On January 10, 2023, Geoffrey Arnold Beck aka Jeff Beck died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), in all lists of the 100 Greatest guitarists of all time, he was ranked in the top five. Beck’s innovative guitar sound spanned various styles ranging from blues rock, jazz fusion and guitar rock and influenced generations of young guitarists. He received “Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performances” six times, and “Best pop Instrumental Performance” once. In 1992, as member of The Yardbirds he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and as solo artists in 2009. In 2014 he received the “British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award” for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Beck was member of the Yardbirds, founder and leader of Jeff Beck Group, and member of Beck, Bogert and Appice. As leader he released fourteen albums.
Tag Archives: Yardbirds
The Yardbirds: Birdland
On April 22, 2003, “Favored Nations” label released “Birdland”, the sixth Yardbirds (The) studio album. Band’s first album in over 35 years was recorded 2002 – 2003, and was produced by Ken Allardyce.
Personnel:
- Jim McCarty– vocals, drums, percussion
- Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar
- Alan Glen– harmonica, percussion
- John Idan– lead vocals, bass guitar
- Gypie Mayo– lead guitar
- Jeff Baxter– guitar
- Jeff Beck– guitar
- Steve Lukather– guitar
- Brian May– guitar
- Joe Satriani– guitar
- Slash– guitar
- Steve Vai– guitar
Track listing:
- I’m Not Talking – Mose Allison
- Crying Out for Love – Jim McCarty
- The Nazz Are Blue – Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
- For Your Love – Graham Gouldman
- Please Don’t Tell Me ‘Bout the News – Jim McCarty
- Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Howie Kay, Lois Mann, Tiny Bradshaw
- Saboteur – Jim McCarty
- Shapes of Things – Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
- My Blind Life – Chris Dreja
- Over Under Sideways Down – Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
- You’re a Better Man Than I – Brian Hugg, Mike Hugg
- Mystery of Being – Jim McCarty
- Dream Within a Dream – Jim McCarty
- Happenings Ten Years Time Ago – Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
- An Original Man (A Song for Keith) – Chris Dreja, Gypie Mayo, Jim McCarty, John Idan
Yardbirds: Roger The Engineer
On July 15, 1966, “Columbia” label released “Roger the Engineer”, the fourth Yardbirds album. It was recorded April – June 1966, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Paul Samwell-Smith and Simon Napier-Bell. “Roger the Engineer” was the only Yardbirds album with all original material. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 349 on it s list of the “500 greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Keith Relf– lead vocals, harmonica
- Jeff Beck– lead vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar
- Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar, piano, backing vocals, cover design, artwork
- Paul Samwell-Smith– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Jim McCarty– drums, percussion, backing vocals, sleeve notes
Track listing:
All tracks by Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jeff Beck, Keith Relf, and Paul Samwell-Smith.
- Lost Woman
- Over Under Sideways Down
- The Nazz Are Blue
- I Can’t Make Your Way
- Rock My Mind
- Farewell
- Hot House of Omagarashid
- Jeff’s Boogie
- He’s Always There
- Turn into Earth
- What Do You Want
- Ever Since the World Began
Led Zeppelin: Same
On January 12, 1969, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, debut Led Zeppelin album. It was recorded October 1968 at “Olympic Studios” in London in only 36 hours, and was produced by Jimmy Page. The album art was coordinated by George Hardie; the back cover photography of the band was taken by former Yardbirds member Chris Dreja. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 29 on its of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2004 it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Personnel:
- Jimmy Page– acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, backing vocals
- Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
- John Bonham– drums, timpani, backing vocals
- John Paul Jones– bass guitar, Hammond organ, backing vocals
- Viram Jasani– tabla
- Glyn Johns – engineer
- Peter Grant– executive production
Track listing:
- Good Times Bad Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
- Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Anne Bredon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- You Shook Me – Willie Dixon, B. Lenoir
- Dazed and Confused – Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes
- Your Time Is Gonna Come – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
- Black Mountain Side – Jimmy Page
- Communication Breakdown – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
- I Can’t Quit You Babe – Willie Dixon
- How Many More Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham
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