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BLOW BY BLOW - 1975
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"...Constipated Duck..."
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.
"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 released 30 April 2001
(May 2001 in the USA) – "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...
