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Truth

Jeff Beck - Truth Audio CD

A fair review of the Jeff Beck "Truth" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jeff Beck reviews here, or go back to the Jeff Beck tabs.

Band: Jeff Beck
Title: Truth
Rating:

Release Date: 2006-10-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Shapes of Things 2: Let Me Love You 3: Morning Dew 4: You Shook Me 5: Ol' Man River 6: Greensleeves [Live] 7: Rock My Plimsoul 8: Beck's Bolero 9: Blues de Luxe 10: I Ain't Superstitious 11: I've Been Drinking [Stereo Mix][*] 12: You Shook Me [Take 1][*] 13: Rock My Plimsoul [Stereo Mix][*] 14: (Beck's) Bolero [Mono Single Version][*] 15: Blues de Luxe [Take 1][*] 16: Tallyman [*] 17: Love Is Blue [*] 18: Hi-Ho Silver Lining [Stereo Mix][*]

Why did I wait this long to hear this?
Well, I think I have an idea. I can't believe that I or my friends weren't listening to this back in the 70s.

First, I am very impressed by this music, and I'm not all that knowledgeable about "its place in rock history. " Truthfully, I could care less about things like that. This is just plain great heavy blues rock that pre-dates Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page must have based his vision for Led Zeppelin on this LP. Of course, if we are mindful of our rock history, Beck's group disintegrated about the same time Pagey's group was introduced. And the rest is indeed history. And that is why my friends and I were totally unaware of this great music, but we weren't unaware of Jeff Beck. Zep were a working band releasing new music. Jeff Beck had turned to fusion by the time we were in high school. And yes, I did own both Blow By Blow and Wired in the 70s, and my friends did too, and I have both on CD at home, and I listen to both occasionally. So again, I have to wonder, how did we miss this? If we had, I'm sorry to say that in our teenage ignorance we would have accused Beck of trying to imitate Led Zeppelin, when in fact, it was the other way around!!

Beck even did the blues right. Most of the songs on the LP are covers, yet unlike Page, Beck actually gives credit to the originals. Page just rearranged the songs, stole some lyrics, and put his name on them. According to the liner notes, Beck even asked Howlin' Wolf for permission to re-arrange I Ain't Superstitious. That proves the amount of respect Beck had for his influences.

If you are a fan of British blues-based heavy metal, there really is no excuse for you not to hear this. Now that I have, I am forced to rethink some of my assumptions about Led Zeppelin.

Great Playing, Great album
I have distinct recollections of craning into the speakers to hear what Jeff's guitar was doing on a number of tracks. The LP version of this album suffered somewhat from ordinary production values. This has been fixed with this re-mastered version and you can hear every slide of Jeff's fingers.

The bonus tracks should sate any curiosity about Jeff's early solo singles but there's nothing really outstanding there. Still, the original album tracks are superb. Let Me Love You in particular features spectacular playing well ahead of its time. Bolero has lost nothing and the cover version of the Yardbirds' Shapes of Things showcases the capability of this lineup, featuring as it does Ronnie Wood on bass, Mickey Waller on drums and Rod Stewart on vocals.

I had to have it, and now I have to keep playing it.

Blueprint for heavy rock
It's all in the timing because it also followed the folding of bands like the Shotgun Express and the Birds, from which he recruited Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, then both still relatively unknown. The first version of the Jeff Beck Group existed in a transitional period in time, before bands like The Faces and Led Zeppelin came into being, and after Jeff Beck's ejection from the Yardbirds. Mick Waller on drums had known Rod Stewart from earlier Steampacket days and came to the band from the Brian Auger Trinity.

Truth was the first album by the group although it was released under the name Jeff Beck, who was simultaneously "enjoying" a solo career, masterminded by producer Mickie Most, and having hits with songs such as Hi Ho Silver Lining, Tallyman and Love Is Blue (shudder).

The truer heart of Jeff Beck was to be found on the B-sides and on this debut album, which was mostly left to Ken Scott, the engineer, to handle, whilst Mickie Most no doubt dreamt of one day discovering elfin girls in black leather cat suits with bass guitars.

After eighteen months of grafting on the road the band were pretty hot. It is a classic album, though the shortage of material does show, with versions of Ol' Man River and a throwaway filler in Greensleeves. This was inspired by Chet Atkins' version, though Mick Waller had previously recorded a rocked-up version of it for Joe Meek with the Flee-Rekkers back in 1960 as Green Jeans. Carrying on that tradition, several of the tracks are thinly disguised rewrites of well-known blues songs. Let Me Love You is essentially Buddy Guy's Let Me Love You Baby; Rock My Plimsoul is clearly BB King's Rock Me Baby (although BB himself nicked it from Lil' Son Jackson) and Blues De Luxe owes more than a little to BB's Gambling Blues.

