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Jeff Beck — Freeway Jam
Album: Blow by Blow
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2833









Released: 1975
Length: 4:43
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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(Instrumental)
Comments (313)add comment
 jberko wrote:

This is an example of what Hendrix would have done had he lived longer.  Many of these guys got into jazz and excelled at improvisation and fusing jazz and rock.


Hendrix doing jazz. That would've been ultra cool...

This used to get a fair bit of airplay on Boston-area FM radio in the 70s and 80s. 
Posted 2 weeks ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
I had the PLEASURE of seeing Jeff Beck 2 times at the old beloved Spectrum in Philadelphia. For the Blow by Blow tour and the Wired tour. Oh the mid 70's baby!  
Posted 2 months ago by tripp1    [ Reply ]


Ask 100,000 'guitar players' to name the 10 all-time best guitarists, and Jeff Beck will be in a good 90% of the lists.
-
"When Jeff is ON, there is no one better."
- Jimmy Page



Posted 1 year ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
I posted this seven years ago. Still applies...


Bow down all ye wannabe shredders, bow down and genuflect before the
feet of Ye Almighty Shredder God himself for thou are not worthy! All
hail Jeff Beck from whom all shreddings flow! There is no Shredder God
but Jeff Beck and 4 x 12's are his Prophet.
Posted 1 year ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:

I got to tell ya

I keep hearing Return To Forever (Chick Corea, Al De Meola, Stanley Clarke), circa 1974-75  



...don't forget Billy Cobham, John McLaugh....oh I could go on and on and on..
Posted 1 year ago by timhavard54    [ Reply ]
And the keyboards are quite peppy on this song. 

Sounds like Weather Report. 
Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Don’t forget Max!
Posted 1 year ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
Had to check.  Yeah already rated it a 10.

"My, what skills you have," said the big bad wolf.
"The better to rock your ass off," said Jeff Beck.
Posted 1 year ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
We hear Freeway Jam a lot these days, so it's important to remind that it was heavily inspired by Right Off, performed by Miles Davis with John McLaughlin (and others), on the 1971 A Tribute to Jack Johnson album.
Posted 1 year ago by marclava    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:


And just after this album, Beck was doing exactly that, playing well with others, like Stanley Clarke on Rock and Roll Jelly and Hello Jeff.  Classic, smoking hot high energy jazz - rock fusion.  You gotta hear it to believe it's that f'ing good. 



Yes!!  Very well stated!!
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 jberko wrote:

This is an example of what Hendrix would have done had he lived longer.  Many of these guys got into jazz and excelled at improvisation and fusing jazz and rock.



And just after this album, Beck was doing exactly that, playing well with others, like Stanley Clarke on Rock and Roll Jelly and Hello Jeff.  Classic, smoking hot high energy jazz - rock fusion.  You gotta hear it to believe it's that f'ing good. 
Posted 1 year ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Aaaargh, what a great song!
What a great album!
What an incredible f*cking guitarist!!
RIP Jeff.  : (
Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
R.IP. We've lost a great Spirit
Posted 1 year ago by radeza    [ Reply ]
RIP Jeff Beck
Posted 1 year ago by max_p    [ Reply ]
 rklein wrote:

A part in the middle reminded me of Cliffs of Dover.




Beck did this prior to "Cliffs of Dover"!  Google it. 
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
rip jb
Posted 1 year ago by jr2571    [ Reply ]
Jeff Beck was the Walrus. He was The Sympathetic Devil. He was the Stairway To Heaven. He was Quadrophenic. He was Dazed and Confused. He was Ironman. He was everything Rock and Roll. 😭😭😭
Posted 1 year ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
What the... miss the great jams like this.
Posted 2 years ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
 rklein wrote:

A part in the middle reminded me of Cliffs of Dover.




Maybe the other way around! This tune was first! Both are excellent tunes!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
A part in the middle reminded me of Cliffs of Dover.
Posted 2 years ago by rklein    [ Reply ]
 dgharrop58 wrote:

Great Album. So was Truth, Wired, Beckola. Oh heck, they were all great.




I agree!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 chinaski wrote:

Turn it up to eleven! 
This is where you are jamming in your seat  simultaneously playing  air guitar and bass and drums and keyboards. Yeah you know who you are! Just look at you there jammin' away right now! Yes you!



CHAIR DANCING!!!  
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 dgharrop58 wrote:

Great Album. So was Truth, Wired, Beckola. Oh heck, they were all great.




YOU BET!! I AGREE!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Great Album. So was Truth, Wired, Beckola. Oh heck, they were all great.
Posted 2 years ago by dgharrop58    [ Reply ]
 ImaOldman wrote:

Jeff Beck is the best guitarist of his generation,  better than Clapton, Page, Townshend, et al. Absolutely unbelievable live.



Well that could be debated for years and no clear winner would emerge! 
Posted 2 years ago by jiml    [ Reply ]
 tompoll wrote:

"Sir, please back away from the panner."



The "Sir" you are referring to is Sir George Martin, who produced this album.  He did do a lot of panning in his productions.
Posted 3 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Turn it up to eleven! 
This is where you are jamming in your seat  simultaneously playing  air guitar and bass and drums and keyboards. Yeah you know who you are! Just look at you there jammin' away right now! Yes you!
Posted 3 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
I got to tell ya

I keep hearing Return To Forever (Chick Corea, Al De Meola, Stanley Clarke), circa 1974-75  
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 SurfDoc wrote:

Wow that's a jam!




I AGREE!!! ...I bought the album in 1975 when it first came out!
Posted 3 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
Wow that's a jam!
Posted 3 years ago by SurfDoc    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Um, no one?
(Except maybe Kanye West.)


who? lol 
Posted 3 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
I'm in awe of the musicianship in Jeff Beck's songs, this one included. I think there's just a bit too much going on in this one though, and the effect is chaotic. I like it better when the musicians don't crowd each other so much and leave their bandmates a little more space in which to shine.
I know, I know, I'll take my lumps now.
Posted 3 years ago by easmann    [ Reply ]
A nice gem from Jeff’s middle period. Thanks BillG. And great segue from Petty’s Red River!!
Posted 3 years ago by Montreal_Mort    [ Reply ]
Just the Frickin' tone!  Awesome. Def my pick of players from that era.
Posted 3 years ago by Conwayent    [ Reply ]
 ImaOldman wrote:

Jeff Beck is the best guitarist of his generation,  better than Clapton, Page, Townshend, et al. Absolutely unbelievable live.



A papaya ,banana, tangerine, and apple !
They are all great, just different flavors!
How do You define "Best " ?
Especially with leaving Hendrix out of  the mix!

For sure though, Beck and this album are stupendous!
Posted 3 years ago by surfrider4life    [ Reply ]
Goosebumps after 30 seconds - And after 1 minute I recognized the track. I had it in the live version with the Jan Hammer Group on Jeff Beck's LP from 1977. OMG, I was 16...
Posted 3 years ago by Piego    [ Reply ]
Just Awesome
Posted 3 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
Any Jeff Beck tune that makes its way onto Radio Paradise is an automatic 8 from me.

This tune, however, is a strong 9.
Posted 3 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
"Sir, please back away from the panner."
Posted 3 years ago by tompoll    [ Reply ]
Woooh nice
Posted 3 years ago by Teun5    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Um, no one?
(Except maybe Kanye West.)
 
Kanye owns his career to older jams 
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
outstanding and original guitar
Posted 3 years ago by dnorton    [ Reply ]
Oh....such beautiful and satisfying memories.... 
Posted 3 years ago by Rozsa    [ Reply ]
Great song, great album.
Posted 3 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
This is an example of what Hendrix would have done had he lived longer.  Many of these guys got into jazz and excelled at improvisation and fusing jazz and rock.
Posted 3 years ago by jberko    [ Reply ]
 ImaOldman wrote:
Jeff Beck is the best guitarist of his generation,  better than Clapton, Page, Townshend, et al. Absolutely unbelievable live.
 
Can you imagine, Beck, Page and Clapton in the same band. Page playing Bass!

Posted 4 years ago by Chongo1959    [ Reply ]
The better part of 50, yes count 'em, FIFTY, years old.  Half a century in and still as fresh as when it was first released. 

Or maybe it's just me. I dunno.

