SACD / DSD

Jeff Beck – Wired (1976) [Japan 2016]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 & DST64 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 37:15 minutes | Scans included | 3,25 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | 37:19 | Scans included | 784 MB
Features Stereo and Multichannel surround sound | Genre: Rock, Fusion

Released in 1976, Jeff Beck’s Wired contains some of the best jazz-rock fusion of the period. Wired is generally more muscular, albeit less-unique than its predecessor, Blow by Blow. Joining keyboardist Max Middleton, drummer Richard Bailey, and producer George Martin from the Blow by Blow sessions are drummer Narada Michael Walden, bassist Wilbur Bascomb, and keyboardist Jan Hammer. Beck contributed no original material to Wired, instead relying on the considerable talents of his supporting cast. Perhaps this explains why Wired is not as cohesive as Blow by Blow, seemingly more assembled from component parts. Walden’s powerful drumming propels much of Wired, particularly Middleton’s explosive opener, “Led Boots,” where Beck erupts into a stunning solo of volcanic intensity. Walden also contributes four compositions, including the funk-infused “Come Dancing,” which adds an unnamed horn section. While Walden’s “Sophie” is overly long and marred by Hammer’s arena rock clichés, his “Play With Me” is spirited and Hammer’s soloing more melodic. Acoustic guitar and piano predominate the closing ballad, “Love Is Green”; Beck’s electric solo gracefully massages the quiet timbres. Wired is well balanced by looser, riff-oriented material and Walden’s more intricate compositions. Walden and Hammer give Wired a ’70s-era jazz-rock flavor that is indicative of their work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Bascomb’s throw-down, “Head for Backstage Pass,” finds Bailey skillfully navigating the mixed meters while Beck counters with a dazzling, gritty solo. Hammer’s “Blue Wind” features an infectious riff over which Beck and Hammer trade heated salvos. As good as “Blue Wind” is, it would have benefited from the Walden/Bascomb rhythm section and a horn arrangement by Martin. One of Wired’s finest tracks is an arrangement of Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.” Beck’s playing is particularly alluring: cleanly ringing tones, weeping bends, and sculpted feedback form a resonant palette. Bailey and Middleton lend supple support. Within a two-year span, the twin towers Blow by Blow and Wired set a standard for instrumental rock that even Beck has found difficult to match. On Wired, with first-rate material and collaborators on hand, one of rock’s most compelling guitarists is in top form.

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Jeff Beck – Wired (1976) [Analogue Productions ‘2016]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 37:20 minutes | Scans included | 1,5 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 749 MB

Released in 1976, Jeff Beck’s Wired contains some of the best jazz-rock fusion of the period. Wired is generally more muscular, albeit less-unique than its predecessor, Blow by Blow. Joining keyboardist Max Middleton, drummer Richard Bailey, and producer George Martin from the Blow by Blow sessions are drummer Narada Michael Walden, bassist Wilbur Bascomb, and keyboardist Jan Hammer. Beck contributed no original material to Wired, instead relying on the considerable talents of his supporting cast. Perhaps this explains why Wired is not as cohesive as Blow by Blow, seemingly more assembled from component parts. Walden’s powerful drumming propels much of Wired, particularly Middleton’s explosive opener, “Led Boots,” where Beck erupts into a stunning solo of volcanic intensity. Walden also contributes four compositions, including the funk-infused “Come Dancing,” which adds an unnamed horn section. While Walden’s “Sophie” is overly long and marred by Hammer’s arena rock clichés, his “Play With Me” is spirited and Hammer’s soloing more melodic. Acoustic guitar and piano predominate the closing ballad, “Love Is Green”; Beck’s electric solo gracefully massages the quiet timbres. Wired is well balanced by looser, riff-oriented material and Walden’s more intricate compositions. Walden and Hammer give Wired a ’70s-era jazz-rock flavor that is indicative of their work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Bascomb’s throw-down, “Head for Backstage Pass,” finds Bailey skillfully navigating the mixed meters while Beck counters with a dazzling, gritty solo. Hammer’s “Blue Wind” features an infectious riff over which Beck and Hammer trade heated salvos. As good as “Blue Wind” is, it would have benefited from the Walden/Bascomb rhythm section and a horn arrangement by Martin. One of Wired’s finest tracks is an arrangement of Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.” Beck’s playing is particularly alluring: cleanly ringing tones, weeping bends, and sculpted feedback form a resonant palette. Bailey and Middleton lend supple support. Within a two-year span, the twin towers Blow by Blow and Wired set a standard for instrumental rock that even Beck has found difficult to match. On Wired, with first-rate material and collaborators on hand, one of rock’s most compelling guitarists is in top form.

