Along for the Ride

As you have no doubt guessed, there is some serious guitar playing here, but what's most special about this CD is that these gifted ax men really get a chance to shine. Lang's lead guitar on "That's Why I Love You So," for instance, sure doesn't sound much like Mick Taylor's on "She Don't Play by the Rules," and neither of those resembles Gary Moore's work on "If I Don't Get Home" or Buddy Whittington's lead on "So Many Roads." Along for the Ride's cast also includes a few Mayall emeriti, such as Green, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie, as well as Jeff Healey, Steve Miller, Otis Rush, and plenty of others. Lots of musicians do the all-star-album thing, but you know Mayall's going to integrate his guest stars smoothly, and that's exactly what he does. --Genevieve Williams