggle in tearing down my wall the way Stevie tore down his in late '86 and early '87, I know that it's going to "tumble down to the ground" eventually. As for the extra tracks, they speak for themselves. I don't have Soul to Soul yet (don't ask me why), so before I bought the remastered In Step, my only way of hearing Life Without You was in the snippet on VH1 Legends where he talked about his troubles. After hearing this version of Life Without You, I stood still for 10 minutes because I was so mesmerized by his rap and the two blistering solos where he hit some incredible high notes that I didn't think he was capable of hitting. The first time I played it at home, I sang the opening lyric differently: "Well hello Stevie, tell me how have you been, we all have missed you and the way you grin..." If any artist dares think about covering Life Without You, I wouuld strongly suggest using this lyric at the start. Rave On Stevie, and I'll see you someday at the real Great Gig in the Sky.

7 of 8 found the following review helpful:


Life begins at 50  Jun 27, 2001 By James R Martin
I first heard about SRV from a friend I was visiting in Austin Texas in 1977; but it wasn't until last year that I took the time to listen to his music, tuning in to a 2 hour special on Sydney's progressive radio station 2JJJ FM. I was totally amazed. I'd always loved the blues, but listening to Stevie I realised he'd taken the music somewhere it was meant to go, but had never been before. Mournful, moving, gutsy, fluid, intricate beyond belief, but every note spot on. And what a range of styles - R&B, rock, rockabilly, jazz, psychedelic - all played better than anyone had ever played them before. Soul max. I would never have believed that any guitarist could master Hendrix, let alone rework him into something even more marvellous. But Stevie could do just that, from Voodoo Chile to Little Wing and on through Third Stone from the Sun. Out of this world, and yet right from the heart of it at the same time. If you like the blues, or any kind of electric guitar, then there is no better place to start than with his last studio album In Step. Just check out his cover of Buddy Guy's Leave My Girl Alone and his own Riviera Paradise for starters. You'll be back for more. Like every fan I ache to think where he would have taken us if still around. But his legacy is incredible, and I know some day some kid is gonna come along and do to Stevie what he did to Jimi and all other guitar kings (Albert, Freddy, BB and so many more). That I should live so long!

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