Jun 16 2021
2
While Iโm always down for a good โGreensleevesโ cover, I think what was fresh about this very straightforward rock take on the blues in 1968 feels pretty, pretty tired in 2021. And, yeah, Iโm mainly looking at you Rod Stewart. For all of Beckโs guitar virtuoso, the lyrics by and large completely take me out of so many of these songs. I get it, Rod. Youโre horny. So was Marvin Gaye but he turned it into art. Thereโs a way.
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May 07 2021
5
Shapes of Things - Solid track, love the bombastic bass and the lead guitar parts in the back, leaving more room for a solid bass.
Let Me Love you - Proto-hard rock??? I hear some stuff I'd hear in later Zeppelin. HEAVY RIFF. I FUCK WITH IT. Music orgasm.
Morning Dew - Is Jeff Beck Lou fucking Reed? This is a masterpiece. Scottish bagpipes for the win.
You Shook Me - Amazing bassline, groovy, very B.B King-esque. The piano work is legendary, straight up as good as The Who's-- If not better. It works perfectly with the guitar. Oh my god, music orgasm.
Ol' Man River - The bassline, the drums........ Music orgasm again. "I'm so sick of living but too afraid of dying..." I cried
Greensleeves - Still emotional from Ol' Man River, a fully acoustic instrumental piece played in arpeggio. It's gorgeous. It's simplistic but beautiful and lets you ride the wave of your emotions.
Rock my Plimsoul - OH THE BLUES. HIT ME WITH THE BLUES, YES SIR. MUDDY WATERS ON ME. B. B. KING IN MY SOUL. This is what rock 'n roll is meant to be!
Beck's Bolero - The sound my dreams make when they clash against the backdrop of reality. A masterful instrumental that earns its name-- A true BOLERO, but rock 'n roll. The primal scream that kickstarts the drums is the noise of the universe's expansion as it explodes during the big bang. The keys is the sound of galaxies crashing into one another.
Blues Deluxe - Back to the fifties? This belongs in a mafia movie. I feel like smoking a cuban, may be even having a cigar later. Is Jeff Beck secretly Buddy Guy? Cause he's bluesing like he's Buddy Guy. THIS IS JIMMY PAGE'S GUITAR, HAS TO BE. THOSE ACCENTS........ Seven minutes and a half of blues improvisation recorded live, it only adds to the legend.
This was a showstopper, the album could've stopped there and it'd rank as legend.
I Ain't Superstitious - The final track of the album. This sounds like Led Zeppelin a whole lot. Physical graffiti anyone? Who invited Thor to be the drummer for this album? Great finisher but not as strong as the song that came before. If you've ever wondered why there are "squier" guitars or why we say they weep, listen to this album-- they weep with joy.
B-Sides:
I've been Drinking - Worth as much as any song on the album, very sentimental. The drumming works really well to give a smooth jazz blues feeling! Go Beck!
Final Score: If you like ye old rock 'n roll, you'll love it. If you like blues, you'll love it. If you like MUSIC, YOU'LL LOVE IT. If you have a soul and aren't dead inside, you'll love it.
I give it a 10 inch out of 10. Penises can only get so erect.
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Apr 06 2022
2
The truth hurts
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Jan 20 2023
1
How much Rod Stewart is on this list, and why is every album with the guy from a different band? It took me a few moments to realize that the vocals are not this titular "Jeff Beck" character (rest in peace by the way) and that I was yet again tricked into listening to Rod Stewart.
The world's most generic album.
This man was cursed by an evil witch and now he has to say the phrase "rock me baby" every 5 minutes or else he'll turn into a frog. I didn't count how many times the word "baby" is said on this album, but it could probably fill an orphanage.
One outta five, baby. Beck's guitar was fine though.
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Apr 10 2021
3
Brand new to me. I'm not much of a guitar buff, but yeah Jeff Beck's guitar is crisp, expressive and forceful. Rhythm section is really punchy and robust on this. Apparently this was a major influence on heavy metal, which I guess I can hear. If I had to criticise the music, I would maybe like it to commit to being either bluesy or proggy or full-on rocking. It's in this sort of middle ground (but this is barely a real criticism). The real problem is in the vocals. Lyrics are pretty generic with some blues covers and some tracks that go "baby baby baby my little woman". The singer is Rod Stewart. He's technically really strong, but I just feel pure annoyance every time I hear him. I'm sure I can hear his hideous feathered mullet. I wish this was instrumental, or that Jeff Beck had found any other vocalist in the world. 3.5/5 for solid musicianship, but I will not be coming back.
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Sep 12 2021
5
A star-studded album that is one of the early greats of modern blues rock. While it's half-loaded with covers, you just can't deny the spin Jeff Beck and his legendary band put on them. These are some of the most talented players in the game, and to create a record like this in 4 days is insanity even if half of them aren't originals. And an instrumental jam with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones AND Keith Moon?! I mean, come on. Listen to this record, and enjoy the ride.
Favorite Song: Blues Deluxe
Least Favorite: Let Me Love You
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Jun 09 2021
5
So good! The mellow and depth of the blues harmonized with the vigor of the rock by the virtuosity of Beck shine so well. Classic blues and rock themes come to live on this first class album.
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Apr 23 2021
3
Guitarist Jeff Beck's debut album, "Truth" released in 1968 and features Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood in his ensemble. This album has been regarded as "the first metal album," with heavy blue-inspired sounds and rock influences. Quite a legacy!
This album opens with "Shapes of Things" and it is clear from the get-go that this album helped lay the foundation for hard rock and metal. This track features heavy drums and fun guitar riffs mixed with Rod Stewart's strong vocals.
"Let Me Love You" is track number 2, opening with a wicked lead guitar. Stewart sings "When I'm with you woman, my whole life seems so hazy... don't you know that?" a classic sentiment of any good rock song. Beck's electric guitar work is simply mesmerizing.
The third track, "Morning Dew," features bagpipes, strong bass plucks, and funky guitar riffs. It's a cover song, but the band makes it their own, with Beck's hypnotic guitar work stealing the spotlight from Stewart's passionate vocals.
"You Shook Me" comes next, a classic Muddy Waters track, reworked by Beck's group. Stewart covers vocals while a frantic piano, drum beat, and guitar do the rest. This track is full of energy and soul!
Track 5 is "Ol' Man River," a well-known show tune. Stewart's vocals are fine for the song, thought the instrumentation does most of the heavy lifting, with hectic drums, organ chords, and Beck's crazy guitar work.
Up next is a cover of "Greensleeves," a folk song that has been around since the 16th century. It runs a bit shy of 2 minutes, but with beautiful acoustic guitar plucks, Beck makes it his own. It is quite wonderful.
"Rock My Plimsoul" comes next and is a return to the bluesy, rockin' guitar work that I've come to adore on this album. Stewart's vocals are strong and classic, and this track sounds reminiscent to something you would hear on any great classic rock station. Stewart adlibs "rock me, baby" repeatedly to close out the song, and it's quite fun!
"Beck's Bolero" comes next, opening with a build up of guitar and drums that lead to classic rock chaos. This track is instrumental and features effects of crazy energy and good old rockin' instrumentation.
The second-to-last track, "Blues Deluxe," clocks in at 7 and a half minutes. This track is blues at its finest and is said to have drawn inspiration from BB King. This track features an audience (it must have been recorded live) whose enthusiasm grows throughout the song, coming to an overwhelming roar at the end of the track.
The final track, "I Ain't Superstitious," once more features Stewart on vocals with Beck's funky, "wah" guitar magic. There is some great guitar work on the latter half of the track, and it's a fantastic way to close out this debut album.
Favorite track: Let Me Love You
Honorable mention: Beck's Bolero
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Oct 25 2024
5
Proto Zeppelin
John Paul Jones playing organ on You Shook Me
Jimmy Page and JPJ playing with Keith Moon on Beck's Bolero
And Robert Plant is clearly cut from the same cloth as Rod Stewart
Excellent early hard rock from the virtuoso himself
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Apr 03 2023
5
Jeff Beckโs tone is so distinctive. And I will never listen to Rod Stewart the same way again. Absolutely incredible album. Low point was the strangely mixed applause on โBlues Deluxeโ, which was distracting.
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Aug 03 2021
4
Perhaps a little generous, but this is getting a 3.5 rounded up. No massive stand out hits but the overall sound is fantastic classic rock without the cheesiness or overplayed aspect of some of the other bands of the time.
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Mar 16 2022
1
Hot ass garbage. Who listens to this stuff?
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Nov 11 2021
5
A blues master. Love Becks Bolero
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Oct 16 2021
5
Excellent blues rock album. You can clear hear how he influenced so many future bands. 4.5
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Mar 11 2023
4
Well, I really like this sound and Iโm not that familiar with Stewartโs work to be annoyed by him. This goes with 4 stars
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Mar 31 2022
4
I'm kinda torn on this one. Not every song is a banger, for sure, but none of them are snoozers either. The one thing they all seem to have is a strong sense of groove and I'm here for that.
The cover of "Ol' Man River" is far from my favorite, though. Tympani were a poor instrumentation choice. There's also some really funky stereo panning going on that's just disconcerting. That cover alone almost earned this a 3-star rating. But, once you get past that (and the weirdly out of place "Greensleeves" instrumental), there's a bunch of really solid blues. Like, REALLY solid blues. Very tasty.
It's a 4-star for me. But it's a soft 4.
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Jan 07 2022
4
Comes out swinging. Keeps hitting hard. Takes a break with Greensleeves, of all things...4/5
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Jul 26 2021
3
I like the music more than his voice
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May 06 2025
5
This is brilliant. Transcendent talents teaming up on vocals and guitars here, and it shows
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May 05 2025
5
que hombre
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Apr 25 2025
5
I always associate Jeff Beck with instrumental music. โShape of thingsโ is a great opening track. If the rest of the album is this good, Iโm a fan. Second track โlet me love youโ. What a sick groove. I wasnโt sure about the song at first and the. It hooks you.
Morning dew, what a track. Geez this album is amazing. How have I never heard this before.
Olโ man river was a great track. Green sleeves is the most boring thing on here so far. And itโs a good track, Iโm just tired of here that song.
Rock my plum soul. What a track. Each track just gets better. This album is amazing.
Now I appreciate โBoleroโ more hearing the rest of this album.
Listening to โI ainโt superstitiousโ I now understand the Megadeth version. I donโt realize they cover this version.
Love this album.
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Apr 24 2025
5
Excellent!
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Jan 31 2025
5
I mean what can I honestly say.. The guitar. The SOUL. I canโt believe I have never listened to this before (also canโt believe I didnโt know Rod Stewart was part of this band for a little bit).
Stewartโs voice on a majority of there covers fit so well with the rhythm and blues and blended so nicely with Beckโs guitar. I found myself getting lost in every single guitar solo and I never wanted them to end.
I had never heard any of the songs on here, but I loved everything about this album. I think I might just keep listening to โBlues Deluxeโ into I gaslight myself into thinking Iโm in some random blues club listening to them perform. Also the piano on that song is amazing and I think needs to be talked about more. Thank you Jeff Beck for this masterclass debut album.
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Jan 24 2025
5
Iconic!
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Jan 12 2025
5
If this isnโt excellent, itโs close to it. If itโs the beginnings of heavy metal, itโs early enuf not to be overwrought or to neglect its origins. Unsung heroics: Micky Waller, a put-together of Mitch and Ginger (got the fluidity of the former, uses the toms like the latter). The rendition of Olโ Man River is more than up to snuff: itโs sincere. And I donโt know much about guitar chops, but Beck sure does seem to live up to the hype. I'll go w/ excellent.
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Jan 10 2025
5
๐ ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ด๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด
๐ ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐ค๐ข๐ต ๐ค๐ณ๐ฐ๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ช๐ญ
๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ถ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ'๐ต ๐จ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ง๐ข๐ณ
๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ'๐ต ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ข ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ช๐ต ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ
Rating: โ โ โ โ โ
Stand Out Songs: 3. Morning Dew, ๐. ๐๐๐๐ค'๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐จ, 10. I Ain't Superstitious
This is quite literally the first time I've had an out of body experience upon hearing someone playing the guitar, genuinely listening to this album feels like being on the highest peak of a rollercoaster that's about to go down. Good God Almighty this album is so excellent in such a full bodied and high spirited way, Jeff Beck you single handedly have given early British Rock a semblance of credibility.
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Jan 06 2025
5
How have I not heard this one before? Why is Rod Stewart singing? So many questions. Whatever, it all came together great. Such a groovy, bluesy album. Cream would probably be the closest comparison I can think of. Wikipedia says early heavy metal - I'm not sure about that, though some metal bands were influenced I'm sure. I recognized I Ain't Superstitious from Megadeth's cover, and I'm certain Gene Simmons copied Rod Stewart's singing style from this album. I'm adding it to my library.
Favorite track: Shapes of Things. I think it sounds a bit like Pictures of Home from Deep Purple.
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Jan 03 2025
5
So I'll admit that, for a long time, I confused Jeff Beck with Beck. I think that's fair when you have no context for either artist. Obviously they were at their peak popularity in different eras and it's silly to get them mixed up once you know that, but that was me for the longest time.
Moving on.
This was heavy, man! Bluesy and heavy. Jeff Beck really lays it on thick. He's a guitar god, obviously. Anybody who was in the Yardbirds at that time would've been (Paige and Clapton say hello). But man this is was amazing. Such attitude, such delivery of said attitude. Yeah, they aren't all originals. And yeah there's some interesting choices here ("Greensleeves," for one. Don't get me wrong - it's beautiful and I'm glad it's here. Just kind of a weird choice.), but man when this hits, it HITS.
Just some nice, heavy blues rock that's good for the soul. I'll take it any day. Five stars.
Standout Tracks: Shapes of Things, Let Me Love You, You Shook Me, Ol' Man River, Rock My Plimsoul, Blues Deluxe
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Dec 27 2024
5
All time favorite album. The album just has a feel of being truly an entire album, not just a collection of songs.
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Nov 09 2024
5
Jeff Beck's first solo album after the Yardbird years. This album has a lot of covers, a backing band with Rod Stewart singing before he was famous and many brilliant musicians from the era, including John Paul Jones, Ronnie Wood, Nicky Hopkins or Keith Moon. This sounds a bit like a proto-Led Zeppelin album to no surprise. 'Beck's Bolero's is one of the best rock instrumentals ever. I enjoyed it a lot. 4.5/5.
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Oct 17 2024
5
This was great and glad I found this album. Really something nice to put on and have play.
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Sep 29 2024
5
Where has this been all my life? Why has Jeff Beck been just a name? It came out before I was born, contains covers of at least three songs I love, feels new and familiar at the same time because of the Rod Stewart vocals, the guitar is sensational, and has a Sixties/blues/verging on metal sound that ticks so many boxes.
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Sep 27 2024
5
I truly enjoyed this album. Great guitar and you can't beat Jeff's voice!
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Sep 26 2024
5
It's always a nice surprise when you find a great album, which you were not aware of before. And that is what happened to me here. A bit sceptic at first, I started listening, thinking this is probably one of so many average albums on the market. But no, this was totally different. Great songs, great playing. Of course everything very 70s. But if one like the 70s rock music, I think one will also love this album.
