Didn't see a thread for this album (just stumbled onto it on Amazon).



I don't get it, but Amazon seems to have 2 different versions for sale.

One is a "Limited Edition" currently for $11.78, to be released on October 24th. What makes it limited I have no idea (there is no track list or anything). The label is called "The Royal Potato Family" (which I have never heard of).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005E7ANV0/?tag=imwan-20

Then there is another version, not "limited", but for MORE $ than the limited one, at $13.28, already out, on Megaforce records.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005E7AOW8/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon has no info about either of these, no tracklists, no nothing.

I googled and found some good info at these links (some excerpts from each below):



http://www.markmcguigan.com/2011/09/19/ ... bonamassa/

The album features contributions from a hand picked line-up all, of which are guitar legends in their own right, including Steve Lukather, Billy Gibbons, Slash, Zakk Wylde and Joe Bonamassa.

The album itself is a mix of originals and covers of blues-rock and ballad songs which showcases West’s earthy vocals and characteristic playing.

Album Tracklisting

1. One More Drink for the Road (Featuring: Steve Lukather)
2. Mud Flap Momma (Featuring: Slash)
3. To the Moon
4. Standing on Higher Ground (Featuring: Billy Gibbons)
5. Third Degree (Featuring: Joe Bonamassa)
6. Legend
7. Nothing’s Changed (Featuring: Zakk Wylde)
8. I Feel Fine
9. Love You Forever
10. My Gravity
11. The Party’s Over (Featuring: Slash and Zakk Wylde)
12. I Don’t Know “The Beetlejuice Song” (Featuring: Richard Christy)



http://rockguitardaily.blogspot.com/201 ... -best.html

The fact that Slash, Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Zakk Wylde, and Steve Lukather all showed up and turned in outstanding performances says a lot about this record.....

I find it amazing that I dig the vocals on this album as much as I do the guitar work, and the fantastic rhythm section. West sounded great on his 2007 release with Mountain, Masters of War, and, if anything, his vocalizing is even stronger and more passionate now. Soulful, gritty, and powerful, the axe slinger’s voice is now as strong and poignant as his guitar playing. Much of this is down to his choice to lead a sober life, and a work ethic that has him striving to be seen as relevant and not just legendary. He succeeds boldly.



Both of the links above are worth reading for the full text. Short story is that the record has some originals plus some covers, and Leslie has some guitar heavyweights joining him on the songs. Also, the drummer is one of my favorites, Kenny Aronoff.

I'm already a big Leslie (& guitar in general) fan so I'm definitely going to be looking to pick this up. I'd like to know if the "limited edition" one coming out next month has any extra songs or something worthy about it, so if anyone knows, please let us know!

I don't get why LW would want or need other lead guitarists. He's at least as good as any of them, & better than most.

I agree. I guess it is just an attempt at getting a buzz, publicity, etc for releasing a new record. I don't think he gets much sales for his new records except us diehards. Probably trying to attract a wider audience.

I just picked this up today. Listening to it now.

The difference between the "limited" edition vs. the "regular" one is the limited one is in a digipack that resembles as guitar amplifier case and has a huge booklet. The booklet is pretty cool, a lot of info about the album and the songs, plus has a long article called "The Story of Leslie West" written by Dave Ling of Classic Rock magazine. I don't know how many pages this booklet is, but it has to be at least 30-40 pages.

As far as the music goes - I am shocked by how good this record is (except for the last track). On just 2 listens I think it is my favorite Leslie solo record. And I normally don't like "guest star" records, they usually signify a big letdown in songwriting quality to me & are a gimmick I could do without, especially when we are talking having a great guitar player in the first place having OTHER guitarists guest on his record (as opposed to having guest singers). As Geff said above, why would Leslie need other guitar players???? Hell I don't think he should even have guest singers, his voice is as great as his guitar playing is.

But I don't find the guests to be distracting or taking away from Leslie's playing. Just listening to it, other than the track with Billy Gibbons where his playing just jumps right out as "wait this sounds like ZZ TOP!", or the song with Joe Bonamassa singing in addition to Leslie, I doubt I would have even realized there were guests playing on it.

Something funny to mention, is that when listening to this, knowing it had guest guitarists, I mistakenly assumed that one of the tracks featured Sonny Landreth! The guitar riffing sounds exactly like him, but he is NOT on it!!! I 4get which track that was (one of the final ones, around 8-10).

The only problem I have with this record (and yes, this Beatles hater doesn't even mind the cover here of the Beatles' I Feel Fine) is the last track, which is quite possibly the worst recorded "song" in the history of music. It is excruciatingly bad. A total embarrassment. Some kind of joke song I guess, done in collaboration with one Howard Stern's stable of "freaks", Beetlejuice. This is where I guess a manager or producer should have stepped in and slapped Leslie upside his head and refused to allow him to ruin a great record with garbage like this. Don't say I didn't warn you! If you're smart you will stop the record before the last track comes up....

Slip, thanks for the review. Will put this on my radar. Probably my favorite LW solo album so far has been the live "Theme" with Jack Bruce (though does that qualify as a solo?).

I saw West Bruce & Laing when I was 15 or so. Thought it was a very disappointing show, & also didn't like the WBL albums at the time, so never got into West much as a solo artist.