Tesla - Real to Reel Vol. 1 (Deluxe Edition) [2LP]

What happens when a hard rock band raised on 1970s radio raids its own record collection? Tesla answer on Real to Reel Vol. 1, presented here as a deluxe double LP.

First released in 2007, the album finds the Sacramento five-piece tackling the songs that shaped them, recorded straight to analog tape with vintage gear to chase the warmth and grit of the originals. It sits comfortably in a catalog built on bluesy riffs and Jeff Keith's raspy, sandpaper-and-honey voice, and it plays less like a novelty than a heartfelt thank-you to their heroes.

"Space Truckin'" opens with Deep Purple's lumbering swagger intact, while "Bad Reputation" gives Thin Lizzy's twin-guitar snarl a fresh coat of grit. A reverent take on Led Zeppelin's tender "Thank You" shows their softer side, and UFO's "Rock Bottom" stretches out past eight minutes, giving the guitarists plenty of room to trade fire.

Elsewhere they dig into The Temptations, Traffic, Uriah Heep and The Rolling Stones, proving the band's tastes ran well beyond the heavy stuff, and the live-in-the-room feel suits every one of them.

For Tesla fans it is a rare look at the record collection behind the riffs, and for classic rock lifers it is a loving, loud reminder of why these songs still matter.