Scuttle Buttin’

The Zoo Crew is spinning the blistering instrumental "Scuttle Buttin’" by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble from their 1984 album Couldn’t Stand the Weather, and Zoo Freaks, this one’s a scorcher! This track, clocking in at just under two minutes, is a high-octane showcase of Vaughan’s guitar virtuosity, heavily influenced by the “chicken pickin’” style of Lonnie Mack. Fans on Reddit have shared stories of how this song was their gateway to Vaughan’s music, with one user recalling hearing it on the radio as a kid and being floored by the “blistering 2-minute salvo of supercharged virtuosity.” Another fun tidbit from Songfacts notes that Vaughan switched up his technique live, using slides instead of string bends for the main riff to ease the strain on his fretting hand during grueling tours. The song’s title, as explained by composer Aaron Houston, draws from the old Southern term “scuttle buttin’,” meaning gossiping around a water cooler, perfectly capturing the track’s lively, conversational energy.

The song’s raw power reflects its creation during a whirlwind recording session in January 1984 at the Power Station in New York City, as detailed on Wikipedia. Produced by the band alongside Richard Mullen and Jim Capfer, with John Hammond as executive producer, the album was a follow-up to their debut Texas Flood. Posts on X celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary, calling it a “cornerstone of blues-rock history.” Fans on Reddit’s blues community rave about live performances like the 1987 La Ronde show, describing Vaughan with “eyes closed, cigarette in mouth, ripping some of the most electric blues you’ve ever heard.” The track’s influence endures, with covers by artists like George Baicea and The Aynsley Lister Band, proving its lasting impact on the blues scene.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954, in Dallas, Texas, and his journey to blues legend began early, inspired by his older brother Jimmie Vaughan. As noted in his Britannica biography, Stevie picked up the guitar at age seven, soaking up influences from blues giants like Albert King, Otis Rush, and Muddy Waters, as well as rockers like Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack. By 12, he was playing in garage bands, and by his teens, he was gigging in Dallas nightclubs. At 17, he dropped out of high school and moved to Austin, forming his first blues band, Blackbird, in 1971. After stints with groups like the Cobras and Triple Threat Revue, he formed Double Trouble in 1978 with drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon, named after an Otis Rush song. Their big break came in 1982 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, catching the eye of David Bowie and Jackson Browne, leading to a record deal with Epic Records.

Vaughan’s meteoric rise was tragically cut short when he died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990, at age 35, as recounted on his official website. His legacy lives on through his electrifying recordings and passionate fanbase. You can explore more at the official Stevie Ray Vaughan website or follow updates on the official Stevie Ray Vaughan Facebook page. Fans also connect on the Stevie Ray Vaughan Instagram and share posts on X. For deeper dives, check out fan communities like the Stevie Ray Vaughan Fans Facebook group or the SRV Fan Nation website, where Zoo Freaks can join fellow devotees in celebrating this blues icon’s enduring fire.