Jeff Beck - "Truth" (1968) - Epic Records
Hello Friends,
Jeff Beck's first LP gets a little lost in the shuffle these days, but it is arguably one of the more important blues-rock records to come out of the last 60's.
Not only does it feature some proto-heavy metal blues guitar work by the innovative Beck, but its the first album to feature Rod Stewart on lead vocals. Produced by legendary Mickie Most (!), with a young Ron Wood on bass(!!) and expert session drummer, Mick Waller, this album will rock your fucking socks off!
Beck left the Yardbirds in 1966, so what better way to kick-off his first solo LP with a hard rock, bluesy rearragement of the Yardbirds' hit, "Shape of Things"? Not only is Beck's guitar virtuosity on full display, but a young Rod Stewart's prowess when it comes to interpreting a song lyric. Boy, this guy might have a future in biz!
The combination of Beck and Stewart breath life into more traditional covers like Bonnie Dobson's "Morning Dew", Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me" & "I Ain't Superstitious", Jerome Kern's "Ol' Man River", and the English instrumental, "Greensleeves". (Three originals on the album are credited to "Jeffrey Rod"-- which, coincidentally, would also be my porn name!)
The highlight on the record is the instrumental, "Beck's Bolero". Written by Yardbirder and session man, Jimmy Page, and featuring Beck & Page squaring off on lead guitars, John Paul Jones on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano and Keith Moon (credited on the sleeve as "You Know Who") on drums. That's a shitload of talent on one song!
Pretty amazing record all around... a must-listen! And if you can, listen to it the way it was meant to be heard... Loud and On Vinyl!
Beck left the Yardbirds in 1966, so what better way to kick-off his first solo LP with a hard rock, bluesy rearragement of the Yardbirds' hit, "Shape of Things"? Not only is Beck's guitar virtuosity on full display, but a young Rod Stewart's prowess when it comes to interpreting a song lyric. Boy, this guy might have a future in biz!
The combination of Beck and Stewart breath life into more traditional covers like Bonnie Dobson's "Morning Dew", Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me" & "I Ain't Superstitious", Jerome Kern's "Ol' Man River", and the English instrumental, "Greensleeves". (Three originals on the album are credited to "Jeffrey Rod"-- which, coincidentally, would also be my porn name!)
The highlight on the record is the instrumental, "Beck's Bolero". Written by Yardbirder and session man, Jimmy Page, and featuring Beck & Page squaring off on lead guitars, John Paul Jones on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano and Keith Moon (credited on the sleeve as "You Know Who") on drums. That's a shitload of talent on one song!
Pretty amazing record all around... a must-listen! And if you can, listen to it the way it was meant to be heard... Loud and On Vinyl!
RATING: 5 SHAPES OF THINGS TO COME OUT OF 5
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