Customer Reviews

The Best of Jeff Beck featuring Rod Stewart

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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This compilation contains the best tracks from the first two Jeff Beck Group albums from 1968 and 1969. Moreover there are some great singles only tracks from the same period.

Beck's first album "Truth" is possibly his greatest and most consistent release. 7 of the tracks come from that album. "Beck's Bolero" is in all but name the Yardbirds, in the same line-up that did "Happening 10 Years Time Ago" and the "Blow Up" performance. Beck's version of Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me" sounds a lot like early Led Zeppelin; even Rod Stewart sounds like Robert Plant. Other highlights from that album is the re-recording of "Shapes of Things", which has been slowed down a little making it an ever greater song.

Their second album "Beck Ola" is represented by 5 tracks. The album is not nearly as strong as "Truth" - the material weaker, some songs go on for too long and Stewart's vocals can be a little overstrung at times. Best track from that album is "Plynth".

Among the single tracks "Tallyman" is a great mod/pop-art piece sounding like Creation or the Who. Written by Graham Gouldman. Another hit-single was "Hi Ho Silver Lining" - a commercial song featuring a very unorthodox guitar-solo from Beck. Sounding quite a lot like the Yardbirds.

The CD is very recommendable for fans of the Yardbirds - though the re-release of "Truth" with bonus-tracks may be an even more satisfying investment.

This CD was excellent. It covered Jeff's work in this era more so than Beckology did. What Beckology didnt have, this did. Great best of CD.

Super compilation featuring some awesome Jeff Beck guitar licks. The man displays great power and creative touches on his guitar. Sometimes loud and sometimes soft but always good.

And of course there are some awesome contributions by Rod Stewart, Mick Waller, Ron Wood, and Nicky Hopkins. The version of Jailhouse Rock is just mind blowing. What lightning fast fingers on the keyboards by Mr. Hopkins. I've Been Drinking is another highlight with some excellent vocals by Rod set to a nice gospel backing. The guitar solo just sends shivers down my spine. Rock My Plimsoul has a great tone and Love Is Blue features some nice color on the guitar tones.

This is a near five star compilation. A few tracks are a bit overdone most notably All Shook Up is totally unrecognizable from the original. Its done too heavy handed. Spanish Boots also suffers a similar fate and Rice Pudding goes on a bit too long. However, out of sixteen tracks about ten or twelve are clearly Grade A.

Somehow, Jeff Beck got lost in the annals of guitar super-stardom history. One of what I consider to be the "Big Three" founding fathers of Blues-based rock guitar, Jeff Beck shows his unique innovation in this collection. After the Yardbirds, we all know the directions Page and Clapton went in, but here we get to see how Beck really grows and matures as a serious guitar player; while maintaining a solid foundation rooted in Blues. My favorite track is "I ain't Superstitious". Willie Dixon wrote it, Howlin' Wolf originally recorded it, many have covered it, but the most unique interpretation is the Beck/Stewart rendition. Just Beck's use of wah and slap-back delay effects with slide playing lay the groundwork for his future rock/fusion trailblazing.

This is a great cd!! Rod stewart and Jeff Beck sound great together. Just to bad there isnt more of them together.

Gemm! Nice compilation of the *best* Jeff Beck group. If you are rock & blues guitar fan you must own this CD.