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Rating: Two albums combined into one. One from 1968, the other from 1969. This merging, orchestrated by EMI, took place in 1991. Rock-blues at 360°. This is Jeff Beck, one of the most influential and technically skilled guitarists in the history of UK-made rock-blues. His entire influence can be found in these two albums, released just a year apart. On vocals, there's a certain Rod Stewart, enlisted by Jeff himself, along with other great musicians, after departing from the Yardbirds in the mid-'60s. The result is quite exceptional.
Slightly harder and more acidic distortions compared to the Yardbirds period, yet with great impact and style. In "Truth", there are unparalleled solos (such as in "Shapes Of Things" or "Let Me Love You") and blues rhythms executed with a class that few (like Clapton and Hendrix) possessed at the time. "You Shook Me" is the manifesto of Blues with a capital "B". A classic chord progression repeated endlessly that, together with keyboards, lends an extreme touch of class to the track and the entire album. "Greensleeves" is a sweet acoustic instrumental track (with an unforgettable arpeggio) just under two minutes long, showing us how even the simplest things can be highly effective. One doesn't need to do astronomically technical things to captivate the listener's ear, and the Beatles taught much about this.
"Beck-Ola" follows the foundation laid by "Truth". Endless guitar virtuosity signed by Beck ("Spanish Boots" and the beautiful concluding "Rice Pudding"), delicate instrumental episodes (this time with a piano base in "Girl From Mill Valley", four minutes to listen to with closed eyes), mid-century blues classics ("Jailhouse Rock"), and tracks that wink at Deep Purple-like psychedelia and hard-rock (the already mentioned "Rice Pudding", the 7-minute instrumental closing track).
Two albums decidedly above the lines of Beck's entire production.
As a guitarist, he had much more echo with the Yardbirds than solo, but thanks to his formidable technique and his extraordinary Beck-group (Rod Stewart, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Ron Wood on bass, Mickey Waller and Tony Newman on drums, the first in "Truth", the second in "Beck-Ola") he managed to create works that would become authentic blues manifestos.
In two words: virtuous and ingenious. Simply an outstanding blues-man.
Tracklist
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