When you hear “tribute album” you usually think of a disc that features a number of artists playing songs by the artist to whom the disc is being dedicated. Well, this one has a bit of a twist. Perhaps Slash (ex-Guns N Roses guitarist) who is featured on this disc explained the concept best, “This is a record where instead of playing Les Paul's music and trying to imitate his inimitable style, it is a showcase of guitar players doing their own thing, but in tribute to his influence on our musicianship, recording techniques and use of effects. All of which wouldn't be anything like what they are if it weren't for Les Paul's creative and technical pioneering genius. And, at 93 yrs old he is still as obsessed with pioneering as many new gadgets & techniques to make life more interesting, as he always has been.”

That pretty well sums up the concept. You need to understand that at 93 Les Paul also plays on most of the tracks here, too. Other notables include, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton, Joan Osborne, Edgar Winter, Joe Perry and Richie Sambora – to name just a few. All in all this is a killer album. My only real complaint is that the closing number seems a bit too mundane for the rest of the stuff here. It would have probably worked alright in a less conspicuous slot, but seems a bit of a let down as the closing shot.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.