The Fabulous Thunderbirds – The Jimmie Vaughan Years: Complete Studio Recordings 1978-1989 – 4 CD Boxed Set
This is a comprehensive boxed set of the early Austin, TX band The Fabulous Thunderbirds when Grammy Award-winning guitarist/bassist/vocalist Jimmie Vaughan & lead vocalist Kim Wilson (harmonica) were behind the controls. The door to their bluesy music opens with 13 rare, unreleased pieces the band recorded in 1978 for the legendary songwriter Doc Pomus. It was an album that never hit the record bins.
There’s a lot to digest on the 4 albums that make up The Fabulous Thunderbirds – The Jimmie Vaughan Years: Complete Studio Recordings 1978-1989 – 4 CD Boxed Set – (Dropped December 11/Last Music Co). Quite an impressive package. CD #1 gets off to a more traditional blues start rather than the more commercially decorated, well-arranged blues pieces down along the “Tuff Enough” era (CD #3).
Mainstream? Blues isn’t mainstream music. Being popular doesn’t mean it’s mainstream. These early cuts are down & dirty Night Train wine, sitting on the street curb rather than in an easy chair with Tennessee whiskey.
The lead guitar grips with precision. The vocals penetrate. There’s more weight to these numbers; the grain is still rough & there’s no polyurethane application. There are moments when the band cooks greasily like the J. Geils Band or Savoy Brown, but they’re still Thunderbirds. “I Searched All Over” is bluesy-soulful with good horns. “I Can’t Quit You Baby” is juke-joint atmosphere with a beer-heavy aroma circa 1930. Nice nostalgic sound, rural flavor with a pinch of Chicago. All threaded with a tight blues guitar. A hot sax percolates “I Got Eyes,” & it keeps the tunes deliciously varied.
A swampy pop hit from 1958 for Cajun singer Rod Bernard was an excellent choice to redecorate as blues. “This Could Go On Forever” is a pleasant surprise. A steamy harmonica is sprinkled throughout each LP. Especially wonderful on “Pecker Wrecker” – a standout.
By the 2nd LP (still CD #1), the “entertainment” quotient rises. Despite some elementary song titles, the band captures the groove like an Orca on a seal. There are stinkers, but that’s what happens with intensive projects. A barrelful of apples will always have some worms. The playing is sharp, but some choice of material falters (“She’s Tough”). This plods as if wearing heavy boots in deep snow. “Marked Deck” is better. They did get away from the more traditional blues drive, produced more tightly, arranged more heavily in a more precise blues idiom. And this is generally where the group has stayed their entire career. Unlike, say, the late Duster Bennett, the John Mayall groups, or the Butterfield Blues Band.
“Runnin’ Shoes” starts CD #2. Invigorating with jangly guitars & a persistent beat. In a perfect world, this would’ve charted. From the “Butt Rockin’” LP is the energetic “I Believe I’m In Love,” with its melodic harmonica flourish straight out of The Blasters oeuvre. This will happen again. With “One’s Too Many,” Kim Wilson & the band visit the swoony tradition of Dr. John’s musical flavor. Whereas “Give Me All Your Lovin’” & “Roll, Roll, Roll,” both have an Allan Toussaint horn vibe mixed brilliantly with a Creedence Clearwater Revival crackle.
CD #3 opens with songs closer to the “sound” of what’s become the signature sound of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Far better produced material that would appeal to an audience beyond aficionados. Three cuts border on novelty. But the groove & vibe are wonderfully thick on “The Monkey,” & the doo-wop drenched “Diddy Wah Diddy.” However, “Why Get Up” is silly & “Poor Boy” is cringeworthy. This first version of “Tell Me” redeems it. The hit “Tuff Enuff” is the motherlode. It’ll loosen the wax in your ears. Yes, there’s a slight Z.Z. Top angle to performance, but it’s rich with lots of FT indulgence.
A return to The Blasters’ recipe with melodic harmonica & driving backup voices is delightfully reworked on “Tell Me” & “I Don’t Care.” The all-out rocker “Look At That, Look At That” is smokin’. Barrelhouse upright piano, accentuated by harmonica with hard sticking beats. Excellent. Kim Wilson brings the temperature down on the bluesy & soulful Boz Scaggs-oriented “Two Time My Lovin’.’” No one said the band didn’t have taste.
The ambitious showcase concludes with CD #4, which opens with “Hot Number,” a rollicking, well-arranged blues romp. Songs on this set have good saxes, mediocre balladry, but exceptional rockin’ blues with tunes like “It Comes To Me Naturally.” The stylistic “How Do You Spell Love” has a disciplined Huey Lewis groove & lots of juke joint atmosphere. Wilson’s vocals are at their best with soaring guitar notes, icy & assured. Despite the capable music, barrelhouse piano runs, well-conveyed riffs & interesting performances, there are no bullseyes on this collection like “Tuff Enuff.”
