He never had A signature song is his peers and sometimes band mates Jimmy page And Eric Clapton did, but those types Jeff Beck Throughout his career chart has explored rock – and rock guitar – changes over the decades. One of rock’s most physical technicians, Beck enjoys wrestling with his instrument. But not content to stay there, he moved on to the prevailing blues-rock of the late Sixties and the harder boogie and fusion of the next decade. The settings changed, but his style remained the same: notes that cut like a switchblade, but revel in the melody of a song. Here are some of his best songs.
“Heartful Soul” (1965)
Two of 1965’s best fuzz-guitar riffs were recorded a few weeks apart, and Jeff Beck got there first, laying down his decade-defining, sitar-abbing line on the hit before Keith Richards hit his own pedal. cannot get) satisfaction.” For the single, Beck simply rewrote the verse-versus-melody—which worked for him just as it did for Kurt Cobain 26 years later. – Ph
Yardbirds, “Jeff’s Boogie” (1966)
“You should know ‘Jeff’s Boogie,'” Stevie Ray Vaughan once said. “Nobody knew it was actually the Chuck Berry song ‘Guitar Boogie.'” Beck no doubt owes Perry at least one co-writing credit for this track, but on the other hand, he revamps his version almost beyond recognition, full of blinding flows and pinging harmonics ahead of their time. – Ph
Yardbirds“Browse” (from Demolition1966)
Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film has some unforgettable moments. Demolition, a scene in which David Hemmings’ character catches the Yardbirds at the club while trying to solve a murder in which his photograph was taken. A young Jimmy Page plays along while Keith Relf breaks into tears on vocals, but Beck gets frustrated with his amp and destroys his guitar. “I had a fit when Antonioni told me to break my guitar,” he said told us In 1971. “I said, ‘Wait a minute, that’s Townshend’s thing’.” He recalled watching the film for the first time: “I was totally embarrassed. I was so hard in the film, man! It’s hot under the lights, and after all, I’m ruining myself with those tight pants. – I am
“Pekin’s Bolero” (1967)
The Who’s Keith Moon on drums, future Led Zeppelin member Jon Paul Jones on bass, frequent Rolling Stones collaborator Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Beck guitars is this deceptively brief mad-genius proto-prog instrumental from the epochal supergroup. Along with Page, he masterminded his Yardbirds band and future Zeppelin. Page begins with an acoustic riff as Beck carries the melody into an electric groove, before ascending to an explosion of symphonic psychedelia and all-time classic hard-rock. – Ph
Jeff Beck Group, “I’m Not Superstitious” (1968)
When Led Zeppelin first debuted, some rock fans (including rock critic John Mendelsohn) found him popular. Trashed them Inside Rolling Stone), saw them as an inferior ripoff The Jeff Beck Group. These powerhouse-like takes on Willie Dixon’s blues classic, originally recorded by Howlin’ Wolf, help explain why. – Ph
Jeff Beck Group, “You Shook Me” (1968)
A year before Zeppelin got their hands on it, Jeff Beck’s group cut a messy-sounding version of Willie Dixon’s 1962 blues classic “You Shook Me,” which featured future Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. “I was scared because I thought they were going to be the same,” Jimmy Page said. “But I didn’t know he did it, and he didn’t know we did.” Let’s take Page at his word that his bassist didn’t mention it to him, and Jeff Beck’s take is clearly superior. – Ag
Beck, Bogart, Appis, “Superstition” (1973)
The result of a jam session with Beck and Stevie Wonder, “Superstition” was recorded before Wonder’s own version. A talking book, and it became the signature song of Beck’s short-lived trio of Carmine Appice and Tim Bogart’s vanilla fudge rhythm section. It’s still a kick to hear Wonder’s monster clavinet part instead of Beck’s guitar. – DB
“Cause We’re Done Being Lovers” (1975)
Beck’s skills as a technician often overshadowed how emotional his playing could be, and there’s no better example in his catalog than his instrumental version of this Stevie Wonder ballad from 1975. blow blow. Kajol jabs her guitar and cries at the end. – DB
“Blue Wind” (1976)
In the mid-seventies, he worked with producer George Martin and occasional keyboardist John Hammer. Written by Hammer and added in 1976 WiredThe insanely rubbery and boisterous “Blue Wind” proved Beck could fly up and down the fretboard like the leading fusion players of the era, but with added fury and sting. – DB
Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart“Get Ready People” (1985)
Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart took two separate paths when the original Jeff Beck Group disbanded in 1969, but came back together 16 years later to cover Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” on Beck’s LP. Flash. Stewart said Rolling Stone In 2018, his voice and Beck’s guitar are a “match made in heaven,” and that’s very evident on this cover, which wound up their final studio collaboration. – Ag
“A Day in the Life” (1998)
The The Beatles“A Day in the Life” is a masterpiece that’s hard to cover in any meaningful way. An exception came on the obscure 1998 George Martin LP in my life, Jeff Beck tackled the song without a singer, recreating the vocal melody on his guitar. It is a magnificent example of his talent, and is the culmination of his concerts for the last quarter century of his career. – Ag
