Leslie West - Soundcheck

Leslie West

Soundcheck

(Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group)

Another welcome release from the American rock-blues titan and here the variety of material staggering. Some very well-known numbers are Westicised, sometimes in the company of other stars. You cannot help but like West as a conversationalist, he is sort of blunt but so very informative (and occasionally) appreciative that his music makes much more sense when you know the stories.

Here he does at last release Don Nix’ ‘Goin’ Down’ with May, Middleton, Bramlett, Whitlock and bass ace Davis Hood aboard for the plunge. Next moment he’ll play ‘You Are My Sunshine’ in the company of Peter Frampton! Leslie, you really should do something with our Joe Brown..

A Tracy Chapman tune is given the treatment and it aches; radio shock Jock Howard Stern prompted a reappearance of the Guild 12 string on a number ‘A Stern Warning’. West tackles the sublime ‘People Get Ready’, without paling to the Jeff Beck/Rod take. The guitar tones throughout the record are really soulful and his philosophy on solo’ing upheld. Empty Promises out-sparks AC/DC whilst the trio cut of ‘Spoonful’ is not only live but has Joey Franco and dear Jack Bruce pumping smoke from the song.

West says that the longer he lives, the wider range of music he appreciates and this album underlines the notion. Maybe one of the most musical releases of this year.

Pete Sargeant