Stevie Ray Vaughn & Albert King
Ontario, Canada
1983

aka In Session

The In Session tapes were recorded for television station CHCH in Ontario, Canada in 1983 (the same year that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble's first disc, Texas Flood, was released).  The session almost didn't come off, because Albert King had no idea who SRV was, and wasn't about to share the stage with some nobody (Albert was notoriously cranky!  But after some cajoling and convincing, King finally recalled a skinny little kid he used to allow to sit in with him onstage whenever he'd pass through Austin, TX, on tour, from 1973 (when he and Stevie first met) through the early 80s.  Albert finally realized he was doing In Session with that same kid he only remembered so well as "Little Stevie"!  Good thing! Albert was one of Stevie Ray's idols (along w/Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix).  Stevie's style, even he admits, was born from copping many an Albert King lick. And during this session, we get to hear a lot of the banter between the two - Albert mentors Stevie and if you close your eyes and open your ears, you'll even hear Albert pass the blues torch to Stevie Ray.

The sound, especially the guitars, is pretty good.  King's sound is a bit right of center and thinner than Vaughan's, who seems to be dead center stage, with a heftier sound.  But this was not a guitar player showdown; Rather, this was a mutual respect thing between the king of the blues and the young guitar-slinging soon-to-be king of the blues (and while King definitely holds his own, even in holding back, Stevie wipes the floor with him).  In Session is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, "duelling with respect" blues guitar recordings ever made.  As is necessary with the blues, the use of dynamics is expertly navigated by Vaughan, King, and King's backing band (who are, by the way, excellent!).  Both SRV and King are, as it turns out, fine rhythm guitar/comp players, as well.  When one's a'smokin', the other is a'compin'.  Add keys, bass and drums, and all is well with the world...at least for 63 minutes and 53 seconds.

1. Stormy Monday
2. Old Times
3. Pride and Joy
4. Ask Me No Questions
5. Pep Talk
6. Blues at Sunrise
7. Turn It Over
8. Overall Junction
9. Match Box Blues
10. Who Is Stevie?
11. Don't Lie to Me
    

Albert King - Guitar / Vocals
Michael Llorens - Drums
Tony Llorens - Organ / Piano
Gus Thornton - Bass
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Guitar / Vocals

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