Jump to content
Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

Jeff Beck


Compact Diss

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 44
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Oh My GOD! Are you in for a shock, almost regardless of what records you pick up.

 

He is just amazing, he can make all kinds of noises and stuff and switch to as lyrical and sweet as anyone. Slide or regular he is a unique voice on the instrument with only his imagination to limit him in a rock/blues setting and some jazzy stuff too.

 

I like "The Jeff Beck Group" album with the orange on it and pic s of the band. It has tunes like "Ice Cream Cakes" on it. "Truth" is cool, "Blow By Blow" is a classic, I liked "Guitar Shop" for all the noises and attitude, and "Wired" is another great record.

 

I don't know all his records but I'm sure there aren't too many bad ones ;)

 

While he never made me say "Jimi who? " I did say "Jimmy who? "

check out some comedy I've done:

http://louhasspoken.tumblr.com/

My Unitarian Jihad Name: Brother Broadsword of Enlightened Compassion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Truth and Wired. Both are innovative, and capture the essence of Beck that was the biggest influence on other guitarists. He's still amazing, but his later stuff is not quite as influential.

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

This ain't no track meet; this is football.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My first Jeff Beck LP was Wired and I played it until the needle came through the other side! :D

 

It's Jan Hammer running the keys that he's chasing about and it's pretty high energy stuff. In my opinion the best display of his fabulous guitar ability but perhaps an acquired taste for some.

 

This will describe it all for you.

Jeff\'s work in detail

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's a great compilation set called Beckology. It runs the gammit of his career. What's really cool is Jeff has been activelt touring the last five years. If he comes up your way, go check him out. He's a legend, and even at 60, still has unbelievable skills.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

During the British revolution, Jeff Beck was one of the progressive British guitarists who was exploring American blues on overdrive.

 

Rod Stewart was the singer in the Jeff Beck Group and Ron Wood played Bass. They had several blues based albums.

 

Jeff Beck went on to record a couple of instrumental albums that had a huge impact on the music community in general, not just guitar players. These albums were "Blow by Blow" and "Wired". Jan Hammer played on "Wired" and played on a live album with Jeff Beck. Also of note, both "Blow by Blow" and "Wired" were produced by George Martin.

 

As far as guitar playing goes, I believe Beck plays by instinct and without fear. As a result, he is very innovative and a great inspiration to us all. He does not use a pick and uses the whammy bar to play melodies. I noticed that he constantly cradles the bar in his right hand as he fingerpicks his guitar. The volume control on his strat is also part of the equation.

 

His need to explore new stuff leaves us with a little sludge on some of his recordings but I don't mind this at all because he has opened up so many doors for me and, i'm sure, for others as well.

 

As far as recordings go, I would recommend starting with "Blow by Blow" and "Wired" but anything would be worth exploring.

 

Beck also played on an episode of the PBS program "The Blues" along with Tom Jones and it was excellent. Some good video of Beck playing his strat illustrates some of the techniques I mentioned above.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

get these two cd's Blow By Blow and Guitar Shop.

 

Blow by Blow is an early period cd, with an awesome Stevie Wonder cover, "Cause we ended as lovers". George Martin produced.

 

Guitar Shop, more recent record. Some awesome stuff, "Where were you" is a stand out.

 

The bottom line is Jeff Beck phrases, where most guitarsts of his era played licks. At this point, his touch and aggression are just not comparable to anyone else.

There is no substitute.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plus he is a freak of nature. He more or less looks the same today as he did in 1970, but not in a plastic surgery way like Dick Clark.

 

btw, Chrissy Hynde cuts her hair the way she does and plays a Tele because she thought that Jeff Beck was too cool.

There is no substitute.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If there is anyone out there that has caught the true spirit of Jimi Hendrix when it comes to playing the guitar, it is Jeff Beck. He produces some of the most amazing sounds - and he doesn't even use a pick.

 

drfuzz

"I'm just here to regulate the funkiness"
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jeff Beck is one of the guitarists who influenced Hendrix back in the mid-sixties. While Jimi was still playing on the Chitlin' circuit Beck was ripping it up with The Yardbirds. I've seen him live recently and he is still thrilling to hear. His style has continued to evolve into something totally unique. I love his recent CDs as much as I did his work since the beginning. I also played a Telecaster when I started because he was my idol.

 

I wish I had his hair though, mine's gone now!

Mac Bowne

G-Clef Acoustics Ltd.

Osaka, Japan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Joe Cole:

get these two cd's Blow By Blow and Guitar Shop.

 

Blow by Blow is an early period cd, with an awesome Stevie Wonder cover, "Cause we ended as lovers". George Martin produced.

 

Guitar Shop, more recent record. Some awesome stuff, "Where were you" is a stand out.

 

The bottom line is Jeff Beck phrases, where most guitarsts of his era played licks. At this point, his touch and aggression are just not comparable to anyone else.

Wow, freaky. I woulda said *exactly* the same thing.

 

I remember back in the '70s when the FM DJ (back when FM was "cool") would announce "'Cuz We Ended As Lovers" simply as "the masterpiece."

