Stevie Ray Vaughan - Little Wing (07/11/1983)

El Mocambo, Toronto-Canadá(07/11/1983)

[LiveWireRemoteRec]

I was fortunate to be the recording engineer on this show for CITY TV in Toronto. It was recorded on 16 track 2" analog tape. We were set up in a cube van out on the street in front of the club. It was about 90F that night, really hot and humid. Interesting trivia: Stevie had received a bad shock at a gig the night before, so his road crew had us go out to a nearby hardware store and purchase 6 feet of rubber pipe insulator to cover his mic stand so his guitar strings could not possibly touch the metal part of the stand. I was also lucky to be the recording engineer five months later at CHCH-TV in Hamilton to tape SRV with Albert King for an episode of "In Session". Two days I'll never forget. By the way, the El Mocambo is reopening this summer after being shuttered for several years. It's going to be an amazing venue. Legendary audio architect John Storyk is doing the acoustical design, and they are building a 24 track analog control room on the third floor. The engineer will be the legendary Eddie Kramer (all the Hendrix albums, Woodstock soundtrack, Led Zeppelin II, etc). He's been living in Toronto for over a year now.

[suba]

Playing this on 13 gauge strings with a very high action basically means Stevie had hydraulic pistons for fingers.

[MatthewScottmusic]

One of the greatest guitar performances of ALL TIME!

[dwain]

This guy wasn't human. Something supernatural is flowing through him. He doesn't even think about what he's gonna play next it just pours out. Unquestionably the greatest I've ever seen or heard play a guitar.

[jodybarnes]

353 people disliked this...I can't even comprehend the horrific place you have to be in your life for that to occur.

[poohkie]

listening in memory of my dad who gained his wings tonight 💜

[lextownes]

I accidentally saw him in 1985. He opened for the Moody Blues. Nobody was ready for the absolute assault on the senses that was SRV. The entire arena just stopped and had that WTF is happening look on their faces. It took me years to even begin to understand the greatness I was privileged to have witnessed that night.
RIP my recovery brother!!

[SuperStrik]

Nobody covered Hendrix like Stevie. It was like he was channeling Jimi and putting his own spin on it at the same time. Incredible.

[manfran]

This is a finely tuned instrument playing a guitar. This is an example of what happens when there's no separation between the desire to strike a note and the note that's struck. This is a melding that's as rare as it is beautiful. This is a master class in 7 minutes, and a wonder to behold. 30 years, man. Damn. Sail on, Stevie Ray.

[BlaineCreek]

IMO, this is the best guitarist of all time.

[taylor]

I was there and the reason it's so quiet is because everyone was in shock.

[stefancarter]

If Jimi and SRV could have played together...

[nicholasmercado]

You could never learn this….you’re born with this

[branon]

Imagine waking up knowing you could play the guitar like that....he was incredible, absolutely incredible....

[AndrewWesthoff]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, interpreted by one of the most legendary axe slayers in history.

[TheFrench]

One Man, One Guitar, One, Unique Sound!: One of the Best, if not "The Greatest Guitarist's that ever Lived!" Unique and sorely missed 💔

[raybayer]

These people who give thumbs down know absolutely nothing about music. Nothing whatsoever...

[achlieber]

No one played a more ferocious guitar than Stevie Ray. The first time I saw him on Austin City Limits, my jaw dropped to the floor.

[gharplays]

Ladies and Gentleman, SRV turned a 2 minute song into a 7 minute song, with the extra 5 minutes being one of the most amazing solos ever played!

[willpable]

His vibrato is so harshly intense but so soft and intricate at the same time, amazing.