Jeff Beck may be the least careerist of all the high-profile musicians of his generation. What other conclusion might there be after seeing and hearing him so offhandedly observe why he disbanded his Group with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, just prior to their scheduled appearance at 1969’s Woodstock Festival: in the splendid documentary Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story, he said didn’t think the band was ready. Be that as it may, Beck has also taken protracted hiatuses from recording and performing over the years, during which times he has professed to be as content working with hot rods as whammy bars.
It is thus little surprise then that The Jeff Beck Group on 1971’s Rough And Ready (released 10/25/71) was more than a little removed from the previous group assigned that moniker. In the wake of the pivotal decision regarding his seminal heavy blues-rock band, the visionary ex-Yardbird found himself compelled to regroup literally and figuratively, in part to recuperate from a serious auto accident, only after which he assembled the quintet whose initial album he produced himself. Thus did the early phases of the iconic British guitarist’s solo career proceeded in fits and starts.
But the erratic progress of his work was also due in no small part to his admittedly temperamental nature too. Accordingly, the coalescence of this new five-piece was not without its twists and turns as the bandleader sacked the original nominee for lead vocalist, Alex Ligertwood– who had acquitted himself so stylishly with Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express–then hastily recruited Bobby Tench to not only sing but write lyrics to complete the original material for the LP. Little wonder numbers like “I’ve Been Used” are rife with adolescent angst, however accurately they might reflect the author’s own emotions (or those of the man who hired him).
To his credit, however, Tench’s vocal delivery has a certain panache at times (“Got The Feeling”). In keeping with that sense of style, the musicianship is also relatively mature. But Rough and Ready still belie the statement of purpose in its title to some degree. After some early conflict with the record label, the LP slowly but surely morphed into a collection of tracks more impressive for the ensemble playing than the material. Beck’s overdubbing of various guitars is particularly inventive, for instance, on “Short Business,” while “Max’s Tune” is a haunting piece more befitting its original title of “Raynes Park Blues:” its deeply evocative, shadowy atmosphere clearly presages the (Sir) George Martin production on Beck’s all-instrumental album, 1975’s Blow By Blow.
As heavy on nuance as visceral impact, Jeff Beck’s ensuing effort, the record known as ‘The Orange Album” (for its eye-catching cover graphic) further nurtured the seeds for that seminal jazz-rock fusion piece. Produced by Booker T & the MG’s guitarist Steve Cropper, the 1972 LP is most memorable for two majestic instrumentals: the closing, “Definitely Maybe,” is especially exalting, and “I Can’t Give Back the Love I Feel for You” isn’t much less bittersweet or potent in the guitarist’s emotive instrumental delivery.
However, Memphis stalwart Don Nix’ “Going Down” is the most durable track on the album (one Beck still plays today) and it forthrightly showcases the primary virtues of this band. Specifically, as on the closer of “Jody,” Max Middleton could coax his keyboards to sound both earthy or ethereal, while drummer Cozy Powell plays like two percussionists fluidly in tandem with one another (and bassist Clive Chaman is most sly in the way he unobtrusively picks his spots). Except for the two tracks sans vocals, this eponymous album is somewhat shorter on spontaneous atmosphere than its predecessor, due no doubt to the presence of a bonafide producer, but the sense remains that Jeff Beck is continually rediscovering the means to expand the use of his chosen axe.
Paul Myers’ essays for the relatively low-profile but lovingly executed 2015 reissues of the companion pieces clarify the chronology of the two albums. Yet the lucidity of the writer’s prose doesn’t illuminate to the same great extent as Vic Anesini’s remastering of the music. As with the most durable moments in El Becko’s discography, the notes he lets fly—like the ones on “Situation” which sound like the death throes of a turntable–are the ones that compel returning to hear Rough And Ready fifty-years on.
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Jeff beck is an excellent guitarist very unique in his playing guitar adapts in any music ive been a fan of Jeff’s since i was young love to meet him. Jeff is amazing plays his guitar execellent builds his own hot rods his personality is great i feel i talk to him all day
Never got to see him but will if he ever gets to America. One of my top 5 guitarists of all time. Reading this brings back such poignant memories of my youth and young adulthood as his music meant something to me. His talent meant even more.