But totally outside the realm of Time and Space isn't it?  Classic Rock at its finest.  They may well be saying this 200 years from now, too.  As some phenom of their time attempts to recreate what you and I got to hear first time 'round....

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 4 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
Gotta bump to 10 ... It moved me to dance while waiting for my tea to brew!
Posted 4 years ago by sheeelaaa    [ Reply ]
 dflee wrote:
Interesting that George Martin produced the album. It shows.
 

Not that it has anything to do with anything, George Martin also produced for a hard rock band called UFO back in the 70's. I would have never heard of them but they warmed up the Doobie Brothers at a show I went to in Louisville, KY. They had a phenomenal guitar player named Michael Schenker who eventually got kicked out of the band for constantly being drunk. I know we was wasted the night I saw him, but he could sure play the guitar.

You never know where George Martin might show up.

Now, back to Jeff Beck....
Posted 4 years ago by tcseeley    [ Reply ]
Always a pleasure to hear. Thanks Bill!
Posted 4 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
Jeff Beck is the best guitarist of his generation,  better than Clapton, Page, Townshend, et al. Absolutely unbelievable live.
Posted 4 years ago by ImaOldman    [ Reply ]
Interesting that George Martin produced the album. It shows.
Posted 5 years ago by dflee    [ Reply ]
Extraordinary.  High energy (in all senses of the words) sounds.  Of its time, and timeless.  The whole album. 
At around the same time are several tracks Beck recorded with Return to Forever bassist Stanley Clarke.  Hello Jeff and Rock and Roll Jelly crank out unsurpassed waves of musical energy. Blow one's ears off with power and gracefulness.  
Posted 5 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Just....wow!
Posted 5 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
need to go back a couple years to hear Mc Laughlin taunt Miles onto stage with this tune
Posted 5 years ago by Mike_S    [ Reply ]
Right Place Wrong Time followed by Spit of Love Bonnie Rait. bliss
Posted 5 years ago by lyndonwatkins16    [ Reply ]
1975,76,77....Blow by Blow in the eight track player getting me up and down 95 and the NJ Tpk between DC and NJ and once I put the tape in I never took it out for the entire ride.
Posted 6 years ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
Jan Hammer on keyboards? 

 
This is Max Middleton, but Hammer plays on "Star Cycle" on Beck's "There and Back".  Amazing stuff. 
Posted 6 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
 Alastair wrote:
 jbuhl wrote:

Max Middleton.

Steve Wonder plays on one song on this Album I think . uncredited  

 
Sounds more like Deodato on keyboards 
 
The Fender Rhodes piano was quite popular in those days, not just with Deodato, similar phrasing on this tune though.
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
HE IS THE BEST!
Posted 6 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Maybe the best rock instrumental ever. Poundable and fun.
Posted 6 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
Hard to GET more Jam than that, man! This was SUCH a party staple back at the GDI parties in the E-School days... Still sounds JAM
Posted 6 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]

 jbuhl wrote:

Max Middleton.

Steve Wonder plays on one song on this Album I think . uncredited  

Alastair wrote: 
Sounds more like Deodato on keyboards 

 
Actually Middleton is credited with writing this tune.
Posted 6 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
Beck was revered back then until the likes of Alan Holdsworth and his proteges made the scene and took it..........to 11.

 
Methinks Mr. Beck is still revered.  Watch "Live at Ronnie Scott's."  I don't think anyone is using both hands, all knobs, and the whammy like him.
Posted 7 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:

Max Middleton.

Steve Wonder plays on one song on this Album I think . uncredited  

 
Sounds more like Deodato on keyboards 
Posted 7 years ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
its always good when you can hear string squeaks...they chose not to over-engineer the sound.  The way it should be. 

 
Produced by George Martin.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Fabulous!
Posted 7 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
its always good when you can hear string squeaks...they chose not to over-engineer the sound.  The way it should be. 
Posted 7 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
Jan Hammer on keyboards? 

 
Max Middleton.

Steve Wonder plays on one song on this Album I think . uncredited  
Posted 7 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
and Tal sometime
 
Posted 7 years ago by Mike_S    [ Reply ]
Jan Hammer on keyboards? 
Posted 8 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite albums when I was seventeen.  I knew I could dance, 'cause I could dance to Beck.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Windsprite    [ Reply ]
 rabaak wrote:
Who says 70's music sucks and does not sound good in 2015?
 
