10 Greatest Classic Rock Songs Of The 1980s

With all of the accolades from the blues world, Stevie Ray Vaughan remains one of the most overlooked titans of the music industry. Coming out of Texas in the early 80's, Vaughan's incredible touch on the guitar helped put a Texas Swing feel on the standard pop song.

Though Vaughan was known for his solo on David Bowie's "Let's Dance," his first breakthrough with "Pride and Joy" left guitarists with their mouths agape. Here was a guy that cut through all the stylishness of the 80's like a cowboy in a Western, ready to shoot you down with his six-stringed rifle. The entire track revolves around Vaughan's love for his flame back home, as he puts a signature shuffle on the typical 12-bar blues.

The real meatiness in the song comes from Vaughan's fabulous guitar solos, which flow freely with wild abandon at every second. Even when Vaughan is singing the verses, the guitar fills in the gaps like a rabid dog itching to be let loose. Though the 80's had a distinctive look, every so often you get an artist that shows up on the scene that bucks every trend in the mainstream. "Pride and Joy" may not sound like a product of the 80's, but this rock and roll approach to the blues is something that defies any type of trendy gimmickry.