Open Web Player
This 1975 release is a high-water mark for Jeff Beck and the beginning of his “jazz rock” phase. To be honest though, this really isn’t jazz rock in the Return to Forever sense of the term. It swings. It grooves. Think of Herbie Hancock circa 1974 (the album Thrust comes to mind). It’s also playful – this album is a lot of fun to listen to. It’s my favorite and has been since I first heard it in (ugh, maybe 79-80?) – as I recall, it was a guitarist that introduced me to Blow by Blow.
The tunes are well-written instrumentals. Jeff has a pretty good band backing him up – I especially like the rhythm section. The drummer is excellent, and while not a virtuoso, the bassist plays crisp and tasteful lines. I also love the tone he gets (sounds like a Fender Precision bass). The keyboard parts are great – lot of Fender Rhodes and (very funky) clavinet. It provides a nice backdrop. And of course we have the maestro himself Jeff Beck – the timbre, texture, and tone he gets out of his guitar is extraordinary. His playing alternately burns and is bittersweet, bordering on lachrymose.
The moods on this album range from upbeat and playful to wistful. My favorite tracks are closer to the jazz rock end of the spectrum like Freeway Jam and Scatterbrain, although I also enjoy the quieter tracks Cause’ we ended as Lovers and Diamond Dust. There really is something for everyone here. In fact, I would recommend this album to people who are not fans of jazz rock. This album only flirts with jazz rock and avoids the breakneck tempos, shredding, and odd chords/time signatures that I associate with the genre.
The production quality is excellent (thank you Sir George Martin). There does not appear to be any compression or distortion – the recording does not seem to be a victim of the loudness wars. There is also pretty good separation of instruments although sometimes the keyboards get buried. Also, the bass can get a bit loud here and there but not too often. The drums sound spectacular though!
All in all, this is one of the finest albums by Jeff Beck and one of the friendliest jazz rock albums I own. For those of you that want the volume turned up a bit on the jazz rock, you might enjoy the follow-up album Wired (1976). There is some absolutely sick playing on the album (includes Mahavishnu Orchestra alumni), although I don’t think that Wired is as cohesive and all-around awesome as Blow by Blow.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
You Know What I Mean | 4:06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
She's a Woman | 4:29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Constipated Duck | 2:47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Air Blower | 5:09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Scatterbrain | 5:40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Cause We've Ended as Lovers | 5:41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Thelonius | 3:18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Freeway Jam | 4:55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Diamond Dust | 8:23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries
Mark Barry
"...Constipated Duck..." – Blow By Blow by JEFF BECK (2001 Epic CD – Vic Anesini Remaster)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2016Verified Purchase
"...Constipated Duck..." – Blow By Blow by JEFF BECK (2001 Epic CD – Vic Anesini Remaster)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2016
For such a famous Jazz-Rock album (probably the most well known in Jeff Beck's voluminous catalogue) – it's astounding to think that 1975's "Blow By Blow" didn’t chart Top 50 in the UK. Not even the holy name of 'GEORGE MARTIN' as Producer seemed to entice Blighty buyers. However July 1976's "Wired" (the follow-up) did benefit from Blow's yearlong sinking-into-the-public's consciousness and hit a respectable No. 38. But poor old Epic EPC 89117 got naught in England on its initial release despite media support.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2016
"Blow By Blow" in the USA however was big league - garnishing rave reviews for innovation, Funk Style and the sheer virtuosity of the playing on every track. It clocked a No. 4 placing on Billboard's Rock LP charts - an amazing feat for an instrumental album in 1975. Since then it's been acknowledged as a masterpiece of the Jazz-Fusion-Rock genre and is a noted Audiophile wet dream into the bargain (it received a Stateside Half-Speed Master in 1980 and a Mobile Fidelity Gold CD in 1998).
Which brings by circuitous swift of shore and bend of guitar string to this fab little CD remaster from 2001 by one of my favourite Audio Engineers - the mighty VIC ANESINI. Carrying out the Remasters at Sony Studios in New York – he's a name I've sung the praises of before. Anesini has handled very prestigious SONY catalogue – Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Nilsson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Santana, Paul Simon and The Jayhawks to name but a few. I seek out his work because it’s the best to my ears. Let’s get to the disc and the music...
