Okay, what if I told you about a new CD that was a homage to one of our more memorable music icons and included performances by illustrious bluesmen like Robert Lockwood Jr., Otis Clay, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, James Cotton, Otis Rush and Magic Slim? Could you guess whose music they're playing? No, it's not B. B. King, and no it's not Muddy Waters or Robert Johnson either. Give up? Would you believe the recording in question is "Whole Lotta Blues: Songs Of Led Zeppelin (on House Of Blues Records)"? Well, it's true. Along with the aforementioned bluesmen this disc showcases young lions like Eric Gales, Alvin "Youngblood" Hart and Chris Thomas King performing classic Zep compositions in full-on blues stylee. True, some of the songs have high-octane guitar exhibitions, but mostly these performances are done the old-fashioned way, emphasizing great vocal performances, burning harmonica, the occasional horn section and empathic guitar accompaniment. The left-handed Eric Gales opens the proceedings with a hard-rocking version of "Custard Pie" and backs up the original blues lefty, Otis Rush, on a reading of "I Can't Quit You Baby." There's an element of irony on this collection as Magic Slim and James Cotton reinterpret "When The Levee Breaks," but that's nothing compared to Clarence Brown's barrelhouse version of "Rock N' Roll." Carl Weathersby tackles 'Good Times, Bad Times" and old-timer Robert Lockwood Jr. hit the hearth on Willie Dixon's "Bring It On Home." Eric Gales revs things up for the grand finale of "Trampled Underfoot," so all you hard-rock fans needn't worry about your precious Led Zeppelin. There's even a Willie Dixon song included here by James Cotton and guitarist Joe Louis Walker called "You Need Love" that was the obvious template for "Whole Lotta Love." Besides, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant borrowed all this stuff from men like Willie Dixon back in the day so it's about time the debt was repaid.
by Mitch Myers
copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc.