Jeff Beck - Truth
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Free Music Notes for Truth
Free Music Review: A defining moment in proto-metal and hard rock
Hit: 5 Stars
Jeff Beck never attained the success of other hard rock/proto-metal artists like Led Zeppelin, but he was just as important and influential. On his debut album "Truth", Beck lays down the law for hard rock guitar playing, and his fantastic band showed everyone how to do the rest.Beck's days with the Yardbirds don't go untold - the opening track is an interesting and inspired cover of the old 'birdie's hit "Shapes of Things". Some people don't like it as much as the original, and maybe it's not as psychedelic or as bouncy, but I think it is a fine performance. Beck and his band really shine on other tracks, though. "Let Me Love You", "You Shook Me" and "I Ain't Superstitious" are all highlights and some of the hardest rocking tunes in the set. The fine crew of musicians supporting Jeff includes Ron Wood's incredible bass (which at times rivals Jack Bruce), Mick Waller's thundering drums, and Nicky Hopkins' awesome piano and organ work. John Paul Jones of (later) Led Zeppelin fame even contributes some organ work on "Ol' Man River", the latter of which is also a showcase for Rod Stewart's fantastic vocals.
"Truth" is often described as the blueprint for Led Zeppelin's first album. There is no doubt that "Truth" was a huge influence on the Zep (Jimmy Page's guitar work echoes Jeff's leads on "Let Me Love You" very clearly). There are very direct similarities between the two: "Shapes of Things" is Beck's "Good Times Bad Times", "Let Me Love You" and "I Ain't Superstitious" are "I Can't Quit You", "You Shook Me" was done by BOTH groups (I like Beck's version the best - rawer and more dynamic, although too short), and "Morning Dew" and "Ol' Man River" = "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". Rod Stewart's vocals must have influenced Robert Plant hugely.
Let's see, of the tracks I haven't mentioned yet, let's start with "Greensleeves" ("Aye, that's a lovely toon"). Although this track is often described as a weak point, it's one of my favorites. As noted in the liner notes, it *is* a lovely "toon". Fantastic guitar playing (as usual from old Jeff). Okay, "Rock My Plimsoul": basically a slightly altered cover of B.B. King's old standard "Rock Me Baby". Not really a highlight of the album, as it offers nothing really new, but it's still a good track with great playing. And, "Beck's Bolero" seems to be the "big" track, according to everybody. Seeing as it features Jimmy Page on second guitar and Keith Moon of the Who on drums, it is one hell of a performance and one hell of a track. It's awesome. I also have to mention "Ol' Man River" as being one of my favorites. No, it doesn't feature devastating guitar-work, but it's a great song with *amazing* singing by Mr. Stewart.
"Truth" is a good one, a *really* good one. It's just as good as Zeppelin's first effort, and definitely more varied. Kudos goes to the remastering as well - great sound, not "harsh" and not too much noise reduction. Overall, "Truth" stands the test of time as one of classic rock's great recordings.
Free Music Review: TRUTH BE TOLD, THIS IS FANTASTIC!
Hit: 5 Stars
Hard rock albums don't come any better than this one. "Truth" came out sometime in 1968, right after Jeff Beck's stint with the Yardbirds. A great band in their own right who featured 3 great guitar aces in Clapton, Page, and Beck. But it was Beck who was miles ahead of these guys in his knowledge and confidence with the six string. He makes sounds come out of his guitar on "Truth" that I've never heard before or since. What adds fuel to the fire is the singing of a young Rod Stewart, who is in top form on here. He has that good gritty voice that, for my money, is cut out much more for singing this type of music than his later pop material. Some of the outstanding tracks here: "SHAPES OF THINGS", a reworking of the old Yardbirds song with a little different arrangement, and a meaner and better version. "LET ME LOVE YOU" is a nice heavy blues rock tune with a riff in it that's probably been copied a thousand times since. But it's a Beck original. Great singing by Stewart too. "YOU SHOOK ME" is one of the rudest blues songs ever thrown on vinyl. It's 2:28 of pure angry guitar work. "OL' MAN RIVER" A great slow reworking of the old gospel song. Everyone sounds super on this one. Great drumming by Mick Waller, and quite possibly the best singing performance of Rod Stewart's career. Turn this one up to get the full affects. It's great. "ROCK MY PLIMSOUL" is a good mid-tempo blues shuffle that will never be improved upon from this version. The guitar of Beck and the voice of Stewart trading licks with each other is something to behold. "BECK'S BOLERO" easily makes my top 10 list of best instrumental songs ever. Very heavy stuff. "I AIN'T SUPERSTITIOUS", what can I say about this old Willie Dixon tune. I still hear it to this day played on the radio from time to time. It's timeless. I think it's the best reworking of a standard blues song that's ever been made. I've never heard a guitar reach out and talk to me the way this one does. Beck's an absolute showoff here. And a genius with a six string. I would lay money that Jimmy Page was giving a close listen to this album before starting his venture with Led Zepplin. Along with most of the other 70's rock acts. I'm always surprised when my music loving friends tell me they've never heard of this album. It's a true classic, and Beck's best work. For me, it's the best blues rock record of the 60's. Fans of classic rock should give "Truth" a listen. I promise it'll knock your socks off.Free Music Review: Make No Mistake,This Is Not The Precursor Of Led Zeppelin.
