Truth

Jeff Beck’s solo debut is one of the great all-star gatherings in rock history. Though Beck’s was the only name to appear on the cover, *Truth* features Jimmy Page (12-string guitar on “Beck’s Bolero”), Keith Moon (drums on “Beck’s Bolero”), and John Paul Jones (bass on “Beck’s Bolero” and organ on various tracks). Also on hand are pianist Nicky Hopkins, and two future Faces, Ronnie Wood (on bass) and Rod Stewart. Stewart is undoubtedly the album’s MVP, as he lets loose a lionly howl on the old Chicago blues songs “You Shook Me” and “I Ain’t Superstitious.” Rock historians have called *Truth* the first heavy-metal album, but the album is actually closer to what Jimi Hendrix was doing at the same time: a blend of sublime groove and heavyweight force. Beck’s reinvention of “Shapes of Things” is aggressive and sexy and stoned at once, while the potent “Morning Dew” is one of the all-time great duets between voice and wah-wah guitar. It all climaxes with “Beck’s Bolero,” a Beck/Page original that is 100 percent godlike guitar majesty.

Jeff Beck - Truth review: An essential piece of hard rock and heavy metal history.