Top 10 Jeff Beck Songs
Jeff Beck is a guitar player’s guitar player with a career that spans sixty years and is one of the greatest electric guitar players to emerge from the 1960s and 1970s. First as the lead guitarist for the Yardbirds and later as the leader of his own band he became a rock guitar god. He perfected “Raga Rock” with the Yardbirds and introduced rock and roll to a level of psychedelic experimentation that used gadgets and feedback to create a completely new avenue of artistic expression.
To see Jeff Beck perform live is as mind-blowing as listening to his albums. His ability to effortlessly persuade his guitar to evoke sounds that transcend the mundane and take the listener on an aural journey that borders on being spiritual that almost seems alchemical in nature. During his career, he’s won seven Grammies and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Jeff Beck’s guitar playing style is so unique that even when he covers songs by other artists he interprets them entirely as his own.
Here are Blues Rock Review’s top 10 Jeff Beck songs.
10. “Led Boots”
“Led Boots” is from 1976’s Wired, an album that drives the sound into the stratosphere as Beck jams with his band in a frantic frenetic frenzy. The album title identifies the energy that exudes from the song selections and “Led Boots,” is a homage to Beck’s former guitar partner Jimmy Page and his group Led Zeppelin.
9. “Heart Full of Soul”
“Heart Full of Soul” by the Yardbirds included Jeff Beck who replaced Eric Clapton just before the recording was made in 1965. It marks a turn in the band’s sound which was the reason for Clapton’s departure. Beck included all kinds of electronic gear that altered the sound and began using feedback after being influenced by the sitar. Beck is credited with mimicking the sitar with his guitar and helping to invent the psychedelic sound that dominated the late 1960s through “Raga Rock.”
8. “Freeway Jam”
“Freeway Jam” was written by Jan Hammer, a regular collaborator and sometime band member with Beck, and was the keyboardist for the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s. The song was recorded for 1975’s Blow By Blow album but was also recorded live on 1977’s Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live album. The recording that appeared on the album was from a concert in Philadelphia at the “Spectrum” on October 9, 1976.
7. “Beck’s Bolero”
The first time that I heard “Beck’s Bolero” was on WABX Detroit, Michigan’s local underground radio station in the Winter of 1969. I was impressed enough to purchase a copy of Beck’s first album Truth soon afterward. “Bolero” itself was Beck’s first solo recording after leaving the Yardbirds in 1966 when Jimmy Page replaced him. The recording uses a group of musicians who later jokingly referred to themselves as an early version of Led Zeppelin and included Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Nicky Hopkins and Keith Moon. The tune itself was written by Jimmy Page who was inspired after listening to Ravel’s “Bolero.”
6. “I Ain’t Superstitious”
“I Ain’t Superstious” is a Howlin’ Wolf cover that Beck included on Truth. The album was produced by Mickie Most and recorded at Abby Road Studios in London. Rod Stewart’s primal raw voice was at the pre-Small Faces phase. At the same time future Faces and Rolling Stones lead guitarist Ron Wood played bass.
5. “People Get Ready”
“People Get Ready “ from 1985’s Flash has to be on the ten best list because it is one of the most accessible Jeff Beck songs with Rod Stewart singing lead vocals. The song hit the #5 position on “Billboard’s Mainstream Rock” and was originally written and recorded by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions in 1965 as a commentary on the Civil Rights movement.
4. “Get’s Us All In the End”
“Get’s Us All In the End” is another killer tune with an amazing guitar solo, and is also from 1985’s Flash album. The album won a Grammy for “Best Instrumental” but it had more vocals on it than normal with only two instrumentals.
3. “Lady”
“Lady” from Beck Bogert and Appice in 1973 is the only studio album that the short lived power trio recorded. This incarnation of Jeff Beck’s group included former members of psychedelic rock group Vanilla Fudge, drummer Carmine Appice and bass player Tim Bogert. They broke up in the middle of preparing to record their second studio album in 1974.
2. “Scatterbrain”
“Scatterbrain” is from 1975’s Blow by Blow and was written by Beck co-songwriter and keyboard player at the time, Max Middleton. It’s one of the best examples of the way that he was able to translate jazz wind instruments on his guitar much in the same way that he later went on to do it with the industrial garage sound of Guitar Shop fifteen years later.
1. “Guitar Shop”
“Guitar Shop” is the title song from Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop album in 1989 with Terry Bozzio on drums and longtime song collaborator Tony Hymas playing bass. When I saw Beck perform in July 1995 he was still touring with the same band as a power trio. When the band played “Guitar Shop” it was an experience to behold as everyone’s eardrums exploded with Terry Bozzio sitting behind his enormous drum kit hammering out thunder peals that were met with Beck’s guitar mimicking the sounds of an auto repair shop.
Informe impecable
Where is overunder sideways down
How come NO mention of his MOST famaous song–Hi Ho Silver Lining????
Really? “Come Dancing” isn’t in the top 10? Play it once or twice and get back to me. Incredible tune!
What about Goin’ Down??…and anything else from the Orange album. C’mon guys!
Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers is a glaring omission from this list. I’d personally replace #3 with it, order unimportant as long as it’s on the list.
Agreed!
Saw Jeff Beck Gr up I think it was 1972 In Nuremberg Germany(I was in service). ThankYou Sir!!
Let me love you from Truth
Jeff beck is from another planet.
