Beck, Bogert & Appice Live In Japan 1973 and London 1974

Beck, Bogert &Appice Live In Japan 1973 and London 1974

The Video Review above covers the CD Box Set

Now here’s a supergroup that really the word Power in power trio, and they took it to a whole new level. You had guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck, solo and former Yardbirds star (Jimmy Page even switched to bass to accommodate him), and the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, the latter widely considered the Godfather of heavy metal drumming.
The band only ever lasted the one studio album, and a Japanese only live set, but it’s long been well known that the band had more live material in the vaults, so here in this luxurious box we get a full release of that Japanese live set, and another live show from London 1974. It does what it says on the tin.

The band’s formation was originally planned for late 1969, following the split of Vanilla Fudge and the original Jeff Beck Group (a band that featured Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and Nicky Hopkins), but a car accident put Beck out of action (Bogert and Appice were even mentioned as joining the Jeff Beck Group), so Bogart and Appice formed Cactus. When I spoke to Carmine Appice about the project, he told me: “It wasn’t going to be Beck, Bogert & Appice, it was going to be called Cactus, with Rod Stewart singing. Before the accident, Rod bowed out and it was going to be a trio, but we were going to get somebody else. It ended up being Beck, Bogert & Appice because supergroups were in. You had West, Bruce & Laing; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. We thought Beck, Bogert & Appice would be a good way to do that”.

Beck would then put together a group that featured Cozy Powell, Clive Chaman, Bobby Tench and Max Middleton. That band recorded two albums, three if you include the unfinished / unreleased set of Motown covers. So Beck Bogert and Appice finally came together in 1972, initially playing live shows as The Jeff Beck Group with Max Middleton and Bobby Tench. As Carmine told me: “With a trio, musicians shine out easier than if you have a four or five piece band”. After the trio released their eponymous debut in 1973 (and deservedly well received it was too), the band toured, and a tour of Japan saw the original Live In Japan set, which is featured on the first two discs here.
A live favourite was the cover of Superstition, also on the studio LP; Jeff Beck had been around at Stevie Wonder’s original recording and had played it live with the second Jeff Beck Group.
So popular was it that it would open that Japanese live album; it is a little rough around the edges, in fact, as Carmine says: “It was never set to be released anywhere else and when it did come out we didn’t like it because they didn’t let us fix any of it up. It went on to become a classic album, but the group never really liked the Live In Japan album”. Glitches and performance imperfections aside, it is a wonderful set with some virtuoso performances, something that the Japanese crowd love. Aside Superstition, the band play tracks from the studio album, including the single Black Cat Moan, many extended, and additional tracks include a lovely cover of Morning Dew.

The LP here, in a gatefold sleeve, is a lovely replica (although no OBI), thick solid cardboard sleeve, and very heavy weight vinyl. And, get this, poly lined inners. Yes, the thick solid vinyl just glides out with no effort, no damage. On these notes alone we’re off to an infinitely better start than 95% of box sets. Bingo.

The second double LP is packaged in similar fashion and was recorded at the Rainbow, London, January 1974. Recording for a planned second studio album was underway so some new tracks were aired, others were jammed. The set was recorded for radio broadcast and has been bootlegged, but lovely to have here officially.
All this is so good, and a wonderful heavy bluesy rock with rock’n’roll listen. Seriously, to be enjoyed.

Sadly the band dissolved soon after, and the further careers another story, but this box does so well in celebrating this short lived supergroup on stage.

In addition to the 2 double album / gatefold sleeve LPs, there’s a massive poster, and a replica Japanese tour programme. All excellent. Then there’s the book. To call this wonderful would be an understatement. Lengthy notes, and lots of old photos, in a 12”x12” hardback. Could be thicker, but excellent all the same.

Whether live material or vintage photos, there’s always room for more, but (price point aside – the Nazareth box was 4 LPs, 3 7” 45s and 33 CDs for just £30 more) this is close to as good as it gets.

Essential package, essential listening.

Joe Geesin | Now Spinning Magazine