Jeff Beck’s favourite live album of all time: “Electrifying”
Jeff Beck will always be remembered as one of the rock’s most influential guitarists. As tributes rolled in following his death in January 2023, it was clear that he left an indelible mark on the industry. His career began in 1965, when he replaced the great Eric Clapton as guitarist of The Yardbirds, before moving on to decades of solo and iconic collaborations until his death. Twice-inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in The Yardbirds and as a solo artist, it’s intriguing to know the artists who inspired one of the greats, and delve deeper into his artistry.
Before his passing, he listed his favourite albums of all time, a selection of musical legends that includes Jimi Hendrix, Gene Vincent, and Miles Davis. But there is one live album that stood out to him: legendary blues guitarist B.B. King’s Live at The Regal. “I was into blues around 1963 and stumbled across this,” Beck told Express. “It’s an electrifying live performance of blues guitar and BB is a master of microphone technique. He brings his music down to a whisper then bursts out with amazing solos.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, how about a nice arm round of applause to welcome the world’s greatest blues singer, King of the Blues, BB King?” The opening announcement of this legendary live album sets the tone for the music to come, as King launches into his 1955 rendition of ‘Every Day I Have the Blues’. Live At The Regal is the first of King’s 16 live albums, along with the tremendous 43 studio albums he released throughout his outstanding career. As well as showcasing his uniquely brilliant soloing, there’s a distinct warmth between each song in his interactions with the audience, whose jubilant cheers and applause punctuate the album.
Beck isn’t the only person to be affected by this monumental record, with Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and Mark Knopfler also citing it as an inspiration behind their live performances. It has also featured in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
Beck spoke candidly about his lifelong admiration for B.B. King, reminiscing at a press conference about his dreams of hearing his perform live: “All I keep thinking about is me and Eric [Clapton] sitting in the rain in my car, listening to [King’s] Live at the Regal in about ’64, ’65,” he said. “We were saying, ‘Do you think he’ll ever come over here?’ He said, ‘No, I doubt it. This is all we have. We have records.”
Little did he know he would one day play alongside his hero. In the summer of 2003, Beck opened for King and even accompanied him on the stage. In 2008, Beck recorded his own live album at the BB King Blues Club in New York.
Beck went on to influence a generation of guitarists with both the masterful technique and charming personality of his solos. King’s influence is felt in the essence of Beck’s soloing, which he modernised with his experiments in feedback and distortion during his time with The Yardbirds. He was later cited as having a key impact on a range of genres, from psychedelic rock to heavy metal. Throughout his career, Beck collaborated with some of the biggest names in rock music, including Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart, and Ozzy Osbourne.
