The Judge
RAVES!
Date: 15/03/11
Jeff Beck - "Beck's Bolero" (1967)
It's not often that a B-side grabs more attention in later years than the disc it was the 'flip' of, so to speak, but this is no ordinary B-side by no ordinary musicians.
Jeff Beck was already a notable figure in rock circles by the time this track was recorded in a one-off session in 1966, and here he is joined by a line-up of musicians who were to be major features in rock music for the following decade and beyond.
How's this for a supergroup?
The track is based (obviously) on a bolero rhythm and was first put together by Page (credited as the sole composer, somewhat to Beck's annoyance) and Beck at Page's home. Beck suggested that there needed to be a break from the rhythm in the middle of the piece, which led to the insertion of one of the very first archetypal heavy metal riffs before returning to the main theme. The beginning of the riff is marked by a loud yell from Moon who - in his customary exuberance - knocked over the drum microphone, which is why you can only hear his cymbal from thereon in.
There are two main versions of the recording. One with a backwards guitar coda in the fadeout (which is the version which appeared on the B-side of Beck's uncharacteristic single Hi Ho Silver Lining and on many compilations since), and one without it (which is the version which featured on Beck's LP Taste the following year).
This version is the full one, a piece of landmark rock.
