Paul Rodger's 'Paul Rodgers and Friends Live at Montreux' album review

Paul Rodgers released Paul Rodgers and Friends Live at Montreux in 1994. His “friends” included Queens’ Brian May, Journey’s Neal Schon, Black Country Communion’s Jason Bonham, and Toto’s Steve Lukather. Other musicians included Ian Hatton, John Smithson, Eddie Kirkland, Sherman Robertson, Luther Allison, Robert Lucas, and Kenny Neal. The show featured many of the songs from his 1993 Grammy-nominated album, Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters.

Rodgers is a self-taught, Grammy-nominated rocker. He started in 1968, when he and guitarist Paul Kossof formed the band Free. From 1968 to 1973 Free released four top-five albums and played more than 700 live shows. In 1973, Rodgers and guitarist Mick Ralph formed the band Bad Company. Bad Company released six multi-platinum albums from 1973-1982. He formed The Firm with Jimmy Page in 1984. The Firm released two multi-platinum selling albums, The Firm and Mean Business, and sold out a world tour for each. In 1993, he received his first Grammy nomination for Muddy Water Blues. Jeff Beck, Richia Sambora, David Gilmour, Brian May, Steve Miller, Slash, and Buddy Guy were just some of the musicians who contributed to the album.

In 1994, Rodgers followed up his success from Muddy Water Blues with a live recording in Montreux. Paul Rodgers and Friends featured “Louisiana Blues,” “Fire and Water,” “Muddy Water Blues,” “I’m Ready,” “Good Morning Little School Girl,” and “Let me Love You Baby” from the 1993 album. He also performed “Feel Like Making Love,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and “All Right Now” from his earlier career. Rodgers and his friends played Muddy Waters' “Hoochie Coochie Man” for their grand finale.