Leslie West -

Leslie West - Blue Me (2006) Leslie West might be best known as the guitar hero, founding member and current leader of the classic rock combo Mountain. 70’s hits like “Mississippi Queen,“ “Nantucket Sleighride“ and “Theme From an Imaginary Western“ solidified Leslie as a guitar icon. 2006 finds West returning with “Blue Me,“ his latest installment in a series of blues based cover albums. While the format doesn’t re-invent the wheel, it does deliver all that his fans have come to expect. Gruff vocals compliment his trademark soulful playing as Leslie ploughs through eleven relatively diverse tracks. From the hard rock side, we’re given a passionate blues slant to Montrose’s “One Thing On My Mind“ and Free’s “Woman.“ The obligatory blues chestnuts “Sinner’s Prayer“ and “Standing Around Crying“ are also given a stern rocking out. A few less obvious choices are thrown in the mix (Gershwin’s “Summertime“ comes to mind) all showcasing Leslie’s scorching fretwork and classic tone. Sonically, the recording is top-notch, with label-head Mike Varney handling production duties. Guest musicians include legendary veteran Aynsley Dunbar, who along with Tim Fahey, provides a world-class rhythm section. But make no mistake; this is West’s vehicle to shine. While I’m usually partial to original material, “Blue Me“ feels fresh and inviting, not only to blues aficionados, but also to all those who appreciate proper guitar heroics. It’s nice to know that, like fellow Woodstock survivor Carlos Santana, West still has some fire left in his belly. Track Listing: 1. Blues Before Sunrise (04:33) Leroy Carr 2. Woke Up This Morning (04:35) Graham Barnes 3. Four Day Creep (03:18) Ida Cox 4. Hit The Road Jack (03:44) Percy Mayfield 5. Standing Around Crying (06:38) Muddy Waters 6. One Thing On My Mind (03:52) Sammy Hagar, Ronny Montrose 7. Green River (03:54) John C. Fogerty 8. Sinner’s Prayer (06:31) Lowell Fulson, Lloyd C. Glenn 9. Woman (04:07) Andy Fraser, Paul Rogers 10. Tore Down (03:30) Sonny Thompson 11. Summertime (07:09) Dubuse Heyward, Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin Band Lineup: Leslie West - Vocals, Guitar Aynsley Dunbar - Drums Tim Fahey - Bass Kevin Curry - Guitar Art Groom - Hammond B3 Brian Mitchell - Piano Todd Wolfe - Guitar