Eric Clapton/Jeff Beck Observation

[MTPoteet]

He’s had hits in each of the last 4 decades and I figure that makes him relevant. Has Beck ever had a hit?

I think he may have with "Hi,Ho silver Lining" a song he claims to hate to this day.
His Wiki peige shows 16 Gramys in rock and pop.
Does that account for anything, or is it just about ticket/album sales?

 

[slauson slim]

Check out the recording Jeff Beck At The Hollywood Bowl.

 

[MTPoteet]

Still a hit, no? Not never, as was implied.

He still does it instrumentally, much better than with Stewart.

 

[MTPoteet]

And that's including the advantage that guitar players have with recognition. Drummers, for example (unless they have a name like Jason Bonham), if they try to go out on their own, are forever in the "sideman" category. There are solo albums by drummers of famous bands and most people aren't aware of those albums.

Jeff Beck, as narrow as his appeal is among the general audience, can still headline a tour and do pretty good, even if it's in small venues.

I saw him twice at Fiddlers Green, capacity 18,000

 

[warrent]

As far as Ronnie and Rod go, I heard that Jeff was in an auto accident and was seriously injured in 69. Rod and Ronnie left the group to join the Faces. Jeff said he first heard about it in a Melody Maker article. Didn't even tell him face to face. So Jeff blew his chance?

Jeff broke up the band in July of 69. They were supposed to play Woodstock but Jeff took off for England without telling the others. The car accident was in November of 69 while Jeff was waiting on the Vanilla Fudge to end their tour.

 

[tomkatf]

1954 Serial number 1056

Does Seymour still have it?

 

[TimmyM]

Just throwing this out there, I am a huge Clapton fan (we even named outer first son Derek). Clapton will forever be my favorite guitarist, and all my friends know that. When talking guitar players with fellow musicians we always seem to look at the followings and comparisons between Clapton, Beck and Page (although Hendrix always seems to be mentioned as well). Everybody Knows Clapton, he had hits with the Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream, Derek and the Domino’s, and his solo career has encompassed rock, blues country, and his amazing MTV acoustic unplugged album. He has performed on several movie soundtracks as well as on other performers albums, like the BeatLes, Elton John and many more.
Now on to Beck, I kind of learned Beck somewhat backwards. I had a friend introduce me to Beck‘s playing starting with Blow by blow and Beckola. Then I had to go back and listen to some of his earlier stuff with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group, and BBA. Beck is without a doubt a better guitarist but he lacked the mainstream hits (his biggest hit may well be “People Get Ready” and that itse features Rod Stewart as Beck rarely sings). This brings me to my actual point, Beck is so good you almost need to be a musician to appreciate how technical
he is. I think if you asked most people to name a song featuring Eric Clapton, they could probably name quite a few. When asking for the same featuring Beck they may draw a blank.

 

[burntfrijoles]

While I love Clapton, he’s been the WalMart/Amazon of blues/rock/pop guitarists since the 80s. That why some blues purists refer to him as Eric “Crapton”.
As I said, these are two very different artists. It’s pointless to compare them.

 

[fenderchamp]

I'm not an expert on either musician nor their musical output, but:

1) Both were in the Yardbirds
2) Both played Gibsons through overdriven amps, heavy blues-based (BBA and Cream)
3) Both considered guitar heroes
4) Both switched to Fenders, cleaner amps, and less-heavy music later
5) Both BBA and Cream produced live albums that sound very much alike (bass panned to L, guitar panned to R)

That last one struck me tonight - I listened to the Vol. 1 Cream live album, and the BBA live album afterward, and it's pretty much the same freaking sound, engineering, etc. But I will say this, then duck out of the way to avoid things being thrown at me: I think the BBA live album is better....

I believe they were friends from childhood as well

 

[TeleBackelaer]

beck can do anything. he still sounds fresh today, his playing is truly phenomonal
by comparison-
everything clapton does makes me yawn, and reeks of stale kool cigarettes

This got me thinking, I still often listen to Derek & the Dominos live at the Fillmore. Clapton was on fire there (and on alot of other stuff of course). But his guitar playing was stacked in emotion, it felt urgent and a lot he played there was exciting and unpredictable.
Nowadays he sounds like your run of the mill, dime a dozen blues player. Tasteful, but hardly ever exciting. It does nothing for me. I ask myself often, wth happened? He can't have 'lost' that ability he once had can he? Or is the inspiration just not there anymore?

 

[blowtorch]

This got me thinking, I still often listen to Derek & the Dominos live at the Fillmore. Clapton was on fire there (and on alot of other stuff of course). But his guitar playing was stacked in emotion, it felt urgent and a lot he played there was exciting and unpredictable.

Will you do me a favor and post your favorite single track from this that you feel is a great display of what you are describing? I've heard many people say that, and I'm always open to the idea that maybe I'm missing something

 

[MTPoteet]

Jeff broke up the band in July of 69. They were supposed to play Woodstock but Jeff took off for England without telling the others. The car accident was in November of 69 while Jeff was waiting on the Vanilla Fudge to end their tour.

My apologies, I guess I shouldn't believe everything I read.

 

[MTPoteet]

Does Seymour still have it?

No Idea, but I would assume so.

 

[TeleBackelaer]

Will you do me a favor and post your favorite single track from this that you feel is a great display of what you are describing? I've heard many people say that, and I'm always open to the idea that maybe I'm missing something

Favorite single one: Why does love got to be so sad. Pretty intense. To me at least.

Others off the top of my head:
Roll it over. Presence of the lord. Bottle of red wine. Blues Power.

 

[charlie chitlin]

Clapton followed the Fleetwood Mac stream.
His way of staying on top means, write 'em, play 'em, sing 'em, get 'em on the radio.
Beck put all his energy into mastering his instrument.
The future will probably be more supportive of Clapton, SRV and, of course, Jimi (don't believe the weird idea that he couldn't sing); probably even Fogerty and Prince.

 

[blowtorch]

Favorite single one: Why does love got to be so sad. Pretty intense. To me at least.

Others off the top of my head:
Roll it over. Presence of the lord. Bottle of red wine. Blues Power.

I've just listened to passages from all of those listed, and I've gotta say, they've done nothing for me.
But that's ok, not everything is for everyone