 

There aren't many "Guitar Shop" fans, but "Where Were You" is a standout in my mind as well.

band link: bluepearlband.com

music, lessons, gig schedules at dennyf.com

 

STURGEON'S LAW --98% of everything is bullshit.

 

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: The Jackhammer of Love and Mercy.

Get yours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe I'm a dork, but his version of "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" can still make me cry sometimes.

 

Check out all ya can. There isn't anything that's awful, and you'll learn a lot.

 

I think what I like most about his playing is his ability to get so many sounds out of whatever guitar he's playing, and the amp.

You'll hear this a number of times in detail on "Blow By Blow".... how a simple change in right hand position, or a variance in attack, will completely alter the sound.

I used to think it was effects, or overdubs... but I was wrong. He's all about technique.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Ricky

Click on some ads once in a while!! :) -------------->
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank for all the insight. I picked up "Blow by Blow" tonight. Working with no pick, sounds are great. I love this CD so far and I'm only onto song four.

 

I will always be a better music collector than a musician, I need to buy up all his stuff now--"Wired" is next.

 

Regret, he was here with BB King a little time ago and I skipped out on the show....

 

Thanks for all the help.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A good place to find most all of his old CD's for a good price is Half.com .

From the pull down menue at the top of the page select music, type in Jeff Beck and click go. It will bring up a list of all his CD's that are for sale and will also list a lot of other CD's that feature him as a contributing artist. He has played on a ton of CD's. People like Rod Stewart, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top etc. just to name a few.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ive been a fan since 1968.

A few other tidbits.

 

He NEVER uses a pick- he picks with multiple fingers and is very good at tweaking his tone note by note with his technique. Lately he has evolved to generate his tones primarily from guitar and amp without allot of boxes in the chain- the tone is in his fingers.

 

I would say that his past few years releases have emphsized technique and tone- and lack musicality compared to some of the classic material. IMHO.

 

One of my fav tunes is on a George Martin tribute disc called "In my Life". Jeff does a version of " A day in the life" that always leaves me stunned. I saw him do it live and just had to search out this hard to find disc to get this tune. (Martin produced the exquisite Blow by Blow album)

 

Another fav cut is on a jimi hendrix tribute album of a few years ago. Jeff does a version of Manic depression with Seal on vox that is also stunning.

 

Jeff tried out with the Stones when Mick Taylor left the band. The stones are big fans. However, the styles did not mesh well and Ron Wood got the job.

 

Jeff has got one of the heaviest British street accents ever- he tends not to speak very much in public.

 

He also very into doing his own custom work on cars.

 

At various times he's played either Gibson LP's or strats. However, it always sounds like him.

Check out some tunes here:

http://www.garageband.com/artist/KenFava

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think anyone here has mentioned the album "Jeff Beck - Live with Jan Hammer." We wore that one out when I was in high school.

 

You should also check out a Yardbirds collection. Some pretty over-the-top playing for the mid sixties. Especially his playing on Train Kept A' Rollin. :thu:

Mudcat's music on Soundclick

 

"Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo-

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Mudcat:

I don't think anyone here has mentioned the album "Jeff Beck - Live with Jan Hammer." We wore that one out when I was in high school.

 

You should also check out a Yardbirds collection. Some pretty over-the-top playing for the mid sixties. Especially his playing on Train Kept A' Rollin. :thu:

Everyone seems to go back to the same three or four albums, but every album he did has a keeper or two.

 

'Beck-Ola' has some killer songs like 'Spanish Boots', and 'Rice pudding' where Beck plays some sweet slide. http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd800/d840/d84034n1hb8.jpg

 

And 'Jeff Beck Group' has 'Definitely Maybe', one of the best songs he ever played.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc800/c843/c84385fd15r.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned There and Back. "Star Cyle," "El Becko," "The Pump" (featured in the movie "Risky Business")-this album is crammed with monster playing. His solos on "Star Cycle" are some of the biggest inspirations ever to my playing.

 

Even the albums that are not considered his best, such as "Flash"-contain amazing guitar work.

 

Eric Clapton once said of Jeff Beck, "When he's on, he's the best there is," and I wholheartedly agree.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As far as I know it wasn't until the late eighties or so that Beck abandoned playing with a pick.

 

Some more about "Where Were You" from Guitar Shop--Beck plays the melody using harmonics and whammy bar bends and it is utterly beautiful, soaring, and a complete tour de force. He does something similar but in an Indianish vein on "Nadia" from You Had It Coming

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Blow by blow-the whole record, simply amazing.

Showed rocker's how to play fusion.

And "Guitar Shop's" Where were you-perhaps the best use anyone's ever made of a wammy bar. Just a piece of art.

Anyone see the ARMS concert? Clapton, Beck, and Page. Beck stood shoulders above the others in ability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, "Cause We ended as lovers" on Blow by Blow - what a great improv on a great album.

 

If I've scanned this thread correctly so far, no one has recommended his "Flash" CD. And for GOOD REASON. It was recorded in the midst of a horrifying era known as the 80's and it really shows. OK, fair warning.

Just a pinch between the geek and chum

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...