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Joined: December 21 2009
Location: Texas, USA
Status: Offline
Points: 22
Posted: August 08 2010 at 19:06
I love Jeff Beck but there is clearly no comparison between him and Eric Clapton. Clapton is an artist whose good name was sullied by 40 years of rubbish. But his stuff on the John Mayall album and the Cream stuff is without parallel. Beck, for all his tricks and gimmicks and talent and flourishes and innovations, simply doesn't get to the heart as directly - and certainly nowhere near as frequently - as Eric Clapton. I merely choose to ignore trash like "Lay Down Sally" and "It's In The Way That You Use It" - listen to the John Mayall album and listen to some of Clapton's newer stuff, like his Robert Johnson tribute album.
Joined: December 02 2013
Status: Offline
Points: 1
Posted: December 02 2013 at 16:31
I agree. I was familiar with Clapton's work, but not so much Jeff Beck. Since I've heard of this rivalry, I decided to check out Beck's recordings. I was disappointed with what I heard, I mean I can play this stuff. I'll never in a hundred years be able to play Clapton's solos with Cream, such as "Crossroads. " Is there really a rivalry? I have to go along with "Clapton is God" if this is his competition.
Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20491
Posted: December 02 2013 at 20:21
Interesting comments on the 'rivalry' which imho doesn't really exist except in the minds of some critics and fans.
You might as well throw Page into the rivalry as well since they all emerged from the Brit scene via The Yardbirds.
For me Beck is a better 'technical player' and can play more styles and has a larger variety of techniques he can create. Clapton and Page are feel players or emotional players who are excellent at blues rock and blues in general...but I do not think they can do the things Beck can do when he does fusion and related styles. Could they learn? Probably ,but it's a moot point since they don't play in that style and never will and stick to what they do best.
It's also kind of silly to say who's better since they are different players doing different things...and besides we all know Jimi was the best and even Clapton said so several times in interviews.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17508
Posted: December 02 2013 at 20:37
Mad respect for Jeff Beck, his jazzy, funky, bluesy playing is really good. But I hear a lot of the same from others....When Clapton plays you know its him and only him.
Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64435
Posted: December 02 2013 at 21:21
^ He sure is.
Anyone who thinks Jeff Beck is not distinctive, that his stuff is easy to play, or that his tricks, gimmicks and innovations don't add up to much, has never seen him live. Actually Beck is not the better technical palyer, Clapton is. But it's Beck who still has the soul, the feeling, and the magic. Yes, magic.
Joined: February 10 2010
Location: Barcelona Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 5100
Posted: December 03 2013 at 15:39
Beck by miles, Clapton was a promise when young but he chose the lazy path and remain stuck in his comfort zone of the 4 chord blues (as a matter of speaking, someone will quickly jump on me taking me literally).
Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
Status: Offline
Points: 4591
Posted: December 03 2013 at 18:43
I think Clapton started out so amazingly and peaked in Cream. He was an electric blues player without peer (except Jimi of course). It seemed after the Derek stuff he just crashed and never lived up to his earlier accomplishments. I never understood critics raving about such watered down unexciting pop as "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Cocaine"
Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20491
Posted: December 03 2013 at 22:28
Atavachron wrote:
^ He sure is.
Anyone who thinks Jeff Beck is not distinctive, that his stuff is easy to play, or that his tricks, gimmicks and innovations don't add up to much, has never seen him live. Actually Beck is not the better technical palyer, Clapton is. But it's Beck who still has the soul, the feeling, and the magic. Yes, magic.
We'll have to agree to disagree on who's technically better since imo Clapton is often sloppy in his leads where Beck aims at being precise in his fusion leads as he clearly showed on the Ronnie Scott video.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64435
Posted: December 03 2013 at 22:48
That's fine-- to me Clapton has always been a craftsman, a
traditionalist of electric guitar, and has simplified and polished his sound as
he's matured. Sloppy? I don't think I've ever seen Clapton be
sloppy. Maybe not always very interesting, but never sloppy. I
think we can give that award to one James Patrick Page (whom I adore),
Mr. Stumblefingers himself. What I like about Beck is that he seems
to always be pushing at himself and his ax, still hungry to pull out
new sounds and ideas. Eddie Van Halen always credited Clapton as
being his main influence but I've always heard more Beck in his playing.
Joined: November 06 2012
Location: here
Status: Offline
Points: 8856
Posted: December 04 2013 at 17:42
I certainly prefer Beck. Can't stand most of Clapton's stuff. I don't really care enough about either to pit them against each other in a discography-digging brawl.
I'll just sit back with some Led Zep records and revel in those beautifully messy guitar adventures.
Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20491
Posted: January 11 2014 at 10:39
Clapton 'was a great player' but I don't listen to anything he's done post Layla.....while he still is one of the greatest guitar players , he's not done anything original with it in over 35 years.....imho.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
I doubt the rivalry thing. Sounds a tad manufactured.
I'm not keen on EC albums that are not live since 1975 (although most of the ones before then. Odd, that. (except for 461 Ocean Boulevard, 1974 but close to the edge there). But in concert I find his playing riveting (except for that Rainbow concert shambles). Of course he has bands that are superbly accomplished musos and you'd be hard put not to sound good around players like Radle, Oldaker and Terry.
I have seen Beck a few times and he is all everyone says he is. I also recall a comment somewhere saying that Beck is one of the most talented rock guitarists - with absolutely nothing to say but a great way of saying it. Still, Wired and Blow By Blow are essential and the records with Rod are just fine. But Rough And Ready is my favourite - because when Beck has something to say it's worth hearing and he wrote most of that ... vocal... album.
Jimmy Page created Led Zeppelin.
Jimi Hendrix is unmatched largely because by playing upside down and backwards and not being Albert King (one of the few others of that funny handed ilk) makes him as innovator peerless for eternity. The guy who invented serious rock as we know it today.
As a bonus (!) we could think of Townshend who I've seen and heard him do everything on a guitar - except the amazing lead stuff. Classical (with John Williams), jazz (in his own way), great classical / rock compositions, unique rhythm, dynamics, but not the blues. Interesting.
Not to worry, they're all mates. Except their friend Hendrix who, contrary to current hipster belief, will not be playing is a town near you very soon. Mind you neither is is Page and he has no excuse.
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