There's also a reworking of Shapes Of Things, a Yardbirds hit that Jeff played on; a cover of Tim Rose's arrangement of Morning Dew; a version of Muddy Waters' You Shook Me with John Paul Jones (soon to be of Led Zeppelin) guesting on Hammond; and a rip-roaring rendition of Willie Dixon's I Ain't Superstitious, as recorded by the great Howlin' Wolf.

The album set a sort of blueprint for a genre that came to be known as heavy rock, made possible by developments in the technology of electrical musical instruments, amplification and recording equipment, of which Jeff and his sidemen were early adopters and experimenters. In the Yardbirds, of course, he had been a pioneer of feedback. The sound was developed on the second album, Beck-Ola, but with less light and shade than is found on Truth.

Rounding out the album is the instrumental Beck's Bolero, an earlier recording from July 1966. It had previously appeared on the B-side of Hi Ho Silver Lining and has the unique line-up supporting Jeff of Jimmy Page (12-string electric guitar), Nicky Hopkins (keyboards), John Paul Jones (bass) and Keith Moon (drums)! The tune is credited to Jimmy Page, though Maurice Ravel may have had a hand in it. On the album it is shorn of the backwards guitar part at the end but is newly mixed into rudimentary stereo.

This edition of the CD comes with 16 pages of booklet notes including an informative essay by Charles Shaar Murray, and a number of bonus tracks (all stereo except where stated): I've Been Drinking had been the B-side of Love Is Blue, and so was unlikely to have been heard by legions of Jeff Beck fans who would have avoided the single like the plague, and was an adaptation of Dinah Washington's Drinking Again. There are the first takes of All Shook Up and Blues De Luxe, the latter without the fake live effects that were overdubbed to the eventual master; the excellent 1967 single Tallyman (in mono) and its B-side, an earlier recording of Rock My Plimsoul, both from a time when Aynsley Dunbar was the drummer; and Hi Ho Silver Lining, first recorded by the Attack, and its B-side, the original mono, backward guitar mix of Bolero.

Finally, it includes the dreaded Love Is Blue (in mono). Where to begin with this blot in Jeff Beck's discography? It began life as L'Amour Est Bleu by the Paul Mauriat Orchestra, and with words added became Luxembourg's 1967 entry in the Eurovision Song Contest as sung by Vicky Leandros. It came fourth but was popular enough to be recorded by the likes of Andy Williams and Claudine Longet. It falls way outside Jeff Beck's comfort zone and suggests that Mickie Most must have had a very persuasive tongue.

The Holy Grail of Rock Guitar
Following his glory days with the Yardbirds, this was Becks first solo album release. Released in 1968, "Truth" set the stage for what was to come in Rock music, setting a plethora of musical precedents that many tried to imitate. Jeff's: screaming Les Paul/Marshall, rude guitar playing, tone to die for, innovative use of feedback and effects, as well as melodic lines foretold what British Rock would soon become. However, no other player could create the 'Beckisms' that set his playing apart from the rest of the pack. "Truth" features some of the naughtiest guitar licks ever recorded in Rock; the accent is on HEAVY, nothing lightweight about this set. Furthermore, Jeff's Blusy and soulful playing has never been topped. Released later the same year-Led Zeppelin's copycat album "Led Zeppelin I" only captured a wee bit of Jeff's magic, nice try, but no see-gar. This musicality and taste cannot be taught nor copied - sheer brilliance! Jeff's guitar tone is just awesome, this is what a good Les Paul plugged into a Marshall Major is capable of sounding like in the right hands. While still keeping a sense of melody, Jeff's schizo bends, tasteful licks, killer slide guitar, and twisted imagination is showcased here. "Truth" has inspired several generations of Rock Guitar players. What Monet and Van Gogh did for painting, Jeff single-handedly did for Rock guitar: created something totally new and refreshing that inspired countless thousands of guitarist and bands and forever changed the face of Rock music.