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Sep 18 2024
5
Today i had the much more interesting truth by Jeff beck, bluesy cool vibes I enjoyed this alot, the random greensleves is a bit random, but yeah really enjoyed this so think it's getting a 5
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Jul 28 2024
5
Hey, it turns out I love a lot of 60s blues rock. Whoever could have guessed?
This is great. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to it, and even happier to realise that Jeff Beck is not Jeff Buckley!
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Jul 11 2024
5
A rock band in the era of psychedelics. They didnโt let the psychedelic scene dictate their music, they let it influence them and played an album true to themselves. This is just cool as fuck rock n roll, no fakeness.
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Jun 16 2024
5
Why haven't I heard this album before? Great musicians playing here along with Beck.
I loved it and i want more!
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Apr 25 2024
5
Solid rock and blues and Rod Stewart's vocals are top notch. I heard this one and Beck-ola plenty of times growing up so it's got some pleasant nostalgia too
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Mar 27 2024
5
Fantastic blues-rock album. Jeff Beck is one of the guitar greats with several other fantastic musicians ripping through this set of mostly blues covers. A classic.
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Mar 07 2024
5
Took me back to the 70s and being exposed to rock music for the first time.
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Jan 25 2024
5
Dirty, bluesy, rock.
Just perfect for an overcast Thursday morning in January, hugging a cup of tea to my wheezing chest, whilst struggling with yet another cold.
How has this passed me by until now?
Straight into my library with this one!
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Jan 19 2024
5
Jeff Becks first solo record is great heavy British blues rock. Some amazing guitar sounds, and the Rod Stewart vocals are pretty cool.
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Jan 19 2024
5
There is no better guitarist
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Apr 22 2023
5
God this album was formative for me when I started to become curious as a guitarist about what lie beyond the blues influenced classic rock that I grew up on. This album fittingly opens with a Yardbirds track and with a whoโs who of amazing musicians, it quickly take off into hard rock, proto metal, hard blues, and hints at the jazz fusion trajectory Jeff Beckโs career would take. Of the holy trinity of British guitarists that the Yardbirds produced, Jeff Beck was the most gifted and musically versatile. His phrasing is carefully chosen, and he never over plays or looses the thread (looking at you Jimmy Page). Rod Stewartโs vocals are some of his best, and the Ronny Wood rhythm section is integral to what makes this album work.
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Apr 17 2023
5
Awesome album
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Apr 03 2023
5
This is a banger! Totally worth it from start to finish. Rod Stewartโs vocals compliment Beckโs guitar style in the best way possible.
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Apr 02 2023
5
This album is new to me. Quite surprising, since I like blues - and this really is a great blues album! So 5 stars (despite the fact that there are a couple of weak tracks)!
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Mar 06 2023
5
Love it. Thought that sounded like Rod Stewart. Will need to listen to more
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Mar 03 2023
5
Could listen all day
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Feb 15 2023
5
Stewart and Beck know what theyโre doing. Blues to rock, with everything in between. Iโll gladly listen to this again.
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Jan 05 2023
5
pretty fine guitaring
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Dec 29 2022
5
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYES MADAFACAR
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Dec 05 2022
5
AMAZING album
it was just so awesome from beginning to end
10/10
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Oct 26 2021
5
Wonderful interpretations of great music.
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Jul 06 2021
5
Five stars for Beck's Bolero alone. This record is responsible for that 60's / 70's British Blues sound. Beck brings on Rod Stewart before he became the mega-star, and Ronny Wood before becoming a Stone.
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May 18 2021
5
Discovery of Led Zeppelin sound before they got into the game
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Apr 30 2021
5
Epic.