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Jeff Beck – Truth (1968) [Audio Fidelity 2017]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 40:47 minutes | Scans included | 1,64 GB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 870 MB
Mastered by Steve Hoffman | Audio Fidelity # AFZ-269

Truth is the debut studio album by English guitarist Jeff Beck, released in 1968 in the United Kingdom on Columbia Records and in the United States on Epic Records. It introduced the talents of his backing band the Jeff Beck Group, specifically Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, to a larger audience, and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200.

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Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow (1975/2001) [SACD Reissue 2003]
PS3 Rip | ISO | SACD DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 44:30 mins | Scans included | 3,43 GB
or FLAC 2.0 (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 906 MB

Blow by Blow served as a new creative peak for Beck and is, to date, his most commercially successful release. Offering a one-two punch of ingenious production and imaginative soloing, the wonderfully unpredictable guitar genius meshes stinging jazz-rock with string arrangements and energetic rhythm for You Know What I Mean; Constipated Duck; Air Blower; Scatterbrain ; Stevie Wonder’s Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers; Thelonius; Freeway Jam; Diamond Dust , and a clever arrangement of Lennon and McCartney’s She’s a Woman.

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Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow (1975) [Analogue Productions 2016]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 44:33 minutes | Scans included | 3,2 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans incl. | 875 MB
Features Stereo and Multichannel surround sound

Blow by Blow typifies Jeff Beck’s wonderfully unpredictable career. Released in 1975, Beck’s fifth effort as a leader and first instrumental album was a marked departure from its more rock-based predecessors. Only composer/keyboardist Max Middleton returned from Beck’s previous lineups. To Beck’s credit, Blow by Blow features a tremendous supporting cast. Middleton’s tasteful use of the Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and analog synthesizers leaves a soulful imprint. Drummer Richard Bailey is in equal measure supportive and propulsive as he deftly combines elements of jazz and funk with contemporary mixed meters. Much of the album’s success is also attributable to the excellent material, which includes Middleton’s two originals and two collaborations with Beck, a clever arrangement of Lennon and McCartney’s “She’s a Woman,” and two originals by Stevie Wonder. George Martin’s ingenious production and string arrangements rival his greatest work. Beck’s versatile soloing and diverse tones are clearly the album’s focus, and he proves to be an adept rhythm player. Blow by Blow is balanced by open-ended jamming and crisp ensemble interaction as it sidesteps the bombast that sank much of the jazz-rock fusion of the period. One of the album’s unique qualities is the sense of fun that permeates the performances. On the opening “You Know What I Mean,” Beck’s stinging, blues-based soloing is full of imaginative shapes and daring leaps. On “Air Blower,” elaborate layers of rhythm, duel lead, and solo guitars find their place in the mix. Propelled by the galvanic rhythm section, Beck slashes his way into “Scatterbrain,” where a dizzying keyboard and guitar line leads to more energetic soloing from Beck and Middleton. In Stevie Wonder’s ballad “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers,” Beck variously coaxes and unleashes sighs and screams from his guitar in an aching dedication to Roy Buchanan. Middleton’s aptly titled “Freeway Jam” best exemplifies the album’s loose and fun-loving qualities, with Beck again riding high atop the rhythm section’s wave. As with “Scatterbrain,” Martin’s impeccable string arrangements enhance the subtle harmonic shades of the closing “Diamond Dust.” Blow by Blow signaled a new creative peak for Beck, and it proved to be a difficult act to follow. It is a testament to the power of effective collaboration and, given the circumstances, Beck clearly rose to the occasion. In addition to being a personal milestone, Blow by Blow ranks as one of the premiere recordings in the canon of instrumental rock music.

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