Jeff Beck-Blow By Blow (1975)

This is one of the essential albums among those focused on electric guitar, and "Blow by Blow" is considered a masterpiece of jazz-rock and the pinnacle of guitarist Jeff Beck's career, who passed away exactly one year ago at the age of 78. Although "Blow by Blow" is chronologically his fifth album, it was actually his second solo effort (the first being the interesting "Truth", released in 1968). After disbanding his band, composed of Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice, with whom he released the stunning "Beck-Ola" (1969), "Rough and Ready" (1971), "The Jeff Beck Group" (1972), and "Beck, Bogert and Appice" (1973), as well as the live album "Beck, Bogert and Appice: Live in Japan" (1974), the latter released only in Japan, he decided to continue his solo career. Produced by the so-called fifth Beatle, George Martin, this second release featured Beck collaborating with keyboardist Max Middleton, bassist Phil Chen, and drummer Richard Bailey, in addition to a guest appearance by Stevie Wonder and orchestral arrangements by the aforementioned George Martin. "Blow By Blow" is notable for being one of Jeff Beck's first albums to fully embrace jazz-fusion and jazz-rock, moving away from the hard rock and blues sounds of his earlier work. The album is brimming with memorable moments, such as the funk jazz track "You Know What I Mean", the exhilarating "She's A Woman", the powerful jazz-rock songs "Constipated Duck", "Airblower", and "Scatterbrain", the iconic "Cause We've Ended as Lovers", and the immortal and ever-popular "Freeway Jam", a staple of American FM radio.