Truth

by Jeff Beck

Overview

Despite being the premiere of heavy metal, Jeff Beck's Truth has never quite carried its reputation the way the early albums by Led Zeppelin did, or even Cream's two most popular LPs, mostly as a result of the erratic nature of the guitarist's subsequent work. Time has muted some of its daring, radical nature, elements of which were appropriated by practically every metal band (and most arena rock bands) that followed. Truth was almost as groundbreaking and influential a record as the first Beatles, Rolling Stones, or Who albums. Its attributes weren't all new -- Cream and Jimi Hendrix had been moving in similar directions -- but the combination was: the wailing, heart-stoppingly dramatic vocalizing by Rod Stewart, the thunderous rhythm section of Ron Wood's bass and Mickey Waller's drums, and Beck's blistering lead guitar, which sounds like his amp is turned up to 13 and ready to short out. Beck opens the proceedings in a strikingly bold manner, using his old Yardbirds hit "Shapes of Things" as a jumping-off point, deliberately rebuilding the song from the ground up so it sounds closer to Howlin' Wolf. There are lots of unexpected moments on this record: a bone-pounding version of Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me"; a version of Jerome Kern's "Ol' Man River" done as a slow electric blues; a brief plunge into folk territory with a solo acoustic guitar version of "Greensleeves" (which was intended as filler but audiences loved); the progressive blues of "Beck's Bolero"; the extended live "Blues Deluxe"; and "I Ain't Superstitious," a blazing reworking of another Willie Dixon song. It was a triumph -- a number 15 album in America, astoundingly good for a band that had been utterly unknown in the U.S. just six months earlier -- and a very improbable success. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	09/15/2023
Label:	Sony Music
UPC:	0196588048913
Rank:	18487

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jeff Beck   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Ken Lewis   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
John Paul Jones   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Organ,Organ (Hammond)
Jimmy Page   Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Ron Wood   Guitar (Bass),Guest Artist,Bass,Guitar
Rod Stewart   Guest Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Aynsley Dunbar   Drums
J.P. Jones   Timpani,Organ (Hammond)
Clem Cattini   Drums
Madeline Bell   Vocals (Background)
Nicky Hopkins   Piano,Keyboards
Keith Moon   Drums,Timpani
John Carter   Vocals (Background)
Mickey Waller   Drums
Mysterious Scottish Bloke   Bagpipes,Bagpipes
Mick Waller   Tambourine

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Paul Samwell-Smith   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Johnny Rod   Composer
Bonnie Dobson   Composer
Jimmy Page   Composer
Chris Athens   Mastering
Chris Dreja   Composer
Keith Relf   Composer
J. Rod   Composer
J.B. Lenoir   Composer
Laurence Weiss   Composer
Graham Gouldman   Composer
John Paul Jones   String Arrangements
Jeff Beck   Arranger,Liner Notes
Rod Stewart   Performer
Scott English   Composer
Peter Mew   Mixing,Remastering
Pierre Cour   Composer
Jim McCarty   Composer
Relf   Composer
Mickie Most   Producer
Tim Rose   Composer
Dave Siddle   Engineer
Andre Popp   Composer
Ken Scott   Engineer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Hugh Gilmour   Reissue Design
Willie Dixon   Composer
Bryan Blackburn   Composer
Dobson   Composer
Baron Wolman   Photography
Charles Shaar Murray   Liner Notes,Sleeve Notes
Jeffrey Rod   Arranger,Composer
Mike "Clay" Stone   Assistant Engineer
Tim Chacksfield   Research
Mike Stone   Assistant Engineer