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Oct 31 2024
4
First time listen - really good! I never listened to his solo stuff until the 80's release, and he is a talent. A lot of covers, which he rocks. Never heard \"Old Man River\" with such power (even if you are not familiar with the song from the 1920s)/ Even his over of Led Zeppelins' You Shook Me (I know ... that version is cover as well) ... wait - actually, they may have covered Beck on that one.... Hmmm
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Jun 08 2023
4
I missed this album when it was released. Sometime in the early 70โs I grabbed the follow-up album, Beck-Ola(1969) , the first album credited to The Jeff Beck Group, however Truth has pretty much the same line-up, especially Rod Stewart & Ron Wood, who eventually left Beck later that year to keep The Small Faces (Faces) going. Prior to that I only knew Beck from his work with The Yardbirds & the single Hi Ho Silver Lining, more a pop effort (thanks to producer Mickie Most). I had been lucky enough to see Antonioniโs film Blow Up (1966) when it was released, so Iโd seen that fantastic clip of The Yardbirds with Beck & Page in all their glory. Then in the early 80โs, when I had a record shop in Newtown, Andy Glitre, who had just moved to Sydney from the U.K., was a customer. He had a radio show on 2SER, & I used to loan him records for his show & he used to give me interesting cassettes. One of these, which I still play, is a tape of Bowie doing a radio show on the BBC (1979). Iโve never ever heard a better 60 minutes by a deejay & one of the jaw-dropping moments for me was when he played Beckโs Bolero, which I had somehow never heard before. For me, it is easily the highlight of Truth. The rest of the album is fascinating for hearing early Rod Stewart, but itโs Beckโs guitar that keeps it interesting. The cover of The Yardbirdsโ Shapes Of Things is unnecessary (probably Mostโs idea) &, as much as I love his voice here, Iโm constantly irritated by Stewartโs sloppy attention to the lyrics of great songs, although even that cannot stop me loving the bandโs treatment of Howlin Wolfโs I Ainโt Superstitious. Pity it was all recorded in 4 days. I love it, but it might have been so much better.
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Mar 24 2023
4
This was kind of a nice surprise. For Rod Stewart's performance actually stole the show though. Def a record I would listen to again.
Jeff Beck is an incredible guitar player and his Clapton/Page/????? combo style shines the whole way through.
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Mar 13 2023
4
I found this more exciting blues than the earlier stones album. And great vocals from Rod.
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Nov 10 2022
4
This is a fantastic album. I especially loved the opening track, which is a cover a song Beck previously did with the Yardbirds. This version is much better in my opinion. But yeah, Jeff Beck absolutely shreds every track on this, and Rod Stewart's vocals are *chef's kiss*. The only reason this isn't 5 stars instead of 4 is because a) almost half of it is covers (which is fine, but I'm picking about wanting artists' original work) and b) the covers, which sound good, are in many cases just standard blues riff that are just enhanced by Beck's guitar and Stewart's vocals. Regardless, I'll be returning to this one again in the future.
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Dec 23 2021
4
Cool blues album! Though I can't help but think that Jeff Beck sounds a bit like Rod Stewart...
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Dec 17 2021
4
yeah good. rock my plimsoul was cooool 7/10
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Nov 29 2021
4
A bluesrock gem
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Nov 18 2021
4
Great British Blues album. A few covers on the album but I donโt think it should be marked down for that.
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May 11 2021
4
Gotta be able to listen to Rod Stewart but this record jams. Lots of good guitar work, but what do you expect from Jeff Beck?
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Jul 08 2021
4
Never listened to much Jeff Beck. Might have to change that after this listen.
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Jun 27 2025
3
British guy pretending to be American. He did a pretty decent job.
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Jun 23 2025
3
Bluesy rock. Iโm not really into it, but if you are youโll probably like it. I had no idea Rod Stewart was part of this, so that was a surprise when it started up.
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Jan 16 2025
3
More white, British guys acting like they discovered the Blues. Fine for the lost part, but feel like there's a lot of it on this list.
