#1918 – HEART FULL OF SOUL – The Yardbirds - 5/7/2020

Featuring Jeff Beck on guitar, I have always loved this huge hit from The Yardbirds. I didn’t know until today that the song was written by Graham Gouldman who would be one of the founding members in years to come of 10cc (I’M NOT IN LOVE, THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE). To say 1965 pop singles were eclectic would be a gigantic understatement. ’65 saw the release of the cutting edge (LIKE A ROLLING STONE) and the old guard, sticky sweet pop (MRS. BROWN YOU’VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER) and musical experimentation (ALL DAY & ALL OF THE NIGHT). This song was ahead of its time featuring Jeff Beck’s sitar-via-fuzzbox raga sounding guitar intro. Also, drummer Jim McCarty’s tempo changes, Keith Relf’s slightly threatening vocal and the chant-like harmonies fill out the song in spectacular fashion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kKJ2BRGA5s

1965

#686 – FREEWAY JAM – Jeff Beck - 3/2/2020

March 2, 1966 saw the 1 millionth Mustang roll off the Detroit assembly lines and hit the highways and by-ways of America. I thought a perfect way to celebrate this milestone was with an ode to the blacktop itself: FREEWAY JAM by Jeff Beck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfN-APKK4tg

1975

FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD – Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton

#179 – FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD - 10/8/2019

I’d like to drop in this incendiary cover of the Bobby “Blue Bland’s FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD. This version comes from a 1981 benefit all star fund raising concert in London called The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball. Co-founder, Monty Python’s John Cleese, put together a series of all-star variety shows featuring comics and musicians to benefit Amnesty International. Sometimes these all-star benefits don’t bring out the best of performances but Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton’s version of this blues chestnut features these two guitar icons clearly having a helluva lot of fun. There have been many stellar versions of this tune, but this one has always been my favorite. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkRSzjQSkb4

FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD – Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton - 1981