Right, Cause We’ve Ended As Lover’s is a ridiculous omission from your top ten list..When you can get a guitar to laugh and cry at you in one song.. that’s special.
I like your “laugh and cry” statement. He indeed can do that. Truth was the first album I ever bought. Thanks for mentioning that for I agree with you.
I couldn’t agree more.
With Don.
Jeff beck r&r with rod Stewart
Beck is the best. His style is unique. His RockandRollParty is also a cool album.
Beck is one of those musicians where you know it’s him right away.Has a style all his own.Freeway us one of my favorites, probably because it’s one of the few that I can actually play close to the original.
Absolutely agree with Ed there. Let me love you is glaring omission. Mac
Also agreed, but then there’s also Rock My Plimsoul and a host of others… I mean top 10 for Beck? Almost impossible!
Gotta agree…..leaving out Goin Down from the top 10 is simply ridiculous.
Put it at # 1 and remove Guitar Shop entirely. It”s just a collection of riffs and noises. Not impressed. Cause We Ended as Lovers is also a glaring omission. I love the whole Live with Jan Hammer as well as Ice Cream Cakes…..oh I’ll pass on People Get Ready as well.
Beck bolero no me parece suficiente para estar en la lista en su lugar pudieron estar
Blues deluxe
Situation
Definitely maybe
Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers
A day in life
She’s a woman
Entre otras, pero al ser esto de gustos, esta bien.
I’ve been a fan since I was a kid growing up in the 70’s….didn’t think I’d ever get to see the guy growing up where I was, but then he got back on the road with Guitar Shop. Got courageous enough at one show and crawled backstage and started opening doors on buses….got to the second bus and there he was lounging with Tony Hymas and Pino Paladino….couldn’t freakin believe my luck. The man was gracious and very cool….signed my ticket and shook my hand. I understand this is a tribute, but how can you pull a list of 10 out his entire repertoire – impossible! From Beck’s Bolero to Hey Grease Monkey – there isn’t a bad tune in there! If you’re somewhere reading this Jeff – LONG LIVE THE KING!!!
Some good choices all around, however my 2 favorite tracks are New Ways/Train Train from the Rough & Ready album and Ice Cream Cakes from the Orange album. Both of these continue to blow me away, even after all these years.
Nessum Dorna not on the list? It’s amazing.
Saw Jeff live at a venue called the Heavy Steam Machine. Beck, Bogart and Appice. Brilliant concert. I’d known of the Yardbird. My brother had played Truth to death. I was a fan after seeing him.
Where’s All the Good Stuff ?
Cause we ended as lovers, Blue wind, A day in the life ? 😡😡
Where’s All the Good Stuff ?
Cause we ended as lovers, Blue wind, A day in the life ? 😡😡
I saw Jeff & Rod Stewart last year at the Hollywood Bowl, Not enough of Jeff there
Jan Hammer didn’t write Freeway Jam. It was Max Middleton. And Jimmy Page didn’t REPLACE Jeff Beck in the Yardbirds. Originally bassist traded with the rythm guitar player.
Rice Pudding
Danny Boy
What the hell.
Too many to choose from.
Jeff plays every song like an encore performance.
Guitar Shop was a total disappointment to me and Jan Hammer never supported Beck like Max Middleton. That nothing off either Jeff Beck Group records made the grade is surprising. How about Situation and New Ways Train Train. The solos on both are simply kick ass. One more, Angel, from “mid late peiod” Beck shows his ethereal touch and melodicism. He’s in a class of his own.
You cannot pick ten top songs by Beck-they are all too good. Listen to the nuance of Brush with the Blues, and tell me why it isn’t the best, except for all the others. Heard him play When You Wish Upon a Star live and unaccompanied-the guy next to me said he was going to cry! Jeff Beck: the guitarist Clapton said he won’t follow in concert. I drove three hours to see Beck live at Myrtle Beach House of Blues-twice; wish he would come back!!
WABX…..those were the days back in 69…..playing whole sides of Zappa’s Freak Out! Hahaha…..yep i remember they used to play Beck’s Bolero/Truth album a lot
Hmm… No “Cause We Ended As Lovers” or “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” or “Big Block” or “Highways” or “Goin’ Down” or “Plinth” or “Situation”? I could go on and on without even getting to the ones you mentioned.
I’ve always like Beck since my high school days in the early 70,s. I swear he had a guitar as a soother when he was a baby.l listed to the yardbyrds sice the middle 60,s n cream, n zeppelin too. No more greats like that anymore. Too much hip hop n rap in the rock hall now . It’s an insult to r+r.
Loudhailer was the album of the year so I’d have to have … Thug’s club. Also, Where Were you from Guitar Shop.
Lists are hard, so I’m just adding alternatives, not slamming your choices. 🙂
Yes, Goin Down and
Cause We Ended as Lovers are too awesome to not be included.
Jeff is one of the hottest players in my collection
My Top 10:
Going Down- Orange Album
Definitely Maybe- Orange Album
Superstition- Beck, Bogert and Appice
ScatterBrain- Blow by Blow
Cause We ended As lovers- Blow By Blow
Diamond Dust- Blow By Blow
Freeway Jam- Blow By Blow
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat – Wired
Blue Wind – Wired
Where Were You (EPIC)- Jeff Beck’s guitar Shop
Behind The Veil – Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop
*ANY Beatles Cover
Star Cycle from There And Back was boss.
I would have to add El Becko…..