Les Paul & Friends
American Made World Played
(Capitol)
First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2005, Volume 12, #9
Written by John Metzger
Given the overabundance of guests that appear on Les Paul’s latest effort
American Made World Played, it’s no surprise that the collection is somewhat
of a mixed bag. After all, such star-studded outings rarely surpass the
expectations that surround them, and although the legendary, 90-year-old
guitarist is paired with everyone from world music’s Alsou to soul sensation
Joss Stone to Aerosmith’s axeman Joe Perry, it’s hardly an eclectic affair. Yet,
beneath the pristine and polished production flourishes and the largely
perfunctory vocal performances, the technical precision of Paul and his
disciples succeeds in providing enough energy to sustain the 16-track set. Buddy
Guy, Keith Richards, and Rick Derringer, for example, work their magic on a
hip-shaking rendition of Good Morning Little Schoolgirl; Beth Hart and
Neal Schon join the fun to rip through the incendiary blues of I Wanna Know
You; and on (Somebody) Ease My Troublin’ Mind and Good News, a
bit of studio trickery is employed to resurrect Sam Cooke, thereby allowing Eric
Clapton and Jeff Beck, respectively, to unite with Paul in tastefully
underscoring Cooke’s original recordings. Although Paul gets an opportunity to
stand in the spotlight and showcase his technique on a multilayered solo romp
through Duke Ellington’s classic Caravan, the collection largely forsakes
his jazzier inclinations in favor of more marketable rock ‘n’ roll bluster. As a
result, American Made World Played doesn’t provide a true representation
of Paul’s enormous talent nor does it effectively highlight his influence upon
the vast world of music. 
48th Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Caravan
48th Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
69 Freedom Special
Of Further Interest...
Carlos Santana / John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender
Wes Montgomery - The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions
American Made World Played is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2005 The Music Box