In 1972 the Rolling Stones released a double album called Exile on Main Street. It was a ragged and rocking collection of bluesy rock'n'roll, dirty and grubby, just like the Stones had first appeared when they cracked the American market in 1964. Do you remember that first time we saw them? Hollywood Palace? Dean Martin was the host, and he introduced them in that whiskey soaked voice..."I been rolled when I was stoned before...but I never saw nothin' like this." After Mick and the boys played, Martin announced a commercial break, "You're not gonna leave me here with those Rollin' Stones, are ya?" They were not clean and acceptable like the Beatles, and in 1972 Exile... underlined the fact that they were in a category by themselves.

The people at Telarc introduced an interesting series of recordings a few years ago: collections of songs by well known artists done by current blues performers. We've seen a Nick Lowe set, the Beatles Blues Album and a Dylan set, Blues on Blonde on Blonde. Now Telarc's stable of artists takes on the Stones' classic with Exile on Blues St. Lucky Peterson starts things off with the heavy riff and growl of "Ventilator Blues." The house band of Brian Stoltz (guitar), Tommy Shannon (bass), Chris Layton (drums), Ryan Zoidis (saxes) and David Noyes (trombone) with backing vocalists Andrea Re and Rob Roy provide the link between all the tracks. They give solid backing to each of the featured soloists. Lucky Peterson shines with a fiery guitar part behind his husky vocalizing. This is followed by Brian Stoltz's riffing and the powerful voice of Christine Ohlman on "All Down the Line," then Tommy Castro's full tilt version of "Rip This Joint." It rocks as hard as the original ever did, and the horn section gets a chance to make their presence known. Otis Taylor's "Sweet Black Angel" slows things down with backup vocals by Cassie Taylor. It's a good opportunity for a breather but Otis's fine guitar picking keeps creates a hypnotic pulse.

Jeff Lang's precise acoustic bottleneck is perfect for "Sweet Virginia." The Stones made this a cornball country tune, Lang's reading turns it into a blues standard. You can see the cotton from the porch where Lang sits picking and singing. A highlight! The biggest hit the Stones drew from their Exile... was "Tumbling Dice" and Andrea Re steps out of the background to tackle this one. Guest guitarist Colin James follows Keith Richards' rhythm guitar model, adding a nice slide solo, while Re smoulders. Good stuff.

Tab Benoit covers the boogie "Shake Your Hips" which is Jagger/Richards tribute to John Lee Hooker. Joe Louis Walker turns in a mellow "Shine a Light" and then Deborah Coleman gives a bravura performance on "Happy." This has long been my favourite song from the original album, and Coleman stays fairly close to the original. Her guitar playing is crisp and impressive. The album closes with Jimmy Thackery's rendition of "Rocks Off." The whole project has been designed to ensure just that. You will get your "Rocks Off" even though Thackery's closing tune is perhaps the weakest song on the album. Don't let that discourage you though. There are worse places to be exiled than Blues St.