What do you want to be doing when you're 91? Me, my aims are modest. Although it would be thrilling indeed if I were one of those spry nonagenarians who still get around on their own, live full lives, and trade witty and cantakerous banter with three or four generations of descendents, I will settle for merely drawing breath and retaining a few teeth, some mental acuity, and the power to poop at a time and place of my own choosing. That's not so much to ask, is it?

What does Les Paul do at 91? Well, the inventor of the electric guitar still keeps a weekly gig at the jazz club Iridium in Manhattan and somehow finds the wherewithal to participate in a new album. I say "participate" because the album isn't so much a Les Paul recording as it is a tribute to the man, sort of a roast in reverse, a féte in which the Gods of Rock pay homage to the god that made them.

The album in question, Les Paul & Friends, American Made/World Played is several things: an enjoyable romp by a past master of the guitar; a guest-packed tribute to that master; and an ad brochure for the Gibson Les Paul guitar. After all "American Made, World Played" is a registered trademark of the Gibson guitar company, and making it the title of a Les Paul record is simultaneously nifty and really, really cheesy. Kind of like the record itself, but more on that in a moment.

The obvious point of comparison for any album of this kind is with Sinatra's Duets records, but there are some important differences to note. On Duets Sinatra had it both ways, literally phoning in some of the performances on Duets II via fiber optic line, and yet never ever letting one of his duet partners steal the spotlight. The result was music by Sinatra, with some guests along for the ride.

In contrast, although Les Paul actually plays his instrument on each track on American Made/World Played, his contributions tend to fade deep into the mix, letting his guests take the spotlight. Even though it is ostensibly a Les Paul record, it is through his legacy that Paul influences the proceedings most. Perhaps this speaks to an important personality difference between the larger-than-life Frank Sinatra and the homey and self deprecating Les Paul. Or, perhaps when you cram performances by Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, and Rick Derringer together into one song, the Chairman himself wouldn't get a shoo-be-doo-be-do in edgewise.

It is this logjam of egos that is obviously the biggest challenge to an album of this kind. And what a collection of heavy hitters! The level of star power on American Made World Played staggers the mind, and every track has been carefully engineered to give them their space. Here is merely a selection: on guitar; Kenny Wayne Shepard, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons, Neal Schon, Jeff Beck, Richie Sambora, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, Rick Derringer, Steve Miller, and Joe Perry; on vocals, Gibbons, Guy, Johnny Rzeznik, Miller, Gibbons, Edgar Winter, the great Sam Cooke and the soon great Joss Stone. Rhythm duties are held down by studio legends like bassists Will Lee and Abe Laboriel, Sr. and drummers Kenny Aronoff, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Abe Laboriel, Jr. Even if you don't believe that Richie Sambora is fit to lick the mud from Jeff Beck's shoe, that's a Murderer's Row of talent. A 1927 Yankees, a 1975 Reds, a 1985 Celtics. And if Richie Sambora doesn't measure up, well, every championship team needs a utility infielder.