This album is the epitome of the London Blues/Rock era of the late 60's. Featuring a phenomenal and talented supporting cast: Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Micky Waller, Jimmy Page, Nicky Hopkins, Keith Moon, and John Paul Jones, "Truth" blazed a new path that left most of the other guitar hero's and bands in it's wake. It doesn't get any better than this: Rod Stewart singing his heart out (before he turned into a disco/pop star), the late Micky Waller's inspirational and original drumming (have you ever heard a better shuffle?), and Ronnie Wood's raw bass playing are what British Rock was all about. This set is incredible; amazingly creative and spontaneous, highlighting the versatile styles and abilities of the musicians. Recorded in just a few days with the primitive recording gear of the time, and mixed in one week; it still amazes. "Truth" covers: Blues Shuffles, slow Blues, instrumentals, classic songs, Heavy Rock, progressive pop, and even an acoustic Renaissance piece; nevertheless, "Truth" delivers the goods. Moreover, Heavy Metal was invented during these sessions and Jeff was the 'mad scientist' who created this new genre in Rock. Back in the day when artistic music ruled the roost, or even today, what more could you ask for in a Rock album? Beck covers all genres with total command, his original and tasteful guitar playing on "Truth" is legendary,

The release of the remastered British version is welcome and long over due. With added tracks and far better audio, it's a must have for fans of Classic Rock or any Rock guitarist who is seeking the "Holy Grail" of Rock guitar. This was the 'Shape of Things' (pun intended) in 1968. Even if they did not know it, later generations of guitar players and Rock bands were following Jeff, he drew the blueprint for a new beginning in Rock. Even today, "Jeff Beck's Truth" is still a valid musical statement and well worth the price of admission. There is no doubt in my mind: Beck is the Gov!.

(4.5 stars) THE TRUTH IS...
There are some great moments on this album, that's for sure. Jeff Beck's Truth (1968) is a critically-acclaimed and influential piece of work that features some great performances and historically rocks the blues.

It also frustratingly lacks direction and purpose as a whole album. Truth is all over the place and there's not a lot of cohesiveness, and no concept. At times, it seems like it's a well organized all-star jam session that doesn't have any mission at all, other than to highlight the great performances.

Jeff Beck had already made a name for himself as a guitar hero while working as a session player and as a member of The Yardbirds when he replaced Eric Clapton in the group. After leaving The Yardbirds, he formed The Jeff Beck Group featuring vocalist Rod Stewart, bassist Ronnie Wood, pianist Nicky Hopkins and drummer Micky Waller. A "back before they were famous" group of rock n' roll hall of famers. Truth was the The Jeff Beck Group's first album.

The best songs on Truth are the heavy blues-rockers. Let Me Love You, You Shook Me, Blues De Luxe and I Ain't Superstitious are all great stuff. The album's opener, Shapes Of Things, is a great rockin' track, and the Beck/Stewart original, Rock My Plimsoul, is a solid piece of work, too.

Old Man River seems oddly out of place on the album, but Rod Stewart's moving vocal performance saves the song, and makes it surprisingly good. Beck tacks on the solo acoustic guitar instrumental, Gleensleeves, at the end of River, and that's pretty good. The Spanish influenced electronic-effects guitar instrumental, Beck's Bolero, sort of comes out of nowhere, too, but it's a solid track, and features performances by Keith Moon, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

Truth was Rod Stewart's first full album recording ever, and his gritty, authentically bluesy and passionate vocal performance actually saves the album from being little more than an interesting, although distinctive, early heavy-metal and blues-rock guitar artifact. Ron Wood's bass playing on the album is also remarkable, and that it doesn't get any more attention than it does is puzzling. At times, he even outshines Beck, who's guitar playing is extraordinarily spot on, especially considering this was 1968.

This 2006 remastered reissue is the definitive edition, and the sound is excellent. It also includes eight bonus tracks, and the best of these are the bluesy I've Been Drinking and the outtake versions of You Shook Me and Blues De Luxe. Beck's take on Love Is Blue is also interesting in a quirky sort of way.

Truth is a must-have album for Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood fans or anybody who's interested in the early evolution of heavy-metal and blues-rock guitar and the conception of the Led Zeppelin sound. But besides it's influence and importance, Truth also just has a lot of great blues-rock tunes that are definitely worth hearing. Jeff Beck would later move on to his true calling of jazz fusion and record Wired and Blow by Blow, two of his most popular and critically-aclaimed albums, but Truth still stands as a pre-heavy metal blues-rock monument, and his most influential work.

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You can see a complete list of all Jeff Beck discography, or go back to the Jeff Beck tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.