El Becko for a slow Monday

AlanRatcliffe

'Cause we've Ended as Lovers:
Some impeccable trem usage with simultaneous volume swells. This goes some way to explaining why he was one of the "big three" guitarists (alongside Clapton and Page) of the '70s and is a hero to many of the players we now revere.

You will also have noticed the rather talented young lass on the bass guitar - Tal Wilkenfeld, a 21 year old Ausssie (at the time of the vid) who, aside from being a pretty damn good bass player, is also easy on the eyes. Aside from Jeff Beck, she's played with Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Joss Stone, Susan Tedeschi and the Allman Brothers Band. Not a bad resume for someone who's only been playing bass since 17.

Riaan-Combrink

Alan Ratcliffe wrote This goes some way to explaining why he was one of the "big three" guitarists (alongside Clapton and Page) of the '70s and is a hero to many of the players we now revere.

Great clip! Enjoyed that ...

Alan Ratcliffe wrote You will also have noticed the rather talented young lass on the bass guitar - Tal Wilkenfeld, a 21 year old Ausssie (at the time of the vid) who, aside from being a pretty damn good bass player, is also easy on the eyes.

Wow! (x 1000). Plays mean bass too! ?

Dirk

You don't often see a girl play Bass (or guitar for that matter) like that.. (No offence to the ladies) I once saw a Josh stone song with her on bass, she's really good

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I was given the Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's DVD this weekend, which featured Wilkenfeld on bass (2007, I think). Very unassuming "can't believe I'm here doing this" stage presence (which is completely understandable), but she's solid as a rock. Personally, I'm not terribly surprised that Beck's missed the kind of broad appeal that Page and Clapton garnered (especially doing the kind of set he did at Ronnie Scott's), but his technique is quite incredible. (A sinewy and match-fit Beck certainly blows a complacent, well-fed and downright boring Clapton off the stage during the two shared numbers.) His hands are extremely busy (not necessarily always contributing to a better listening experience), but I can imagine that's probably because, after that many years of playing, the risk of getting bored must be very high.

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote 'Cause we've Ended as Lovers:
Some impeccable trem usage with simultaneous volume swells. This goes some way to explaining why he was one of the "big three" guitarists (alongside Clapton and Page) of the '70s and is a hero to many of the players we now revere.

That's a Stevie Wonder tune. Beck first recorded it on his 70s album Blow By Blow. That album should be considered a "must buy" by anybody who has any kind of interest in Jeff Beck.

Beck always seemed to miss the commercial boat. The first edition of the Jeff Beck Group (with Ron Wood on bass and Rod Stewart singing) should have been able to beat Led Zep at their own game but somehow missed the mark. Perhaps he lacked Jimmy Page's drive and ambition.

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Beck talks about the choice of songs in the set list for Ronnie Scott's (an aficionado's jazz club) - there's a high percentage of covers; he talks about why he liked that Wonder number. He also mentions some early-days activity with Page, saying the tentative "group" could've been, for all intents and purposes, Led Zep without a singer. But Led Zep wouldn't have got where they got with Beck involved, I don't think. (I've seen an old video of a performance by the Yardbirds where Page was on bass and Beck on guitar - more than slightly weird.) Page had a way of marrying personal interest with popular demand. That surely doesn't count against Beck as a player; I think he had loads of drive and ambition in a slightly different direction. And Stewart as a singer would've ruined a Zep-like attempt anyway, I think. ?

aubs1

bLuEs wrote You don't often see a girl play Bass (or guitar for that matter) like that.. (No offence to the ladies) I once saw a Josh stone song with her on bass, she's really good

Hey Blues.......check out this Aussie girl.....sponsored by PRS.......she plays guitar though, not bass.....

AlanRatcliffe

Stratisfear wrote His hands are extremely busy (not necessarily always contributing to a better listening experience), but I can imagine that's probably because, after that many years of playing, the risk of getting bored must be very high.

He's always been very busy with his hands, continually adjusting volume, tone, selector switch and controlling the whammy bar with unparalleled finesse. Every note is finely crafted from beginning to end. Technically IMO, he was way ahead of his contemporaries - far more fluid and accomplished than either Clapton or Page. He hasn't really gotten much faster, but he has gotten more musical, toneful and intricate.

I don't think he's interested in the success (for an instrumental guitarist he is comparatively successful though) - he plays for fun (just watch the interplay between him and the band - they are having an absolute ball). He's always been more of a player's player. He divides his attention equally between guitar and drag racing, which no doubt affects his success in both.

@Bob - Blow by Blow and Wired were my first introduction to Beck. Unfortunately, I wasn't musically up to really appreciating what he did on those albums when I first got them, but when I "rediscovered" him with the album Guitar Shop (still my fave Beck), I dug out my vinyl and revisited both and got hooked on them.

aubs1

Bob Dubery wrote That album should be considered a "must buy" by anybody who has any kind of interest in Jeff Beck.

I agree 110%.........he's brilliant!

Bob Dubery wrote The first edition of the Jeff Beck Group (with Ron Wood on bass and Rod Stewart singing) should have been able to beat Led Zep at their own game but somehow missed the mark. Perhaps he lacked Jimmy Page's drive and ambition.

Hey Bob, I would'nt think one could compare them to Zep, not even one on one......Rod Stewart vs. Robert Plant, or Jimmy Page vs. Jeff Beck......I just think they were/are very, very different .....

zappa

Heh, you guys finally discovered one my best kept secret songs that I've been playing for about forever. When I saw this youtube vid abt a year ago Tal Wilkenfeld just blew me away. So hot.

Bob-Dubery

aubs1 wrote Hey Bob, I would'nt think one could compare them to Zep, not even one on one......Rod Stewart vs. Robert Plant, or Jimmy Page vs. Jeff Beck......I just think they were/are very, very different .....

I'd contend that they had very similar intentions. Page and Beck were both seeking to build on what the Yardbirds had done - a blues foundation and then give that a heavy/psychedelic treatment. The first album of each group is very similar in intent though obviously the individual styles differ.

Both albums even included Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me" which both guitarists knew well and which was ideally suited to their purposes. There was even a falling out over that song. Beck's group had already recorded it and had an album out when Led Zeppelin laid their version down. Beck accused Page of stealing his (Beck's) ideas and the two men fell out. Page claimed to have never heard Beck's treatment of the song or the album that it was on, but John Paul Jones had been used as a session player on Beck's album and thus knew exactly what Beck had been up to.

Beck was first out of the gate. The Beck Band's Truth album is regarded as one of the prototypes of what came to be known as heavy metal, and that was recorded and released before the first Led Zeppelin album.

So, yes, differences in matters of individual style. But Beck and Page both clearly had the same general idea. Looking back the spat over "You Shook Me" was the first of several in which accusations of copying other artists' ideas (if not outright plagiary) were leveled at Led Zeppelin. Their first album also featured the instrumental "Black Mountain Side" which was credited to Page but was very similar to Bert Jansch's arrangement of "Blackwaterside".

Beck had his band working in the USA before Zeppelin was really a going concern. The album was starting to sell and they had a booking for a good slot at Woodstock. Beck broke the band up towards the end of their 3rd US tour and shortly before Woodstock.

DonovanB

I have a weakness for Tal I won't lie.

Thanks Alan, I had this vid as one of my favourites. She does a good solo in there as well. Most people assume a good bass solo has to have the life slapped out of it. This shows otherwise.

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Word. Donovan, there's a bass solo she does in Live at Ronnie Scott's that'll make you nod your head. No slapping at all, just beautiful note selection and a fantastic tone.