Beckology - Jeff Beck > Reviews > He's Got an -Ology

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	A comprehensive history of one of the greatest guitarists of all time
Disadvantages:	Hi Ho Silver Lining

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Jeff Beck is one of the most important guitarists of the sixties, and still making excellent music today. He was in the Yardbirds along with Clapton and Page and his work was only eclipsed by the brilliance of Hendrix. This is a brilliantly compiled three CD set which contains a sixty four page booklet with track information and personel listings, as well as "the Jeff Beck story" by Gene Santoro, and a complete (but eye strainingly small) band family tree.

The compilation is arranged chronologically. The first disc kicks of with his work with Tridents, followed by fifteen Yardbirds songs including "Shapes of Things", "Over Under Sideways Down" and "Happenings Ten Years Time Time Ago" as well as various blues standards and variousslices of pscychedelia. These are followed by fpour tracks live at the BBC which are standard R'n'B workouts. The disc is closed by the first solo singles including the aberration of "Hi Ho Silver Lining" that Beck was forced into by the svengali like producer Mickey Most. However "Beck's Bloero" goes some, but not all the way, towards repairing the damage. But it was a hit and made hime some money. This is a warts and all compilation, but Beck doesnt have that many warts.

After he left the Yardbirds he formed the Jeff Beck Group, that included Rod Stewart on vocals and Ronnie Wood on bass. Half a dozen tracks from this line up's two albums kick off the second disc including slowed down monstrous versions of "Shapes of Things" and "Jailhouse Rock". When Rod & Ron went off to form the Faces , Jeff recruited new faces including Bobby Tench and Max Middleton to form JBG mark II and these are represented by four tracks here.

Jeff then formed BBA with Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert , previously with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus. The music was heavy blues featuring heavy use of Beck's guitar and this Cd includes a version of Stevie Wonder's Superstition and two extend libe workouts, Black Cat Boan and Blues Deluxe/BBA Boogie the latter clocking in at almost seventeen minutes.

The final volume kicks of with Becks solo instrumental work when he was moving into jazz rock. The guitar playing gets better and more refined as the collection progresses, but still keeps the excitement factor high."Freeway Jam" and "Diamond Dust" are particularly excellent. Unfortunately "Star Cycle" from the "There and Back" album (and used as the theme to "The Tube") is not included, but we can forgive this.

The collection finishes with a selection of songs from the 1980's including a gorgeous version of "People Get Ready" which reunited Beck with Rod Stewart. There are also some sountrack versions of standards such as "The Train Kept Rollin'" and the collection closes with a couple of tracks from the "Guitar Shop" album with Tony Hymas and Terry Bozzio.

This is a superb collection , and a must for anyone interested in guitar based rock. It's also interesting to compare his work with luminaries such as Clapton, Page and Hendrix. IT's available on mid price so you should be able to pick it up for well under twenty pounds. It cost me £14.99 in a sale at HMV.