Leslie West Born Under A Bad

Leslie West Blues To Die For (2003) On this Blues To Die For, West tackles some blues standards, courtesy of John Lee Hooker, B. B. King, Muddy Waters and the like. Not exactly a novel idea for Mike Varney s Blues Bureau International label (Rick Derringer and Pat Travers have done pretty much the same), and the concept might be wearing a bit thin by now. But it s clear that West is the perfect man for the job. Leslie West may be only half the man he used to be (in size, that is), his voice and guitar skills haven t suffered at all. I m not really happy with the choice of songs: I m Ready, Talk To Your Daughter or Born Under A Bad Sign have been done to death and frankly, listening to the umpteenth version of these songs is becoming a bit boring. But there s no denying that West s raspy vocals and soulful guitar playing do these classics justice. I wouldn t have minded some more variation, though (some more slow blues tune