Sometimes overshadowed by his deceased younger brother Billy Ray, Jimmie Vaughan is given his due in this sumptuous boxed set of cds/lps/books that oversees his career from the days of pre-Fabulous Thunderbirds to the present day. It’s a blues and boogie treasure trove that gives tribute not only to the Fender-bending guitarist/vocalist, but the distinct shuffling sound of Austin juke joints.
The heart of this collection is a 5 cd anthology, starting with two discs of The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ albums, including a healthy blue plate portion of material from The Fabulous Thunderbirds, What’s The Word and Butt Rockin’. Things get real fresh with an unreleased 1979 gig at Antoine’s and other unknown locations, with Vaughan wailing on”Wait On Time” and “Matilda”. At the end of the second disc are some hot summits with Albert Collins (“Cold, Cold Feeling”), Jimmy Rogers (“You’re Sweet) and an irresistible teaming with brother Billy Ray on gun slingers “Good Texan” and “D/FW”. The third disc starts his solo career, with a rib sticking selection from the classic Strange Pleasure including “Boom Bapa Boom”, Don’t Ca Know” and “Hey Yeah” before a series of cruising bluesing meetings occur with Bo Diddley (“He’s Got A Key”), and a who’s who for a pair of wailing tunes with Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, BB King, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Art Neville. John Lee Hooker sounds inspired with Vaughan on “Boom Boom” and Susan Tedeschi is earth toned on a rollicking “Let The Good Times Roll”. Disc Four has some unreleased gems combined with material from his under-appreciated pair of Blues, Ballads and Favorites, including “Why, Why, Why” and “What Makes You So Tough”. The last disc emphasizes Vaughan at his most comfortable, in a sweaty club, jamming with Billy F Gibbons on “Wine, Wine, Wine” or belting it out with Soul Man Sam during “Hoochie Coochie Man” along with some material from Storm, such as the jazzy “Coming Home”.
The fun extras include a nifty thick book filled with photos and liner notes, a photo album of Vaughan’s hot rods, and for you vinyl fans there are a couple 45 rpms of Vaughan with a smoky B3 combo on “Don’t Let The Sun Set” in two parts and “Roll, Roll, Roll”/Out Of the Shadows” as well as a vintage Blue Note looking lp of ten V8 cruising specials.
This set, like Vaughan’s music, is fun, timeless and hits to the heart and soul of what you like about American music.