Um, no one?
(Except maybe Kanye West.)
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Who says 70's music sucks and does not sound good in 2015? This is fantastic, as is the rest of this album
Posted 9 years ago by rabaak    [ Reply ]
 rpdevotee wrote:
Forget Jeff...
The drummer is the one who is jammin' in this tune! 

 
From drummer Richard Bailey's website biography: 
"By the time he was sixteen he was recording and touring the UK and USA with Johnny Nash and the great Bob Marley. By eighteen he had recorded Jeff Beck's biggest selling album Blow By Blow (1975, Epic/Sony Japan) to critical acclaim and appeared on the film soundtrack Tommy alongside Pete Townsend, Phil Chen and Roger Daltrey."
Posted 9 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}
Posted 9 years ago by sharonk    [ Reply ]
Beck was revered back then until the likes of Alan Holdsworth and his proteges made the scene and took it..........to 11.
Posted 10 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Have this on vinyl.  Really need to look at what I have and maybe figure a way to play them.
Posted 10 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
I wish this guy could play better guitar. Who is he and does he have any experience playing with RnR bands?

I mean did he ever play with Arcade Fire or Smashing Pumpkins? Now those are some bands!    
Posted 10 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Perfect song for a swing party. 
Posted 10 years ago by GarageDragon    [ Reply ]
70s nostalgia
Posted 10 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
Is this jazz or rock? I love it either way.
 
I guess we might have to go with "fusion", but to me, it still flat out rocks. Can't---get---it---loud---enough!!!!
Posted 10 years ago by Lindo525    [ Reply ]
Is this jazz or rock? I love it either way.
Posted 10 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
Perfect.  I was just thinking on the last song (Harry Manx - Further Shore) ... "Is that Jeff Beck on guitar?"
Posted 10 years ago by wolfkiss    [ Reply ]
 (Banned) wrote:
If this isn't godlike I don't know what is...

 
{#Clap}    {#Clap}    {#Clap} 
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
Forget Jeff...
The drummer is the one who is jammin' in this tune! 
Posted 10 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
 SorchaZentropa wrote:

a recommend is jeff beck (dvd) "live @ ronnie scott's" ... a great show featuring tal wilkenfeld on bass, vinnie colaiuita on drums, and jason rebello on keyboards ... also guests vocalists imogen heap and joss stone ... {#Music}



 
Absolutely.  And Tai Wilkenfeld is outstanding...notable for being able to turn J Beck's head (musically speaking) at a relatively young age.  Something that has GOT to be hard to do given his own massive talent.  Here's a pic:



The lady has many fine years ahead of her me thinks. 
Posted 10 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
Ahhh, some classic Jeff Beck. Good stuff. Play "Scatterbrain" sometime Bill, please.
Posted 10 years ago by musikluvr    [ Reply ]
Bought this album in high school and still listen from time to time. Nice guitar album with a cool jazz fusion feel. Although it was kind of funny seeing Beck showing up in some polls as the years best jazz guitarist. I'm sure he was a bit embarassed about that.
Posted 10 years ago by ccjemmett    [ Reply ]
I wonder how his benefit CD Set to benefit public radio went. I only saw it one time, so I'm guessing it flopped.
Love the freeway jam reference to Jersey below
Posted 10 years ago by jktravl    [ Reply ]
If this isn't godlike I don't know what is...
Posted 10 years ago by WannabeBanned    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
The guitarist's guitarist.

 

Yeah, he's pretty good!




For those of us without an atlas handy, where exactly is 2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise?  I'm gonna' guess somewhere in...Jersey?
     
Posted 10 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
The guitarist's guitarist.
Posted 10 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Greatest guitar player ever to walk the planet.
                                                                 All others kiss the Masters feet!!!! 
Posted 11 years ago by Dosequis    [ Reply ]

a recommend is jeff beck (dvd) "live @ ronnie scott's" ... a great show featuring tal wilkenfeld on bass, vinnie colaiuita on drums, and jason rebello on keyboards ... also guests vocalists imogen heap and joss stone ... {#Music}


Posted 11 years ago by SorchaZentropa    [ Reply ]
I remember the great ad campaign for this album, which was Beck's first in seveeral years:

"The return of the axe murderer."

