WIRED

There has been many a debate about which lead guitarist who played in THE YARDBIRDS was the best. And while I am such a fan of the bands Jimmy Page(LED ZEPPELIN) and Eric Clapton(CREAM) formed after leaving THE YARDBIRDS, it was Jeff Beck who took a different route and one I didn't connect with in my youth.

Beck's first five studio albums are bluesy, rockabilly type recordings before changing abruptly with 1975's "Blow By Blow" to that jazz rock and fusion style. "Wired" from 1976 continues where "Blow By Blow" left off but with more energy. Two MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA musicians coming on board for "Wired" will do that. That would be Jan Hammer and Narada Michael Walden.

Both of these records are mountain peaks in his discography and you can't have one without the other in my opinion. Keyboardist Max Middleton and drummer Richard Bailey are back from the "Blow By Blow" record. As is George Martin the famed producer for THE BEATLES. I like that both "Blow By Blow" and "Wired" have Beck on the cover playing his guitar. They really do feel like companion albums. Narada Michael Walden composed four of the eight tracks and they also cover a Charlie Mingus song. The other three tunes are split between Middleton, Hammer and Bascomb the bassist.

My top three includes that Mingus track "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". And what are the odds that I was listening that week to the band PORK PIE and their "Transitory" cd. Anyway, the Mingus track is very classy and I'm just drawn to it. "Blue Wind" is a Hammer tune and he drums on it as well. And the guy can play, I've heard him before. Some depth of sound here with the rhythm guitar actually and I like Beck's style. Some clean and fast playing. Again, Hammer can play the drums! Great track!

"Sophie" is my final top three. A Narada tune with Middleton playing clavinet and electric piano. Yes! There's so much skill on this track. A beautiful listen for my ears. Beck is on fire late and I like the contrasts on this tune between the mellow and more powerful sections. There's a fair amount of funk on this one including the opening two tracks. And both have the clavinet and bass driving the bus.

So yes this one sits beside it's brother "Blow By Blow" on my shelf. Both are solid 4 star records in my world.

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