After a life-threatening car accident forced him to take an extended break, guitarist extraordinaire
Jeff Beck re-emerged in 1971 with a new band, a new album (
Rough and Ready), and an attempt to merge a soulful Memphis sound with hard rock. 1972's
Jeff Beck Group shows that
Beck was already moving beyond his soul-rock hybrid and sowing the seeds for his exceptional mid-'70s jazz/rock fusion work.
Jeff Beck Group also served as a precursor to
Beck's next project, the blues-soul-rock trio Beck, Bogart & Appice. Produced by
Booker T. & the M.G.'s guitarist
Steve Cropper,
Jeff Beck Group contains "Going Down," one of
Beck's best-known tracks and a perennial concert favorite, as well as the album-opening highlight "Ice Cream Cakes." An important, transitional album in the career of this stylistically adventurous guitarist. [
Jeff Beck Group was re-released on CD in 2016.] ~ Rovi Staff