Three Men and a Strat Trivia Quiz

Answer: Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble released their debut album "Texas Flood" in 1983 which included the track of the same name. The song was co-written and first recorded by bluesman Larry Davis in 1958.

Stevie Ray's version showcases his passionate and fiery blues guitar playing. I have always preferred Stevie's live playing over his studio recordings, and his version of the song from "Live at the El Mocambo" in 1983 is worth checking out.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 66 on its "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" list in 2008.

Answer: Stevie Ray Vaughan

This is another Stevie Ray song that was released on an album of the same name "Couldn't Stand the Weather" in 1984. It was also released as a music video the same year. The song was written exclusively by Stevie Ray. His live version from "Live From Austin, Texas" in 1989 is my favorite version of the song.

Answer: Eric Clapton

Clapton, who had a large run of success in the 1960s using a Gibson guitar with bands like the Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, and Cream, switched to the Fender Stratocaster in 1970 and never looked back.

"Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?" is featured on the 1970 album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" by Derek and the Dominoes, which was fronted by Clapton. It features Clapton and Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers on duel lead guitar, with Allman playing his signature slide guitar.

Answer: Rory Gallagher

Here in the United States, Rory Gallagher, who hailed from Ireland, isn't much of a household name, but I stumbled across his music around my time in college, and I've been hooked ever since. "The Last of the Independents" was released on Rory's 1978 album "Photo-Finish", and was written by Rory, as were all the songs from that album.

His live version from his 1980 live album "Stage Struck" is a heavier, longer version of the song, and I prefer it over the studio recording.

Answer: Eric Clapton

Released on his 1977 album, "Slowhand", "The Core" is one of Clapton's longest songs on a studio album, running 8:45. Clapton co-wrote the song with his back-up singer Marcy Levy, who has a duet with Eric in the song. Mel Collins plays a saxophone solo just before Clapton comes in with a blistering guitar solo.

The album was one of Clapton's most successful of his career and it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.

Answer: Rory Gallagher

Another song from Rory's 1980 album "Photo-Finish", "The Mississippi Sheiks" is a song about a country blues band that originated in the 1930s, aptly named the "Mississippi Sheiks", who influenced Rory's music. Rory was known for his slide guitar playing, and it is showcased in the song. Rory played the song live in 1979 at "Live At Montreux", which was released posthumously in 2006; it is available on both audio and video.

Answer: Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray, who began experimenting with drugs and alcohol as an adolescent, was able to get sober in 1986 after he had a physical and mental breakdown in Germany and had to be hospitalized. He released his final album with Double Trouble before his tragic death in a helicopter in 1990; the album was called "In Step", which was released in 1989, in homage to his cooperation with the 12-step program offered by Alcoholics Anonymous.

He co-wrote the song "Tightrope" and it reflects on his previous lifestyle as an addict. The live version at "Live From Austin, Texas" in 1989 is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

Answer: Eric Clapton

After over 20 years of drug and alcohol abuse, like Stevie Ray, Clapton got sober and took his last drink in 1987. Two years later in 1989, he released his first album since becoming a teetotaler with "Journeyman", which features the hit song "Pretending", which was written by Jerry Lynn Williams, who had written some other songs for Clapton as well, such as "Forever Man".

"Pretending" is the opening track on the album, and starts with a piano intro, and later features Clapton's use of the wah-wah pedal, which he had used often in his days with Cream. There was also a music video released in 1989 which features Clapton.

Answer: Stevie Ray Vaughan

"Cold Shot" was released on Vaughan's 1984 album "Couldn't Stand the Weather", and there is also a humorous music video of the song which features Stevie as an aloof boyfriend who cares more about his guitars than he does his girlfriend. His 1989 live version at "Live From Austin, Texas" features a seven minute version of the song.

Answer: Rory Gallagher

"Kickback City" was recorded on Rory Gallagher's tenth studio album, "Defender", released in 1987, which was the second-to-last album he recorded before his early death in 1995 from complications from a liver transplant at only 47 years old.

The song is the opening track from the album, and features a heavy drum opening from Brendan O'Neill followed by Rory's intense and passionate playing. The "Defender" album is probably my favorite of Rory's.