 1975 was a great year for guitar rock, with guys like Beck and Santana experimenting with new styles and sounds. 
Posted 11 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
What a great set of soul, jazz, r&b and funk.
Posted 11 years ago by dig    [ Reply ]
Liked his work from when I first heard him in the Yardbirds.  Rod Stewart did his best stuff with Beck, including a terrific version of People Get Ready.
Posted 11 years ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
Thinking about a 10...
Posted 11 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
Boosted it to a 9. Can't not do it. 
 

Yeah, me too!
Posted 11 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
sizzling hi-hat, held open just a bit, and hammered like roofing nails
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
At this hour sounds magical... <3
Posted 11 years ago by piñata    [ Reply ]
Dix. Ten. Strike. Bo. Eleven.


10.😝
Posted 11 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Can't remember when where or why this dropped off my  regular play rotation....  wonder if I still have it. Amazing.
 
Posted 11 years ago by Old_Pat    [ Reply ]
Boosted it to a 9. Can't not do it. 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
If anybody is interested in some background information about this guy, please read the book from Julian Dawson about Nicky Hopkins A Rock Legend, who played the piano for the Rolling Stones, and for Mr. Beck, and amongst others for Quicksilver Messenger Service, and they must be played here, please!
Posted 11 years ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
Saw him last year and a really great show. Amazingly he only used ONE guitar (Strat) all evening.
Posted 11 years ago by hbs47    [ Reply ]
Saw him here recent and it was a great show. Except for one tune all instrumental. Blistering guitar and solid supporting band.
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
Without him, there would have been no Vai, Satriani, Eric Johnson, or Les Dudek. One-man wrecking ball on guitar.
Posted 12 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Wow!

Does anybody remember way back in the 1970s...when you have dozens of guitar players with bands that were experimenting with all kinds of variations of rock n roll?

What we got today?  Thud and drone crap from Foo Fighters, Linkin park, Nickel back, etc.

Rock n roll RIP. Oh well, I guess there is still "country" music.
 
Posted 12 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 colt4x5 wrote:
Who's Richard Bailey?
 
 

ur kidding?..right??  ...if not he's the teenager on drums
Posted 12 years ago by DD rabbi_phil    [ Reply ]
Who's Richard Bailey?
 
Posted 12 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
Oh man....driving on some back roads in the 1970s in Southern Illinois...with the proper mood enhancements (not too much...not too little).

Just listen for the finger screeching on the strings. No over produced crap like today.

And people wonder why these guys still attract good crowds at live shows. I saw Beck on TV...amazing and the guy has to be almost 65!
 
Apparently, he's 68.  Great song and fantastic musicianship all around.
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Sweet!  It always sounded good to me from when it first came out, but I gained a whole new appreciation of Beck when a classmate at E-school had such a deep fervor for his stuff and played it constantly, along with lots of obscure Yes, King Crimson, Tangerine Dream and the like...mighty good stuff to study to!
 
Posted 12 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Oh man....driving on some back roads in the 1970s in Southern Illinois...with the proper mood enhancements (not too much...not too little).

Just listen for the finger screeching on the strings. No over produced crap like today.

And people wonder why these guys still attract good crowds at live shows. I saw Beck on TV...amazing and the guy has to be almost 65!


Posted 12 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
SO '70s. SO classic!  {#Good-vibes}  And SOOOOOOOOOOO stoned the first time I had the album!
Posted 12 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Another gem of a "record" bought for pocket change at the second-hand music shop known as Plastic Fantastic ... those were the days! {#Cheers}
Posted 12 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
I never have understood the "very much of it's time" statements.

Of course it is. 
Posted 12 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
The master...
Posted 12 years ago by tulfan    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
Nice jam, shame about the cowbell. Very Camel-like guitar and organ. Ok-ish but very much of its time. 5 from the unmoved (and not old enough) Nottingham jury.
 

Cowbell?  Think you might be referring to the crash cymbol; no cows were harmed in this recording.
Posted 12 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]