The first Jeff Beck Group was formed in the U.K. in 1967, consisting of Jeff Beck guitar, Rod Stewart vocals, Ron Wood bass, and Aynsley Dunbar drums. Beck had unfortunately signed a personal management contract with famed U.K. singles producer and manager, Mickie Most. Beck had envisioned forming the band he eventually did, but for the first part of their existence (early '67), they were relegated to being a 'backup band' for Beck, but Most lost interest in Beck quickly, and the group floundered for the better part of a year. In fact, if it weren't for Most's employee Peter Grant, they would have almost certainly ended up on the scrap heap before they ever got started.
Grant's interests were not entirely philanthropic though, as he was keenly interested in managing his own band. Having been to the States as tour manager for The New Vaudeville Band, he was well aware of a new Concert and Album trend developing in the U.S., where a band could be launched through concerts - without a hit single. Beck's outfit was made to order for this new market. And so he tried - repeatedly, desperately, and in vain to buy Beck's contract from Mickie Most. And although Most had lost interest in Beck, he stubbornly refused to sell. Grant however, wasn't beaten, and in early '68, he arranged a six week U.S. tour for the band. It was their last chance... Dunbar had left to play 'straight blues', being replaced briefly by Roy Cook and then eventually by Micky Waller, and according to Beck, they were down to "literally one clothing change!!" ...The gamble paid off - they took the States by storm... The response was phenominal, and Grant used their reviews (most notably The New York Times) to secure a contract with Epic records for a U.S. release. Upon return to the U.K., Most left the project in the hands of the band and a young, budding genius engineer/producer, Ken Scott, who had worked with The Beatles, and was soon to produce all of David Bowie and The Spiders From Mars records... The result was "Truth", to this day considered a 'touchstone' to many musicians, and a seminal influence on all 'Hard Blues','Hard Rock', and 'Heavy Metal' music that was to follow, (via Led Zeppelin), often sighted as usurpers of Beck's act, and largely (behind the scenes) responsible for its breakup.
This four piece lineup then toured the U.S. to coincide with the release of 'Truth' in early/mid 1968. The tour was another huge success, and they were being touted as the obvious replacement to Cream. The album climbed to number 15 on the Billboard charts and at Peter Grant's insistence, Jimmy Page was present for most of the second tours shows - apparently studying the band, their audience and material. Many insiders claim that Grant and Page were plotting to form a similar group, which they quickly did; trying to snag the 'gravel-sounding' vocal stylings of Steve Marriott, Terry Reid, and Paul Rodgers among others, before settling on Robert Plant temporarily.
Late in the year, well-known session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins accepted an offer to tour with The Beck Group, although offered more money to tour with Led Zeppelin. This lineup (Beck, Stewart, Wood, Waller and Hopkins), is considered by many to be one of the finest in rock history. But they would ultimately suffer from internal stuggles, jealousies and firings (reportedly from 'he said,'she said' rumours, whispered into Beck and Stewart's ears by Grant himself). Ron Wood was fired at least twice, and in 1969 Micky Waller was replaced by drummer Tony Newman, who stayed with the group until they disbanded. It really must be said that this was definitely a 'live' band. Their list of gigs from 1967 to 1969 is staggering... Through most of 1967 they played the club circuit up and down England, as well as short tours to Europe and Scandinavia. 1968 and 1969 saw them playing an almost unbelievable amount of shows, mostly in the U.S., but again in Europe as well.
Sadly though, for a band that stayed together almost three years, their output is lacking. They were only to produce three ill-conceived U.K. singles, and two L.P.'s. There are however, dozens of early recordings produced at DeLane Lea studios in 1967 and 1968, specifically for various BBC radio shows, including 'Saturday Club', 'Top Gear', and the "Simmonds Show'. Although bootlegged in very poor quality, these have never been officially released.
In mid 1969, after completing the admittedly rushed 'Beck-Ola', The JBG toured the States for the last time with Nicky Hopkins, who had to stop touring for health reasons. They were to do a bit more touring as a four-piece in '69, notably appearing at the Newport Jazz Festival, but unfortunately the forces working against them proved too great, and the band dissolved on the eve of the Woodstock Festival, at which they were scheduled to appear (they are listed on the promotional posters and ads). One wishes this had been their swansong, as it would have cemented their rightful place in history, and as there is virtually no known TV or film footage of this band.
