Texas Flood

Stevie Ray’s 1983 debut album made him an unlikely star, slinging Jimi Hendrix-meets-Albert King blues in the era of synths and drum machines. Vaughan displays some superhuman chops on barnburners like “Rude Mood” and his funky instrumental take on The Isley Brothers’ “Testify.” But it’s the way he pours every ounce of his soul into his leads, especially on slower tunes like the gentle “Lenny,” that marks him as one of the most gifted guitar stylists of his era—in both blues and rock.