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Jan 15 2025
3
Very middle of the road. It might have been influential, but the vocals and lyrics of rod Steward sounds dated and written without much thought. Were they written at all. Becks bolero is the highlight, it's all instrumental
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Jan 14 2025
3
Not bad. Bluesy old school rock. Sounds like Faces; no real surprise there. Only problem for me is after two full listens only a couple tracks stand out; all the rest just melded together.
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Jan 06 2025
3
It is very 1960s guitar but in the best way - do not know what green sleeves gives us though
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Oct 30 2024
2
Truth
Had no idea what to expect from this, and had no idea Rod was the vocalist when his voice kicked in on Shapes of Things. Rodโs voice is great on that track, not just the rasp but the tenderness and delicateness he peppers in, particularly in the falsetto parts.
The guitar tone is pretty interesting on it too, it sounds much more 70s/80s than late 60s. I can see why a lot of the 80s rock and metal bands idolise Beck, based on this track alone.
Let Me Love You is not great in comparison to Shapes of Things, a plodding, pedestrian, uninspired and rather woeful slice of late 60s blues rock. Morning Dew is more interesting, itโs folk origin giving it a different slant, and with the wah wah, droning Indian influences and that nice galloping bassline it adds up to a little bit of a gem, pointing to where Rod and Ronnie would head with the Faces and Rodโs early country and folk flecked solo albums.
Why did every blues band in the UK in the 60s and 70s cover You Shook Me? I know itโs cast in iron as a cornerstone of the blues, but Iโve never quite understood why everyone just kept doing it, despite everyone else doing it. This is a particularly bad version, Beck's guitar is egregiously showy and the whole thing just feels like a pointless addition to the wheelie bin full of covers of this song.
Olโ Man River is a bit of a curio, the orchestral timpani and kettle drum al teals give it a different flavour, and I get that they were going for a big echoey feel, but it feels a bit half baked (if you can bake an echo?). Nice vocal though, the style of this does suit Rod well.
Greensleeves is actually very pleasant, but you can understand why Beck was such a big influence for the character of Nigel Tufnell just from this. Rock my Plimsoul returns to the staid and lumpen blues rock well, and pulls up another bucket of plod.
Beckโs Bolero at least tries for something different with itโs rhythmic foundation, but is largely unexciting. While he is obviously a very good guitarist, and despite the technical proficiency I find his playing particularly unmoving, lacking a visceral sense of excitement I get from other guitarists in this period.
Blues Deluxe disappears into the morass of blues rock, despite listening to it 3 times today I donโt think Iโd recognise it if I heard it on the radio again. Finally a more dynamic and enjoyable heavy blues track shakes off the treacle and emerges in, I Ainโt Superstitious. Nice rhythmic propulsion, good licks and a nice vocal make this one good.
Shapes of Things and Morning Dew gave me hope this might be a charming if uneven ragtag bag of late 60s blue rock, but unfortunately the moments that do work, like the above, are undermined somewhat by most of the remaining songs, rather dull exercises in showcasing Beckโs cold virtuosity and him and Rodโs ability to cover/nick/rip off blues classics. Not even Rodโs voice, which is approaching his peak, can make up for the lead booted nature of most of the songs. I guess it was influential on the nascent Cream and Led Zep (I know Page et al feature on here), but they produced more interesting versions of this type of thing.
Kind of stuck between 2 and 3 with this, it has its moments, Rodโs voice is strong throughout, but Iโm unlikely to really come back to it. Hmm, Iโll go against type and settle on the lower score.
๐ธ๐ธ
Playlist submission: Morning Dew
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Jan 06 2025
1
Grandad-rock zzz.
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Mar 15 2022
1
Sounds like a bunch of classic rock bullshit, because it is. Trying to imagine a scenario where Iโd want to hear some completely nondescript rock from this era in favor of tried-and-true favorites and am coming up empty.
This has its moments, but Iโm not about to dive in to dig up more. Iโd rather hear Led Zepp for the millionth time. Also, fuck Rod Stewart.
