Land of the gods

Artist : Various
Album : White Boy Blues
Label : Castle Communication
Rating : *** out of *****
Standout tracks : Tribute To Elmore

White Boy Blues features some rock gods paying tribute to their blues roots. It has prefamous rock greats from Led Zeppelin axeman Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds' and Cream's mainstay Eric Clapton, guitarist Jeff Beck and John Mayall trading licks in mostly short traditional blues compositions.

Commissioned by one-time Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham, these erstwhile striving artists traded songs and brought along friends to the studio.

Some of tracks in this compilation were later perfected by the respective musicians to appear on later releases and that alone indicates that this collection's songs are far from satisfying.

If anything, all the tracks sound as if they were recorded in their early forms.

Only die-hard blues fans will be drawn to this release. -- M. Taufiqurrahman