With songs like, "Just Like Putty" and "Two Wings," Jimmie Vaughan's debut solo effort, Strange Pleasure, jumps out of a 50s motif of the polyester suit scene of a New York City nightclub pleasure on filtered cigarettes, scotch and waters, and sparkling bar girls. Portraying a milieu of sultry icons, Strange Pleasure is tempered with a swinging, blues driven, boppin' spectacle punctuated even more by the Hammond organ and stylish guitar licks.

Once a Fabulous Thunderbird and older brother of a legend, Jimmie Vaughan comes across not only as a great blues guitarist, but also as a well delivered vocalist.

Strange Pleasure is slightly retrogressive, obviously searching for some rootsy approach in the decade in the decade of student credit cards. The musty slither of "Don't Cha Know" will soothe the devil inside the dobro guitar while "Hey-Yeah" could pass for a dusty Texas barroom number with its distant guitar accents and funky groove. Strange Pleasure also features a song that doesn't quite in with the others in sound and image. "(Everybody's Got) Street Soul Vibe" typifies in a cool, smooth manner, exactly what the title implies. The instrumental of "Tilt a Wheel" conjures up the mixed images of an Americanized Chinese restaurant and a back porch behind a worn out, two lane highway.

As atribute to his younger brother, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, "Six Strings Down" is a writing collaboration among Vaughan and the Neville Brothers. It's touching and it resides in a back woods fashion of feeling and deep soul. Co-writing by Jimmie and Dr. John (Mac Rebbenack), "Love the World" is a powerful, straightforward gospel number and the disc ends on a dreamy instrumental note. . .the title track, "Strange Pleasure."

In all, Jimmie Vaughan's Strange Pleasure echoes a little Motown, some bluesy sentiments, and a tad of gospel truth. It's somewhat feelgood and gains a sticking flavor with more and more listenin. Like most good recordings do.

Reviewer:  Bonn Garrett, courtesy of Flash Magazine.