Trouble Is...

by The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Overview

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's fate was sealed at age seven when his father, while promoting a concert for the Louisiana Music Festival, took his son backstage to meet Stevie Ray Vaughan. Vaughan picked up the youngster and sat him on an amp where he could see the show. From that moment, Shepherd knew what he wanted to do with his life. Trouble Is... is Shepherd's second release following his 1995 debut Letbetter Heights. While his rookie effort was virtually an homage to Vaughan, Trouble Is... melds Stevie Ray's blues with Jimi Hendrix-style psychedelic rock, as evidenced on the wah-wah-laden radio hit "Slow Ride" and his cover version of Jimi's "I Don't Live Today." Trouble Is... is also more diverse than Shepherd's debut: It includes a convincing cover of Bob Dylan's "Everything Is Broken," for example, while "Blue on Black" features a distinctly Southern rock vibe. Produced by Jerry Harrison, formerly of the Talking Heads and Modern Lovers, the album features a guest spot from harmonica ace James Cotton and appearances by Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon, drummer and bassist of Vaughan's band, Double Trouble.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/1997
Label:	Warner Records
UPC:	0075992468923
catalogNumber:	24689
Rank:	4744

Tracks

1. Slow Ride
2. True Lies
3. Blue on Black
4. Everything Is Broken
5. I Don't Live Today
6. (Long) Gone
7. Somehow, Somewhere, Someway
8. I Found Love (When I Found You)
9. King's Highway
10. Nothing to Do with Love
11. Chase the Rainbow
12. Trouble Is...

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band   Primary Artist
James Cotton   Harmonica
Kenny Wayne Shepherd   Guitar,Vocals
Chris Layton   Drums
Tommy Shannon   Bass
Reese Wynans   Keyboards
Patricia Hodges   Background Vocals
Jay Blakesberg   Piano
Stephanie Spruitt   Background Vocals
Noah Hunt   Vocals
Joe Nadeau   Rhythm Guitar
Jimmy Wallace   Keyboards
Sam Bryant   Cymbals,Drums,Stick
Robby Emerson   Bass

Technical Credits

Jerry Harrison   Arranger,Producer
Kenny Wayne Shepherd   Arranger,Contributor,Amplifiers
Karl Derfler   Engineer
Bill Pfordresher   Arranger
Larry Brewer   Engineer
Chris Collins   Engineer
Noah Hunt   Contributor
Joe Nadeau   Contributor
Jimmy Wallace   Contributor
Sam Bryant   Contributor
Robby Emerson   Contributor

Editorial Reviews

Instead of breaking from his high-energy, high-voltage blues-rock, Kenny Wayne Shepherd offers more of the same on his second album, Trouble Is... While the record lacks the surprise and impact of Ledbetter Heights, it's clear that Shepherd is growing as a guitarist, developing a cleaner, more nuanced technique. He still suffers from the lack of an original voice, plus a lack of strong material, but his growth as a guitarist compensates for what's missing.

All Music Guide - Thom Owens