Jeff Beck: An Appreciation

There’s probably not a lot to add about the late Jeff Beck but I feel like I should say something. I am going to start with High School. I read Guitar player magazines and Beck was one of the highest regarded of all. I even bought his 1989 Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop album. Now, I would say his instrumental guitar jazz fusion music wasn’t for me. I don’t know that I would reach out for Blow by Blow or Wired- the two classics of the genre. But it’s a ‘me’ thing, I absolutely get it. I appreciate it, but I probably wouldn't pick it out to listen to. No, I gravitate to Beck in the Yardbirds. I still have them in my constant rotation. Over Under Sideways Down (also called Roger the Engineer) is a classic album. Again, I don’t need to educate on that. But for a moment, take another listen to 1965s Mister You’re A Better Man Than I (lead song off Having a Rave Up With the Yardbirds) Is it the first metal song? There were a few earlier (You Got Me, Louie Louie, Rumble) but there’s not many. Listen to the guitar solo at around 90 seconds in and it’s still powerful, predating the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and Cream.