ROCK MOMENT – Stevie Ray Vaughan ‘Pride and Joy’
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Pride and Joy’ is not only his most famous song, but also the track that introduced his raw Texas blues sound to a worldwide audience. The song was written in the late 1970s, inspired by a woman Vaughan was dating at the time, and follows the classic blues theme of devotion and admiration. While the lyrics are simple, the driving shuffle rhythm and Vaughan’s fierce guitar tone turned it into something unforgettable.
The definitive recording of ‘Pride and Joy’ appears on Vaughan’s 1983 debut album with Double Trouble, Texas Flood. The story behind the album’s creation is legendary. In 1982, Vaughan and Double Trouble performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where their set divided the audience but caught the attention of David Bowie and producer Jackson Browne. Bowie later invited Vaughan to play on his Let’s Dance album, and Browne offered him free studio time at his Downtown Studio in Los Angeles.
Much of Texas Flood, including ‘Pride and Joy,’ was recorded quickly and almost live in the studio, with Vaughan on guitar, Tommy Shannon on bass, and Chris Layton on drums playing together in the same room. This approach captured the band’s natural chemistry and the explosive energy of their stage performances. Vaughan used his famous 1959 Fender Stratocaster, tuned down a half step, plugged into cranked Fender and Marshall amplifiers, producing the thick, biting tone that became his trademark. The shuffle rhythm of “Pride and Joy” was laid down in just a few takes, emphasizing feel and groove over studio polish.
Released as a single in 1983, ‘Pride and Joy’ became Vaughan’s first major hit, reaching the Top 20 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and receiving heavy MTV airplay. Its success helped push Texas Flood to platinum status and launched Vaughan into stardom, playing a major role in the 1980s blues revival.
Today, ‘Pride and Joy’ is considered a modern blues standard. Its powerful recording, captured with minimal studio trickery and maximum soul, stands as a perfect snapshot of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble at their raw, electrifying best.
