Jeff Beck-Beck's Guitar Shop (1989)

No one doubts that Jeff Beck was one of the greatest guitarists in history. However, his star status was always a step below that of other, more media-savvy artists, partly due to his more collaborative approach to his work rather than focusing on his individual virtuosity on the six strings. In the late eighties, Beck ventured into familiar territory with him: straightforward rock, after significant recordings in jazz rock and blues rock. Albums like "Truth" (1968), "Beck-Ola" (1969), "Blow By Blow" (1975), and "Wired" (1976) are essential references in electric guitar history. In 1989, he released his twelfth album, his fifth under his own name, and one of his most energetic releases. "Guitar Shop" returns Jeff Beck to his natural element, showcasing a dramatic increase in quality compared to its predecessor, "Flash", an album clearly geared towards commercial success. On "Guitar Shop", Beck is supported by the tremendous poise of drummer Terry Bozzio and the virtuoso Tony Hymas on keyboards. Packed with vibrant riffs, the album unfolds through a solid and heavy repertoire of tracks, including standouts like "Savoy", "Sling Shot", "Big Block", "Stand On It", and "Guitar Shop". Beck also showcases his melodic side with a series of more hypnotic songs such as "Behind The Veil", "Where Were You", and "Two Rivers", displaying his virtuosity with smooth, ambient guitar solos. "Guitar Shop" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, becoming his second award at that time, out of a total of eight he would achieve throughout his career.