*** PAINT IT, BLUE: SONGS OF THE ROLLING STONES

(House of Blues)

The dozen blues and R&B greats assembled here infuse lusty new life into well-worn Stones tunes. Junior Wells, the harp legend who opened for the Stones in 1969, gives a swinging "Smokestack Lightning" treatment to "Satisfaction"; and Johnny Copeland weighs in with a deliciously greasy "Tumblin' Dice," a performance that's all the more memorable because it was the guitarist's final session before he passed away, at age 60, last July. Luther Allison, another contributor, also died shortly after he recorded his gospel-funk cover of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (the disc is dedicated to both artists). Ultimately though, this collection brings to mind the birth of the Stones as wide-eyed blues purists emulating their heroes -- some of whom, like Wells, even appear here. And in a nice twist, award-winning blues newcomer Alvin "Youngblood" Hart harks back to his own adolescent roots with richly elegiac readings of "Sway" and "Moonlight Mile."

-- Jonathan Perry