Hit: 5 Stars
When Jeff Beck was recording his first solo single "Hi Ho Silver Lining"(produced by Mickey Most,arranged by one John Paul Jones),the guitarrist summoned his mates Jimmy Page,Keith Moon and Nicky Hopkins for the flip "Beck's Bolero" written by Page(Beck wanted to play some guitar parts that Page put together around Maurice Ravel's Bolero,hence the title.Page produced and played twelve-string guitar on the piece).They liked the experience so much that thought of carrying on as a band with Small Faces vocalist Steve Marriot by Page's recommendation.This was not possible and eventually the idea was dropped as The Who and The Yardbirds had commitments to fulfill.
Next Beck recorded this album in full,Page formed Led Zeppelin and recorded his own offering.The result was a hammering over Page for the simmilarities found on both recordings.Who was right?,well Page produced the follow-up,Led Zeppelin II and Beck didn't,his Beckola attempted the folk-oriented material that is so characteristic of Zeppelin but without artistic success,which suggests that Truth was indeed a product of Beck's genius as a guitarrist and Page's vision as a songwriter,producer and band leader.
In fact,the much maligned vocal/guitar dual leads can be found on the Yardbird's "Little Games" album in the songs 'Drinking Muddy Waters'(which is a remake of "rollin' and tumblin'" that dates back to Robert Johnson ,from where the original concept originates in the first place) and the titletrack,except that at the time Page did his arrangements with harmonica and strings because Keith Relf,Yardbird's vocalist,was not up to par with wailing singers such as Marriot.
That said the material herein is a superb collection of the evolution of British Blues,with an experimental guitarrist(another guitarist who is currently playing in a major band had to settle for bass here),Jeff Beck,destroying conventionalisms in standards such as Muddy Waters Twist aka "You Shook Me",reworked material from his old band the Yardbirds "Shapes Of Things" making them viciously aggresive,or made a more traditiional reading of the blues in a "De Luxe" way.
The controversy between The Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin was raised by the media and has nothing to do with the artistry of both outfits tha generously provided us with such great music that can be better appreciated by the remastering work.
Free Music Review: Seminal 1960's Rock Album with Beck, Stewart, and Hopkins
Hit: 5 Stars
`truth' is Jeff Beck's first solo album after leaving that great breeding ground of Rock guitarists, The Yardbirds, where he served after Eric Clapton left and before Jimmy Paige arrived. This is a true `solo' album in that Beck is forming no group out of his extraordinary collection of sidemen, including Rod Stewart doing vocals, Ron Wood on base, and Nicky Hopkins (a regular on Rolling Stones keyboards) on piano.
The CD I have does not have an original date of release for the album, but I recall it was somewhere around 1969, which is when I bought the LP. It also happened to be the very first time I heard Rod Stewart. And, it was on the strength of these performances which prevented me from looking down my nose at his own solo albums when they became the darlings of the 1970s teeny-boppers.
The very best thing I can say about this album is that I still listen to it 36 years after it was first released, and, I can remember how impressed I was when I first heard it. I can say that about maybe only a half dozen or so albums, most of which are a lot more famous than this release.
I can remember being impressed from the very first cut, but the performance which really blew me away was the ensemble's rendition of George Gershwin's `Ol' Man River' from the Broadway show `Riverboat'. The impression is based less on the fact that a rock band would do this number than the fact that it is was so memorably done by Paul Robeson when the play first hit the stage. Stewart has done some nice performances in his career, but I will always remember this as his finest moment.
Most of the other selections are just a little unusual for a former Yardbird. They are certainly a little different than Clapton's blues and Paige's heavy metal direction. The most interesting other selections are `Beck's Bolero' which was stolen the next year by King Crimson on `Lizard' and the opener on side 2, their version of the traditional `Greensleeves'.
By today's standards, the length of the material may be a bit short, but this is a first rate `60's rock classic!
Free Music Review: The original "heavy metal" album
Hit: 5 Stars
Led Who? If you ever wondered why Beck is considered a guitar great, then just listen to this incredible record. The attack and fuel which JB exerts on some of the cuts on this work have yet to be surpassed. Rod Stewart shows that he is one of Rock's greatest vocalists, and the interplay between he and Beck is stunning. Rock My Plimsoul, basically an amped up revision of the Broonzy blues classic Rock Me Baby, is played as tightly, nasty, and nonsense free, as anybody could possibly play a song. Any young, aspiring guitarist should buy, listen, and tryto emulate the sounds which Jeff exhibits on this wonderful
set. This record is not about flash or trickery, but rather focuses on just playing some great bluesy and ballsy Rock and Roll. Beck's fusion jazz albums are ok, however, they lack real substance. This recording is virtually composed of nothing but substance. If you can handle the truth, then buy it. If you can't, then keep buying the ... that passes for music today. This is one of those masterpieces that is not only a great listen, but also serves as a great educational tool as well.
Listen and learn. Zeppelin was sitting in the wings waiting and watching, and look how well they did by imitating what Jeff and his group originated. One of the most influential albums of all time! Essential, relevant, and very enjoyable. By the way, get the Jeff Beck Group's second album Beck Ola as well. It is almost as good, and unfortunately the outfit destroyed itself soon after its release. If you own Truth and Beck Ola, then you have virtually most of Jeff Beck's seminal, relevant, and truly essential material. If he wasn't his own worst enemy, then you truly wonder just what he could have accomplished if he only stayed a bit more focused and exhibited just a little more self restraint, with regard to his musical career. Oh well, at least he made this record, and it alone is a greater achievement than the best work of all but a select handful of musical artists. It's that good!