So what do you think...?...and Jeff Beck

I'm sure you've noticed the little ads below my daily posts. Usually it's a movie trailer, sometimes it's something else. Of course, I have no control over what goes there, but I find it interesting sometimes to see what appears.

For personal reference, I'd like to know what you all think of it. Do you like being able to click and watch a trailer? Along that line, what about the YouTube links I often post? From this end, I always think they add to the day's discussion. If not, it would be nice to know.

Jeff Beck! What? You've never heard of Jeff Beck? Well let me fill you in...

He's not as famous as some of contemporaries, namely Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, but it's my opinion that he's actually a better musician than either of them. Of the three, I'd say Clapton is the least accomplished (but most appreciated), with Page ranking a little higher. I think Beck's major career obstacle has been his artistry and experimentation. While the others pursued mainstream pop/rock avenues, he went out on all kinds of limbs. The second hindrance was probably his bent toward instrumental work.

It's no coincidence that I chose these three to compare (noticeably excluding Jimi Hendrix). They are actually linked by a common band, The Yardbirds. Clapton wasnt the original lead for the band, but he replaced Top Topham, which proved to be the foot on the pedal for The Yardbirds. He eventually left to join John Mayall and was replaced by Beck. During the time that he was with the band, they added Jimmy Page and so had two leads. It seems that Beck didnt get along very well with other band members and so was fired or quit, depending on whom you believe, suddenly. This left Jimmy Page as the lone lead guitarist. He also wrangled ownership of the name "The Yardbirds", which came in handy as the band began to come apart. He eventually brought in a guy name Robert Plant and together they forged a new band, the name of which I dont need to mention.

Meanwhile, Jeff Beck went on to form The Jeff Beck Group, which was short lived, 1968-1969, but look at the talent - Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Nicky Hopkins and Micky Waller. There's a lot more to tell, but I'll let you research it if you're interested. If you arent familiar with his work, grab a copy of Blow by Blow or Truth. You might also find Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop worth a listen.