Stevie Ray Vaughan Songs Ranked
Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, and one of the most influential guitarists in the revival of blues in the 1980s. He is commonly referred to as one of the greatest guitar players of all time. He played gigs with numerous bands, earning a spot in Marc Benno’s band the Nightcrawlers and later with Denny Freeman in the Cobras, with whom he continued to work through late 1977. He then formed his own group Triple Threat Revue, but he renamed them Double Trouble after hiring drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon. He gained fame after his performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982, and his debut studio album Texas Flood charted at number 38 in 1983, a commercially successful release that sold over half a million copies. Vaughan headlined concert tours with Jeff Beck in 1989 and Joe Cocker in 1990. He died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990, at the age of 35. In 1983, readers of Guitar Player voted him Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitar Player. In 1984, the Blues Foundation named him Entertainer of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year, and in 1987, Performance Magazine honored him with Rhythm and Blues Act of the Year. Here are all of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s songs ranked.
Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS SRV music below! Click to experience one of the greatest guitarists of ALL TIME!
20. Ain’t Gone ‘N’ Give Up On Love (Soul to Soul, 1985)
“This is so smooth. I prefer his faster, happier songs like Pride and Joy but this song is nice just to lay down, close your eyes and let this mellow sound wash over you. Lovely.”
19. Change It (Soul to Soul, 1985)
“I became a fan of SRV after watching his performance of Change It on SNL. SRV was a terrific musician and the on disk music was exactly the way it sounded live. This is important to me because I enjoy listening to music that is not studio enhanced, or music that uses synthesized backgrounds.”
18. Riviera Paradise (In Step, 1989)
“I was very surprised when I heard this song. It did not sound like the blues Stevie Ray Vaughan is best known for creating. This piece sounds more like smooth jazz than blues. If you can find this as an MP3 single, at a reasonable price, buy it, I don’t think you will be disappointed. “
17. Mary Had a Little Lamb (Texas Flood, 1983)
“What can I say…we’re talking about Stevie Ray Vaughan!!! He was such a GREAT musician!!! In my opinion, no one will ever be able to equal him in the talent he possessed. It’s great to listen to this song!!! Enjoyable to hear it!!!”
See more: Stevie Ray Vaughan Albums Ranked
16. Scuttle Buttin’ (Couldn’t Stand the Weather, 1984)
“It sounds very fast when you just listen, but when you see what he is doing on the frets of that guitar, and how fast his fingers are moving, it is simply jaw-dropping. I still don’t see how anyone could move their fingers and hands fast enough to play some of those riffs.”
15. Life Without You (Soul to Soul, 1985)
“What can I say, Stevie Ray’s song Life Without You was dedicated to me from the man I’m suppose to be with it. Every time I listen to this song I get butterflies deep inside.”
14. Love Struck Baby (Texas Flood, 1983)
“What can you say about a musical genius like Stevie Ray Vaughan? He was one of the very few great guitar players in the world. Best there is /need more like this but stevie is gone but his music will live forever”
13. Tin Pan Alley (Texas Flood, 1983)
“This is true blues. Stevie shows the blues is about soul, passion, and pain in this one. His guitar speaks this to us as much as the lyrics do here. Great tension in the “mood”. Clear sound, very juicy!”
12. Rude Mood (Texas Flood, 1983)
“Influences of blues and rock can be felt in his music even thou his was a completely unique style. If you’ve never heard his music and enjoy blues try it. Keep his legendary music alive.”
11. Crossfire (In Step, 1989)
“Great classic tune. I love this musician. He was a great artist that I grew up listening to. Had to have a song of his in my player even though the radio stations, around my area, play his music a lot. He was from around the area I grew up in.”
10. Couldn’t Stand the Weather (Couldn’t Stand the Weather, 1984)
“An amazingly cool lick… I think this song is the best of Stevie. The change of the scale in the song makes it perfect. This is the best song ever! The lick is amazing. Stevie was so creative with his composition!”
9. The Sky is Crying (The Sky is Crying, 1991)
“All his songs are GREAT but I like “the sky is falling the most don’t really know why but I could never get tired of listing it how every many times I heard it continuously.”
8. Tightrope (In Step, 1989)
“Clean riffs again, lyrics from his recovery uncover his soul with touching clarity. A tremendous album, unfortunately, his last. Some of the best guitar work and catchiest melodies I’ve ever heard.”
7. Life by the Drop (The Sky Is Crying, 1991)
“I listened to Stevie’s album for years now but this song is my most favorite, it sends chills down my spine every time I listen to it… Always want to hear it, again and again… A great song well done, most excellent 12-string. It just works”
See more: Mother of Invention Albums Ranked
6. Cold Shot (Couldn’t Stand the Weather, 1984)
“I can’t go one day without listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. His voice mesmerizes me. He is such an inspiration for any artists and he makes a really good point about drug & alcohol abuse.”
5. Little Wing (Couldn’t Stand the Weather, 1984)
“This song is what got me into blues and blues-rock. Absolutely mesmerizing guitar solo. Easily his best song. Even though it’s a cover… it’s so amazing”
4. Lenny (Texas Flood, 1983)
“Outstanding song! There’s so much passion in the way that he plays Lenny. It sounds like no other song in the world. Check out the live at carnegie hall performance. It’ll blow you away”
3. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Texas Flood, 1983)
“The only player who could play it at a fast pace and still sound amazing. This dude by far one of the best players voodoo Child was the best song ever.”
2. Texas Flood (Texas Flood, 1983)
“It’s intangible. I’ve heard it a thousand times and I’ll probably hear it another thousand before I begin to get tired of it. A beautifully simple and classic example of perfectly executed blues. Won’t ever stop loving it.”
1. Pride and Joy (Texas Flood, 1983)
“He did some amazing Hendrix covers, but as far as an original, this song is my favorite – Blues on steroids! This is one of Stevie’s finest guitar solos. His energy and passion for the blues truly shine in this song!”