Legend says a young Robert Johnson would sit at the feet of Mississippi blues great Eddie James “Son” House, mimicking each note.

-Johnson would become history’s most respected Delta player and take fellow statesman B.B. King under his wing.

In 2000, King released “Riding With The King,” a duet with Eric Clapton. The lineage has come full circle on Clapton’s current album, “Me And Mr. Johnson,” a 14-song record of Johnson tunes.

Unfortunately, Clapton’s current role in the blues pedigree is questionable. A living legend paying homage to his roots is a good concept, but the idea loses its appeal when the legend is past his prime and butchers the work of his predecessor.

Johnson’s original tracks fell victim to the audio shortcomings of the period, but the one-microphone approach of the 1930s created the era’s distinctive sound.

Clapton embraces the modern conveniences of multi-tracking and countless hours in the studio with Pro Tools. The hyper-produced album ignores Johnson’s original concept of a man and his guitar. Instead, Clapton involves a full band with multiple harmonies and plush interpretations of timeless standards like “Hellhound On My Trail” and “They’re Red Hot.” By doing so, the essence of each track is lost.

The album cover features a sloppy oil painting of Clapton mimicking Johnson’s most famous photograph. The irony is fitting as the record itself seems like a watercolor rendition of the Mona Lisa — unmistakable framework but diluted content.