A few years after its release, Walking Into Clarksdale is collecting dust in my collection. I pulled it out the other day hoping it had ripened with age, but sadly it was rotten. It's my opinion that the quality of this recording was compromised to keep Mr. Plant on board -- he didn't want to make a traditional Jimmy Page produced guitar orchestra record. So what we are left with is sparse arrangements that only hint at the drama possible. There's good stuff here, but it feels rushed to press and lacks the solid production signature we expect from Jimmy Page, even when shackled with hack David Coverdale. 2001 may bring a new Page/Plant CD -- hopefully this one will return Jimmy to the wheel where he belongs. Oh, and by the way, Plant's singing has never been more nasal and whining.