Paul Rodgers' tribute to Muddy Waters is not a return to Waters' electric Chicago blues, but a continuation of the blues-rock of Rodgers' old bands, Free and Bad Company. Taken on those terms, Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters works only when Rodgers is matched with a good blues-rock guitarist. Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, and Gary Moore all play well, while Richie Sambora, Neal Schon, and Trevor Rabin all sound a bit lost; the rest, including David Gilmour and Brian May, fall somewhere in between. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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