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Customer Reviews of Truth

Can you handle the Truth?
If you can't, then you don't appreciate rock'n'roll at its toughest. Jeff Beck is arguably the rock world's No. 1 guitar legend, next to Hendrix that is. This was his first solo gig after he left The Yardbirds (and by the way, it was Beck who made that band, not Clapton!). This is simply a pedal to the metal, 4 on the floor, all-out work out. Joined by a then-unknown Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, Jeff reinterprets old favorites and reinvents the blues, with such standout numbers like "Shapes of Things", "Blues Deluxe", and the superb "Rock My Plimsoul". Add to this some unique twists such as "Old Man River", "Morning Dew" and the mesmerizing "Beck's Bolero", and you've got an album that can't be topped. When I was in college, I played this album nearly every day. Over 20 years later, I still do. When my son gets older, he'll listen to it every day with me. It is a must have if you are a fan of guitar-driven rock and blues.

The digital remastered CD adds new richness that was only hinted at on vinyl. A must have for any serious collector. Forget Zep, forget Slowhand....this guy wrote the book that those others only dreamed they could have written. One of the 15 best rock albums ever recorded. As the liner notes say, PLAY IT LOUD. And that, my friends, is the TRUTH.

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Zeppelin-esque!
Jeff Beck's long career as a solo artist has largely been one of unfulfilled promise. He's never quite managed to capitalize of his fantastic skill as a guitar player, in part because he neither sings, nor writes much of his own material. "Truth" is best of the late 60s albums Beck made with a [band] band that included Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. Together they sound much like another blues based British heavy metal quartet that was just getting started at the time. In fact, a cover of Willie Dixon's blues standard "You Shook Me" appears both here and on Led Zeppelin's debut album. It's a wash as to which version is better: Zep's is the heavier of the two but Beck and company's version is more melodic.

Of the rest, plenty of the tracks stand out. The covers of "Shape of Things" and another Dixon tune "I Ain't Superstituous" are excellent, as are the Jimmy Page-penned "Beck's Bolero," "Let Me Love You" and Morning Dew." The short instrumental cover of the traditional tune "Greensleeves," however, shows off Beck at his most technically proficient but is a warning sign for the egomania that would ultimaetly serve to sidetrack his career.

Overall, a near-masterpiece that would be an excellent choice as the first Jeff Beck album in anyone's CD collection.

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A defining moment in proto-metal and hard rock
Jeff Beck never attained the success of other hard rock/proto-metal artists like Led Zeppelin, but he was just as important and influential. On his debut album "Truth", Beck lays down the law for hard rock guitar playing, and his fantastic band showed everyone how to do the rest.

Beck's days with the Yardbirds don't go untold - the opening track is an interesting and inspired cover of the old 'birdie's hit "Shapes of Things". Some people don't like it as much as the original, and maybe it's not as psychedelic or as bouncy, but I think it is a fine performance. Beck and his band really shine on other tracks, though. "Let Me Love You", "You Shook Me" and "I Ain't Superstitious" are all highlights and some of the hardest rocking tunes in the set. The fine crew of musicians supporting Jeff includes Ron Wood's incredible bass (which at times rivals Jack Bruce), Mick Waller's thundering drums, and Nicky Hopkins' awesome piano and organ work. John Paul Jones of (later) Led Zeppelin fame even contributes some organ work on "Ol' Man River", the latter of which is also a showcase for Rod Stewart's fantastic vocals.

"Truth" is often described as the blueprint for Led Zeppelin's first album. There is no doubt that "Truth" was a huge influence on the Zep (Jimmy Page's guitar work echoes Jeff's leads on "Let Me Love You" very clearly). There are very direct similarities between the two: "Shapes of Things" is Beck's "Good Times Bad Times", "Let Me Love You" and "I Ain't Superstitious" are "I Can't Quit You", "You Shook Me" was done by BOTH groups (I like Beck's version the best - rawer and more dynamic, although too short), and "Morning Dew" and "Ol' Man River" = "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". Rod Stewart's vocals must have influenced Robert Plant hugely.

Let's see, of the tracks I haven't mentioned yet, let's start with "Greensleeves" ("Aye, that's a lovely toon"). Although this track is often described as a weak point, it's one of my favorites. As noted in the liner notes, it *is* a lovely "toon". Fantastic guitar playing (as usual from old Jeff). Okay, "Rock My Plimsoul": basically a slightly altered cover of B.B. King's old standard "Rock Me Baby". Not really a highlight of the album, as it offers nothing really new, but it's still a good track with great playing. And, "Beck's Bolero" seems to be the "big" track, according to everybody. Seeing as it features Jimmy Page on second guitar and Keith Moon of the Who on drums, it is one hell of a performance and one hell of a track. It's awesome. I also have to mention "Ol' Man River" as being one of my favorites. No, it doesn't feature devastating guitar-work, but it's a great song with *amazing* singing by Mr. Stewart.

"Truth" is a good one, a *really* good one. It's just as good as Zeppelin's first effort, and definitely more varied. Kudos goes to the remastering as well - great sound, not "harsh" and not too much noise reduction. Overall, "Truth" stands the test of time as one of classic rock's great recordings.