UK and USA released April 2001 – "Blow By Blow" by JEFF BECK on Epic EPC 502181 2 (Barcode 5099750218129) is a straightforward transfer of the album and plays out as follows (44:37 minutes):
Side 1:
1. You Know What I Mean [Jeff Beck/Max Middleton song]
2. She’s A Woman [Lennon and McCartney song - Beatles cover]
3. Constipated Duck [Jeff Beck song]
4. AIR Blower [Jeff Beck, Max Middleton, Richard Bailey and Phil Chenn song]
5. Scatterbrain [Jeff Beck/Max Middleton song]
Side 2:
6. 'Cause We Ended As Lovers [Stevie Wonder song – Syreeta cover]
7. Thelonius [Stevie Wonder cover]
8. Freeway Jam [Max Middleton song]
9. Diamond Dust [Bernie Holland song]
Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Blow By Blow" – released March 1975 in the UK on Epic Records EPC 89117 and April 1975 in the USA on Epic PE 33409 (peaked at No. 4 in the USA LP charts – no UK chart position). Recorded at AIR Studios in London - it was Produced by GEORGE MARTIN and Engineered by DENIM BRIDGES.
Note: On the rear of the October 2008 5CD Mini Box Set “Original Album Classics” which also contains the album “Blow By Blow” - tracks 10 and 11 are listed as - “You Know What I Mean” and “She’s A Woman”. It also claims 10 is a bonus track – but neither are actually on the disc. It has exactly the same playing time as the above version (44:37 minutes).
The Band:
JEFF BECK – All Guitars
MAX MIDDLETON – All Keyboards
PHIL CHENN – Bass
RICHARD BAILEY – Drums and Percussion
A long way from 1968's "Truth" and 1969's "Beck-Ola" - albums steeped in hard-hitting Rock and Blues - "Blow By Blow" is a deeply Funky record. And when the neck-jerking rhythms and staccato Rock aren't tempting your butt - the slower tunes like the truly gorgeous "'Cause We Ended As Lovers" and "Diamond Dust" can only be described as 'Soulful' Fusion. It opens with intent - "You Know What I Mean" - guitar flicks accompanied by a Bass and Drums - but then the Funky guitar layers start building until you get a fuzzed up lead-guitar refrain that screams 'Prog' but in almost new way. It's a fabulous start. And then there's that stunning and expert Production from Beatles' helmsman and all-round English Gent - George Martin. This thing sounds just incredible - all manner of bent notes and funky licks catching your ears in a two-speaker avalanche. This then segues into an almost unrecognizable cover of The Beatles "She's A Woman" - the B-side of November 1964's "I Feel Fine". Beck uses a voicebox on the guitar while Middleton pings away on the electric piano giving it an almost Steely Dan vibe.
Both "Constipated Duck" and "Scatterbrain" sound pretty much like their titles - frantic guitar work outs that feature the band going at like AWB on speed. But the giant on here for me is his instrumental version of Stevie Wonder's "'Cause We Ended As Lovers" which Beck dedicates to guitar hero ROY BUCHANAN (on Polydor Records) – even aping Buchanan's famous bending-notes style. The vocal version of this gorgeous song is on Syreeta's album “Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta” from 1974 on Tamla Motown. Beck’s searing solo on it is surely a career highlight. The rat-tat-tat of a lone high-hat introduces the clavinet-Funk "Thelonius" - another Stevie Wonder contribution. It then goes into a clever synth Funk with voicebox guitar and a fantastic Bass and Drum rhythm. It sounds like the brilliant instrumental "Contusion" from Stevie's 1976 2LP masterpiece "Songs In The Key Of Life" but done ala 1973's "Innervisions" stylee. "Freeway Jam" gives it some tremolo arm Jazz Fusion while the lovely "Diamond Dust" mellows it all down and feels like a pond ripple in the sunshine for its eight and half minutes.
"Blow By Blow" was inexplicably overlooked in the UK on initial release - a musical mistake you should now rectify in 2016 by buying this fabulous CD Remaster - currently lurking with intent in some Amazon warehouse for less than three English pounds. Naught constipated about that...
Images in this review
Mandrek Larl
Spoiler alert, no place for your hippy hat In this company ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2018Verified Purchase
os
Essential Beck..
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2013Verified Purchase
orhan
Great album
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2021Verified Purchase
Peter Oliver
Jeff Beck at his best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2020Verified Purchase
