On August 27, 1990, I balled my eyes out, like a little child, when WMMR’s Pierre Robert announced on the radio that Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash, after a performance. (Then again, I was a little child, come to think of it.) I remember going to my bedroom, closing my door and playing SRV’s albums all night long. I drew “SRV” on my denim trapper keeper that school year, and I still have the cover of the Rolling Stone which included his tribute, hanging framed in my bedroom to this day (it doesn’t hurt that the girls from “Twin Peaks” are on it either). Everything Stevie played melted your face and brought goosebumps to your skin. I mean, even David Bowie hired him to do the infamous “Fame” guitar lick before Stevie Ray Vaughan was a big name. This MTV Unplugged performance of “Pride & Joy” is one of my absolute favorites. It’s one thing for a guitarist to wow you when he’s plugged in with all the pedals and feedback and so forth; it’s even more amazing when your jaw drops from the sounds made on an acoustic guitar — let alone a 12-string acoustic at that. Still missing ya, Stevie. Thank you for all, good sir. You made me cry, and you continue to bring tears to my face. Pure GOOSEBUMPS …

http://youtu.be/vxVS1jE8VAQ

Whenever I’m feeling down, this version of “Sunny Side of the Street” instantly puts things in perspective for me and lifts my spirits. Dizzy, Sonny & Sonny, recorded in NYC in 1957. Pure Sunny/Sonny GOOSEBUMPS …

There isn’t much preface necessary here. When I first saw this video and heard this song, it was by far one of my most jaw-dropping musical experiences ever. From the message to the music itself, it’s straight up GOOSEBUMPS whenever I hear/watch Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip’s “Thou Shalt Always Kill” …

It’s December 19, 1989. You’re at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Rolling Stones are in the midst of their Steel Wheels tour. Legendary blues guitarist Eric Clapton steps out to join them for the blues classic “Little Red Rooster” (often credited to Howlin’ Wolf), and Clapton proceeds to drop, without a doubt, one of his greatest live solos of all time. The subtle look that Mick Jagger gives Clapton as they pass each other in the middle of the song, as Clapton wraps up his solo, is priceless [UPDATE: They have removed the official video with this priceless interaction, but there are still some videos of this performance — sans Mick/Eric interaction — online, like this one]. Goosebumps …

http://youtu.be/e6raNj9ArT8

When I was in 6th grade, British guitar maestro Eric Johnson released 1990’s “Ah Via Musicom.” There’s a track on that album, “Cliffs of Dover,” which is like listening to a classical orchestra. It literally gives me goosebumps. It’s absolute guitar mastery. While there are a few live versions on the Interwebs, nothing beats this studio version. Unfortunately, there’s no music video for this song. So this slow, still montage will have to do. Feel free to search around Youtube for live versions if you don’t believe that one man alone can play this miraculous song …