Beck's Bolero
| "Beck's Bolero" | |
|---|---|
_UK_single_cover.jpg)
First UK single pressing with "Bolero" as title and "Jeff Beck" as composer
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| Single by Jeff Beck | |
| A-side | "Hi Ho Silver Lining" |
| Released | 10 March 1967 (UK) |
| Format | 7-inch 45 rpm record |
| Recorded | 16 May 1966 |
| Studio | IBC Studios, London |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:53 |
| Label | Columbia (DB 8151) |
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Page (disputed) |
| Producer(s) | Mickie Most (disputed) |
"Beck's Bolero" is a rock instrumental recorded by English guitarist Jeff Beck in 1966. It is Beck's first solo recording and has been described as "one of the great rock instrumentals, epic in scope, harmonically and rhythmically ambitious yet infused with primal energy". "Beck's Bolero" features a prominent melody with multiple guitar parts propelled by a rhythm inspired by Ravel's Boléro.
The recording session brought together a group of musicians, including Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Nicky Hopkins, who later agreed that the line up was a first attempt at what became Led Zeppelin. However, there is an ongoing disagreement over the composer as well as producer credits. Despite being credited solely to Page, Beck claims that he made significant contributions to the composition. Likewise, Page and Simon Napier-Bell each claim to have produced it, while Mickie Most received the credit.
"Beck's Bolero" was not released until ten months after recording and then only as the B-side to Beck's first single. When it finally received greater exposure on Beck's debut album Truth in the latter part of 1968, it was still considered quite advanced even though it was over two years old. Beck continues to perform it and several renditions have been recorded by other musicians.
The recording session for "Beck's Bolero" was conceived of as a side project for Jeff Beck while he was a member of the Yardbirds. "It was decided that it would be a good idea for me to record some of my own stuff ... partly to stop me moaning about the Yardbirds", Beck recalled. Also, the Yardbirds' management was encouraging individual band members to bring attention to the band through success in solo projects. Studio time was booked for May 1966 at the IBC Studios in London. To prepare for the session, Beck called on long-time friend and studio guitarist Jimmy Page, who had recommended Beck as Eric Clapton's replacement in the Yardbirds, to work up some ideas for songs to record.
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Wikipedia