1.5
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Jul 18 2025
5
a Rock music master work... Jeff Beck... the guy who made sounds on the guitar like no other... long before he got bored with Rock and went jazzy... "Let Me Love You" is a great example of that... "Shapes of Things" opens the record up... and both songs feature the great vocalizations of Rod Stewart... the cover of "Morning Dew" is next... and then, if you thought this record "reminded" you of Led Zeppelin, "You Shook Me" comes on... and you remember that this album PRE-DATES Zep!!! "Rock My Plimsoul"... "Beck's Bolero"... and it all closes with "I Ain't Superstitious" a Rock standard... Five Stars... all day long...
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Jul 03 2025
5
That was tiiiiiiight, start to finish bangers. Elements of metal and psychedelia and staaaaanky guitars. Will be injecting directly into my eardrums
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Jun 04 2025
5
I had saved a detailed review before but I just lost it as I refreshed on my way for work, so here it is condensed.
Great album, the guitar is the major standout with more expression than I have noted in the past. With no expectations, the technical skill was impressive but muddied with passion which I now view as a bigger boon than I would have just a few years ago.
Two instrumentals on a debut album is bold, a cover of Greensleeves is even bolder, and for that bravery I have to give the utmost respect
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Jun 03 2025
5
Jeff Beck is an undisputed guitar prodigy. This is a great debut album. I've never liked Rod Stewart, but just like the albums from Faces, he's tolerable in this. Guitar work is outstanding, naturally. Blues Deluxe is one of my favourites, especially as it allowed for Joe Bonamassa to cover it (which I actually prefer)
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May 30 2025
5
Iโve overlooked this album in the past, but wow, just wow!
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May 27 2025
5
Guitar on this album is so great that it overcomes the Rod Stewart-esque vocals
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May 13 2025
5
I've always thought I should like Jeff Beck more than I do. His stuff is always good. His playing is always excellent. Lots of solid blues rock on this album. Rod sounds great. I think most of the albums I've heard with Nicky Hopkins, his piano playing has made them better.
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Apr 09 2025
5
Is better than a falsehood.
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Mar 24 2025
5
Amazing musician with a mix of rock, blues and jazz.
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Mar 06 2025
5
Classic album, don't even need to listen to it. Definitely see where zeppelin got some early influences. Plus page and beck were friends
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Feb 21 2025
5
Rod loves to say โoh babyโ
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Jan 19 2025
5
Fantastic. Great early 70s rock. Stewart's vocals are great.
(5 known / 8 new)
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Dec 06 2024
5
What a star studded album!
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Nov 15 2024
5
Was fรผr ein power-Album. Das ist sowas von abwechslungsreicher Rock, Bluesrock mir gigantischen Arrangements. Man weiร gar nicht, wann welches Instrument durch die Kopfhรถrer saust, man staunt einfach รผber die unglaublich kreative Hand der Macher, das aber so mitreiรend ist, dass einem die Sprache ausbleibt vor Staunen. Fรผr mich war das so erfrischend, dass es ab jetzt zu einen meiner besten Alben gehรถrt.
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Oct 06 2024
5
Very nice!
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Jun 28 2024
5
My second favorite blues artist and he doesn't even strickly fall into the genre. Wears his influences on his sleeves and is better for it!
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Jun 21 2024
5
I'm surprised I liked this as much as I did
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May 24 2024
5
Great blues rock here, just top notch
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May 15 2024
5
Hit
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May 06 2024
5
This is Jeff Beck's masterclass on why he's one of the greatest guitar players ever. Totally transforming this album which would have been a good, if forgettable blues record into a must hear and memorable blues record. I don't like Rod Stewart's voice but I actually didn't mind it on this record
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Apr 25 2024
5
Beckโs guitar and Rodโs vocals are a match made in heaven. I like this so much more than I thought I would.
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Mar 03 2024
5
Verrukkelijk!
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