Here's hoping Jimmy Rogers saw the nonsense records House Of Blues has been pumping out every two weeks and decided to beat 'em at their own game. Jimmy Rogers is a blues legend, best known for playing guitar for Muddy Waters. He's written his fair number of tunes and was instrumental in creating the classic "Chicago Blues" style recorded by Chess Records. At a ripe old age he's assembled some of his adoring (and easy to publicize) fans and the executive producing seal of the 900 year old Ahmet Ertegun to release "Blues Blues Blues" on Atlantic Records.

This is a marvelously produced package, clean yet timeless, filled with new interpretations of standards by a classic voice with innovative punctuations. The punctuations include the guitar work of Eric Clapton, the soul of Taj Mahal, the rum-soaked chumminess of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and the emotion of Stephen Stills.

Highlights include a version of "Blues All Day Long", where Rogers summons up the ghost of his late partner, Muddy Waters. His homage is startling, as is the Eric Clapton guitar work.

"Trouble No More", popularized for many by The Allman Brothers Band in the early 70s, is played here not as the usual weighty blues number, thick with a pounding beat, but rather a lively shuffler with snapping drums. Mick & Keef fit right in on this fun, late-at-night tune, and it reminds me of "I Just Want To See His Face" from "Exile On Main Street".

In the same vibe is a version of "Bright Lights, Big City", a duet Jimmy Rogers shares with Taj Mahal. Again, the production is clean and tight, but nothin' fancy, as Jimmy and Taj's near harmonies are delightfully unrehearsed.

In the other direction is "Every Day I Have The Blues", well known as the toe-tappin' B.B. King hit, presented here as a lowly lament, as blue as blue comes. Stephen Stills, perhaps an odd choice to duet with here, does his best and handles himself admirably. It would be interesting if Stills continued working in this milieu.

Finally there is the capper, "Boom Boom", as performed by Rogers with Clapton, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Page's Yardbirds did a poppish version of this tune before his tenure (as did the Animals.) This version features a fat riff, trap drumming, odd Jimmy Page space guitar noises, and Robert Plant fiercely reminding us that, despite his age, he will always be one of the premier voices in modern music.

This is a great blues album. Even if the Dan Aykroyd factor has turned you off to the genre, "Blues Blues Blues" by the Jimmy Rogers All Stars is worth your time.