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There are only six tracks here but every single one is a little slice of auditory bliss. This short-lived band of the ‘80s formed (post Led Zeppelin) by Robert Plant featured a fabulous cast including Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. This is vintage rock and roll fused with exquisitely soulful R&B and just a dash of swing. It conjures fond memories of my youth.
The vocals are gorgeous and the musicianship is rich and powerful. The horn section is stellar and the bass line is nice and heavy. This is happy music and it’s romantic as hell when it’s not begging you to dance.
It opens with the lively “I Get a Thrill.” Aside from the delightful doo-wops and great vocal harmonies on this track, Page’s guitar work is magnificent. “Sea of Love” is dulcet. If put in the wrong hands this song has huge potential to be painfully cheesy, but Plant pulls it off with style. “I Got a Woman” is upbeat and danceable with a nice emphasis on the horns. Plant’s interpretation “Young Boy Blues” puts a fresh spin on this classic made famous by Ben E. King in the early 60s. It closes out with two versions of “Rockin’ at Midnight,” one studio recorded and one live bonus track. The wailing horn section and mind-blowing keyboard stylings on both only left me wanting more.
I grew up with Led Zeppelin. There was nary a gathering among our circle of friends that didn’t have “Stairway to Heaven” or the “The Battle of Evermore” playing in the background. However, The Honeydrippers showcase Plant’s soulful vocals perfectly and this is surely some of his finest work.
