THE HONEYDRIPPERS, VOLUME I

The Honeydrippers was a band Plant threw together in the early 1980s to scratch an itch he had to lead an R/B 50s retro project. He enlisted some high-profile cohorts like Page, Brian Setzer, Paul Schaeffer, and Jeff Beck and they cranked out a 5-track EP called "Volume One." This collection, which featured hits like "Sea of Love" and "Rockin' at Midnight," was a diversion of cover music, a break from Plant's main solo career, and likely just a bunch of guys out to have some fun. I'll cut to the chase here. The problem with this project is that it is so forgettable and so completely soulless. At least Lennon's "Stand By Me" had some bite and some John in it. Zappa's visits to the doo-wop stuff he enjoyed were filled with a humor and a passion which I think holds up years later.

The Honeydrippers in contrast lacks any sort of true personality I can sink my teeth into. It's empty calories even as nostalgic background music and something I can barely stand listening to. The low rating has little to do with performance, technically everyone is great and the presentation as professional as you'd expect. Plant croons, big horns bounce back and forth, and the spotlight guitar solo appears right on schedule. But the overall experience is as dry as the desert floor, starving for some grit, and in my opinion of interest to only the staunchest Plant completists. As backing music for television commercials this album may have life, but as something I want to spend my free time listening to? Ahh, No.

This album is a post-Led Zeppelin side project for singer Robert Plant.

A tribute to his sincere love for vintage R&B. A way to return to his pre-Zeppelin roots in American blues and R&B. Here we have five golden oldies from the pre-Beatles era and Plant served them up authentically, or at least as authentic nostalgia.

Some may find this kind of pastiche a bit distancing, even campy, but there's a genuine warmth in Plant's performance, and his Honeydrippers -- including Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page - - have a great time running through these handful of oldies, particularly "Rockin' at Midnight.".

Of course we are light years from Prog Rock as we know it. But this is the true roots of all Rock music including Prog. A voyage into the big bang of rock history.

If you want to understand where it all come from, you can listen to "The Drifters", "Curtis Mayfield" and many more, but to add a bit of fun to it, the Honeydrippers may be the first step in any music lover's education.

A solid 4 stars