Jeff Beck - 1989 "Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop"

 

Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop is the sixth studio album by guitarist Jeff Beck, released in October 1989 through Epic Records. The album reached No. 49 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and won the award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1990 Grammys; this being Beck's second album to win that award, after Flash (1985).

"Stand on It" was released as a single and reached No. 35 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart; "Sling Shot" was featured in the 1990 horror comedy film Gremlins 2: The New Batch; several other tracks were used as part of the soundtrack for the 1990 South Atlantic Raiders episodes of the British comedy series The Comic Strip Presents.

In a further move from his previous jazz fusion stylings, Beck adopts a more straightforward instrumental rock approach on Guitar Shop, save for two tracks ("Guitar Shop" and "Day in the House") on which drummer Terry Bozzio provides quirky spoken vocals.

Guitar Shop represents guitar hero Jeff Beck's return to the scene following his 1985 pop/rock-based recording, Flash; an outing that featured his one time lead vocalist, Rod Stewart. Essentially, this 1989 release provides Beck's ardent admirers with a power-packed outing, brimming with memorable melodies, drummer Terry Bozzio's often blistering rock drumming, and keyboardist Tony Hymas' effective synth textures. Here, Beck surges onward in altogether stunning fashion via his quirky lead lines, sweet-tempered slide guitar work, disfigured extended notes and deterministic mode of execution. With "Behind the Veil," the band delves into a reggae groove, featuring Beck's lower register thematic statements and well-placed notes. Otherwise, the ensemble tackles the blues and hard rock motifs amid Beck's crunching chord clusters, animated lines, and soaring heavenward soloing on the lovely and somewhat ethereal ballad titled "Two Rivers." Simply put, this is a wonderfully produced effort and a significant entry into the artist's extensive recorded legacy.

Track listing:

1.    "Guitar Shop"    Jeff Beck, Terry Bozzio, Tony Hymas    5:03
2.    "Savoy"    Beck, Bozzio, Hymas    3:52
3.    "Behind the Veil"    Hymas    4:55
4.    "Big Block"    Beck, Bozzio, Hymas    4:09
5.    "Where Were You"    Beck, Bozzio, Hymas    3:17
6.    "Stand on It"    Beck, Hymas    4:59
7.    "Day in the House"    Beck, Bozzio, Hymas    5:04
8.    "Two Rivers"    Beck, Bozzio, Hymas    5:25
9.    "Sling Shot"    Beck, Hymas    3:07
Total length:    39:51

Personnel:

    Jeff Beck – guitar, production
    Tony Hymas – keyboard (including bassline), synthesizer, production
    Terry Bozzio – drums, percussion, spoken vocals, production