1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #128. Jeff Beck - Truth (1968)

Jeff Beck - Truth (1968)

Label – Columbia
Producer – Mickie Most
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality – UK
Running Time – 40:50

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Shapes Of Things
2. Let Me Love You
3. Morning Dew
4. You Shook Me
5. Ol' Man River
6. Greensleeves
7. Rock My Plimsoul
8. Beck's Bolero
9. Blues Deluxe
10. I Ain't Superstitious

What a great record. This is another one of those records that I first discovered during my high school days. “Truth” was the first ‘solo’ album by Jeff Beck and his backing group. And what a backing group. Vocals by the still virtually unknown Rod Stewart, Ron Wood on bass and Mickey Waller on drums, as well as Beck himself on guitar. At the time of it’s release it did get some great reviews, but is now widely regarded as one of the first heavy metal albums, and it IS heavy with a nice blending of hard rock and blues.
The record opens using Beck’s old Yardbirds hit "Shapes of Things" but it is a totally re-worked version of the track. Other highlights are versions of Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me" and "I Ain't Superstitious"; a interesting version of Jerome Kern's "Ol' Man River" given a slow electric blues treatment, and the delicate solo acoustic version of "Greensleeves". Guests include both guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones on "Beck's Bolero".
The album did really well for an ‘unknown’ band reaching number 15 in America.
It is highly recommended.


You can purchase the CD here

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