Top 10 Jeff Beck Songs

One of classic rock history’s most extraordinary, innovative and exciting guitar players of all time is none other than Mr. Jeff Beck. When it comes to selecting the greatest guitar players of the classic rock era, historians choose the likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and off course Jeff Beck. Many of the these greats spent time in legendary bands besides the work they did as solo artists. Jimmy Page with The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton with Cream and Derek and the Dominos, David Gilmour  with Pink Floyd, and of course Jeff Beck with The Yardbirds. Only Jim Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan were rock guitar Gods whose legends grew mostly from their work as just solo artists, a fact also due to both of their lives ending much too soon.

In 1965, Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton in the legendary band The Yardbirds. Jeff Beck joined Jimmy Page. Jeff Beck toured with the band and recorded one album with the Yardbirds before being fired from the group. After leaving the Yardbirds Jeff Beck went on to form the Jeff Beck Group. Over the years, in the 1960’s and early 1970’s Jeff Beck worked with various famous musicians in different formations such as the Beck, Bogert & Appice band. It was in 1974 when Jeff Beck released his solo album, Blow By Blow, that Jeff Beck’s fame went beyond the die-hard rock fan. Blow by Blow was a platinum selling album that hit number 4 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts. It which was  amazing feat for an instrumental rock album. The record was also produced by the renowned George Martin who had become legendary in the music world because of his work with The Beatles.

Our Top 10 Jeff Beck songs list attempts to define some of the best material that Jeff Beck recorded throughout his career. We have excluded any of The Yardbirds material since we wish to have enough room to present some great Jeff Beck tracks. This is only a small sampling of some extraordinary guitar based instrumentals that sound like no other artist but Mr. Jeff Beck.

# 10 – What Mama Said

We open our Top 10 Jeff Beck Songs list with Becks foray into electronic music for at least one album. While some hardcore Jeff Beck fans may have been taken back a bit, the album is just another showcase for Jeff Becks extraordinary guitar work in a creative exploration of multiple music genres. Released on the Who Else album in 1999.

# 9 – Superstition

Jeff Beck joined with Tim Bogart and Carmine Appice to record one kicking album. Jeff Becks interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s iconic keyboard riff is to die for.

# 8 – Led Boots

Jeff Beck’s tribute to Led Zeppelin and his former band mate Jimmy Page was perfectly title. The song was released on one Jeff Beck’s Wired album in 1976. “Led Boots,” was the album’s opening track.The Wired album was the follow up to his ground breaking Blow By Blow album that was released two years earlier.

# 7 – Beck’s Bolero

Speaking of Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck’s former band mate composed the wonderful song Beck’s Bolero which was released on Jeff Beck’s first solo album entitled Truth. The album was released in 1968. The track also featured The Who’s Keith Moon on drums.

# 6 – People Get Ready

A legend on guitar and a legend on lead vocals. Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart. Do we have to say anything else? The song was released on Jeff Beck’s Flash album in 1986.

# 5 – Pull It

We simply loved the Loud Hailer album. The dynamic record was released in 2016. The album also featured the United Kingdom’s Carmen Vandenberg & Rosie Bones. Carmen and Rosies youthful spirit brought an artistic edge to the album that made for a wonderful Jeff Beck record that sounded both modern and vintage.

# 4 – Guitar Shop

Our favorite Jeff Beck album cover has always been the cover that graced the Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop album. The smoking record was released in 1989. The album featured Jeff Beck on guitar, Terry Bozzio on drums and Tony Hymas on keyboards. Guiar Shop was the album’s opening track.

# 3 – Freeway Jam (Live with Jan Hamme Group)

This great track was released on two albums. The studio version appeared on the Blow By Blow album. The live version appeared on the Live with Jan Hammer Group. Take a listen to both versions and see if you disagree with our choice.

# 2 – Blue Wind

“Blue Wind,” was the opening track on side two of Jeff Beck 1976 album Wired. The song was written by Jan Hammer.

# 1 – Nessun Dorma

This breathtaking ballad was released on Jeff Beck’s 2010 album Emotion & Commotion. Jeff Beck’s guitar work on the track defineed an artist who understood the meaning of choice. The album was simply stunning in its scope of performances and song selections. The guest performances including Joss Stone, Imelda May, and Olivia Safe made for an album for he ages. The track “Nessun Dorma,” won Jeff Beck a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.