“Don’t Bother Tryin’ To Steal Her Love” has excellent guitar interplay & a drivin’ Chuck Berry melodic swipe (“You Never Can Tell”) that weaves in & out of the Thunderbirds performance. “Rock This Place” actually sounds like a modern-day Chuck Berry guitar. Excellent rocker. A little retro but not vintage.
Kim Wilson manages to sing each song with good intonation & phrasing. His voice isn’t weathered, gruff, or slurry. He allows listeners to understand what he’s singing & that may be the only criticism. He isn’t Mick Jagger, as warmly dynamic as John Hammond, or as gritty as the late John Campbell or John Lee Hooker. But Kim’s blues are of a more exciting voice than the late, great guitarist Roy Buchanan, who was a bit disengaged & maudlin with his voice.
This set is like tiramisu. Great pastry. But you can’t eat too many. Taken in lighter doses, the appreciation will be savored. Lots of good songs. Not all are blues-melancholy in nature & that’s where the blues “entertainment” is.
Highlights – CD #1 (24 Tracks): “Dirty Work Is Going On,” “The Things I Forgot To Do,” “I Searched All Over,” “I Can’t Quit You Baby,” “I Got Eyes,” “This Should Go On Forever,” “Pecker Wrecker,” “Wait On Time,” “Pocket Rocket,” “Marked Deck,” & ”C-Boy Blues.”
CD #2: (23 Tracks): “Runnin’ Shoes,” “You Ain’t Nuthin’ But Fine,” “Learn To Treat Me Right,” “I Believe I’m In Love,” “One’s Too Many,” “Give Me All Your Lovin’,” & “Roll, Roll, Roll.”
CD #3: (22 Tracks): “Can’t Tear It Up Enuff,” “The Monkey,” “Diddy Wah Diddy,” “Tell Me,” “Tuff Enuff,” “Tell Me,” (from “Tuff Enuff” LP), “Look At That, Look At That,” “Two Time My Lovin,’” & “I Don’t Care.”
CD #4: (Tracks 19): “Hot Number,” “It Come To Me Naturally,” “How Do You Spell Love,” “Don’t Bother Tryin’ To Steal Her Love,” “It Takes a Big Man To Cry,” “Rock This Place,” “Knock Yourself Out,” “One Night Stand,” “Powerful Stuff,” (with the Memphis Horns), & “Close Together.”
Musicians – CD #1 (79:10) – “The Doc Pomus Recordings 1978” (13 tracks) – Produced by Doc Pomus & Joel Dorn. Keith Ferguson (bass), Mike Buck (drums), Al Copley (piano/keys), Doug James, Greg Piccolo, Rich Lataille (saxes). In 1979: “The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Girls Go Wild)” (11 tracks): – Same musicians as Doc Pomus LP – Produced by Denny Bruce & recorded by Bob Sullivan.
CD #2 – (66:09): “The Jimmie Vaughan Years: Complete Studio Recordings 1978-1979 – What’s The Word” – (12 tracks): Produced by Denny Bruce & recorded in 1980 by Bob Sullivan. Same musicians except for Fran Christina (drums/7 cuts). “Butt Rockin’” (11 cuts) – Produced by Denny Bruce & recorded in 1980 by Kim King & Tom Gondolf. Same musicians with Fran Christina (drums/bgv/vocals) & with Doug James (baritone sax) & Greg Piccolo (tenor sax).
CD #3 (72:20): “T-Bird Rhythm” (11 tracks): Produced & recorded in 1984 by Nick Lowe & recorded by Colin Fairley. Same musicians as prior LPs with Nick Connelly (organ). “Tuff Enough” (11 tracks) – Produced in 1985 by Dave Edmunds. Now with Preston Hubbard (electric & acoustic bass/vocals), Chuck Leavell (keys), Geraint Watkins (piano/accordion), Cesar Rosa & David Hidalgo (vocals).
CD #4 – (78:12): “Hot Number” (9 tracks): Produced in 1987 by Dave Edmunds (guitars). Same as above LPs (10 tracks) – Produced in 1988-9 by Terry Manning (bgv). Same musicians as above with Jimi Jamison & William C. Brown III (bgv).
The box set has a handsome 40 pp perfect-bound book with photos & liner notes. Credits are detailed for each song. Color image of Jimmie courtesy of his website. B&W image of today’s Fabulous Thunderbirds courtesy of their website. CD @ Amazon + eBay & https://www.jimmievaughan.com/discography/the-fabulous-thunderbirds-the-jimmie-vaughan-years-complete-studio-recordings-1978-1989 & https://www.lastmusic.co.uk/artists/the-fab
Enjoy our related interview here: Interview: Jimmie Vaughan The Lone Star Bluesman