After the group disbanded, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood went on to join The Small Faces, who were about to break up because of the loss of Steve Marriott. Meanwhile, Jeff Beck planned to join Vanilla Fudge Rhythm section, Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice, but suffered a head injury in a car wreck. Bogert and Appice would go on to form Cactus while Beck recovered.
After recovering from his injuries, Beck reformed the group with vocalist Bob Tench, keyboardist Max Middleton, drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Clive Chaman. The band would go on to release two more albums, "Rough & Ready" in '71 and a self-titled album in 1972, before disbanding.
Jeff Beck Group is also on Last.fm as The Jeff Beck Group.
Official Website: Jeff Beck
Ol' Man River
Jeff Beck Group Lyrics
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He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin'
That old man river, he just keeps rolling along.
He don't plant tater's,
and we all know he don't pick cotton.
But them that plant 'em, are soon forgotten, that
Old man river, he just keeps rolling along, oh yes he does.
You and me, we sweat and toil,
Our bodies all achin' and racked with pain, now listen!
Lift that bar, you'd better, tote that bail,
And if ya' get a little drunk,
You'll land in jail.
I'm so weary, and sick of tryin',
I'm tired of livin', but afraid of dyin'.
That, that god-darn' old river, he just keeps rolling along.
Keep on rollin' along.
Keep on rollin' along.
Old man river don't you stop your way.
Keep on runnin' from the north, the south, the east or west,
you gotta roll it ...
The Jeff Beck Group's "Ol' Man River" is a bluesy, heartfelt rendition of the famous Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II composition from the 1927 musical "Show Boat." The song speaks about the enduring power and constant motion of the Mississippi River, which has witnessed countless generations of hardworking people struggling, hoping, and dreaming.
The lyrics describe the river as a wise, silent observer who seems to know more than he lets on. The singer acknowledges that the river doesn't do any physical labor like planting crops, but its presence is essential for the survival of those who do. He also comments on the harsh realities of life for working people, who may end up forgotten and expendable in the grand scheme of things. However, despite the bleakness and weariness of the singer's thoughts, the river keeps on rolling along, an unstoppable force of nature that represents both salvation and inevitability.
This song has a timeless quality that speaks to the universal human experience of struggle and perseverance. It's a tribute to the resilience of working-class people and the enduring majesty of nature. Beck's guitar work, combined with Rod Stewart's expressive vocals, gives the song a raw, emotional power that perfectly captures the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man river, that old man river,
The river is a constant presence and a witness to history, ever-moving and never-changing.
He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin'
The river has seen everything that has happened, but it doesn't need to speak because its existence tells its own story.
That old man river, he just keeps rolling along.
The river is simply a force of nature that continues to flow, regardless of what is happening around it.
He don't plant tater's,
The river is not involved in the labor of growing crops.
and we all know he don't pick cotton.
The river has no role in the hard work of harvesting crops.
But them that plant 'em, are soon forgotten, that
The hardworking people who plant and harvest crops are often forgotten by history, despite their efforts.
Old man river, he just keeps rolling along, oh yes he does.
The river continues to flow, regardless of who comes and goes along its banks.
You and me, we sweat and toil,
People work hard to make a living, often physically exhausting themselves in the process.
Our bodies all achin' and racked with pain, now listen!
The physical toll of hard work can be difficult and even painful to endure.
Lift that bar, you'd better, tote that bail,
People are often tasked with hard manual labor, such as lifting heavy objects or carrying loads.
And if ya' get a little drunk,
Sometimes people turn to alcohol as a way of coping with their hardships.
You'll land in jail.
However, these coping mechanisms can often lead to negative consequences, such as legal trouble.
I'm so weary, and sick of tryin',
Working hard can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, leading to feelings of hopelessness and despair.
I'm tired of livin', but afraid of dyin'.
Despite this exhaustion, people often fear death and the unknown that comes with it.
That, that god-darn' old river, he just keeps rolling along.
The river provides a contrast to human struggles, continuing its course regardless of the hardships endured by people.
Keep on rollin' along.
The river's persistence serves as a reminder to keep moving forward, despite the challenges faced in life.
Old man river don't you stop your way.
The river will continue regardless of what happens to the people who live along its banks.
Keep on runnin' from the north, the south, the east or west,
The river flows in all directions and is not bound by any particular region or nation.
you gotta roll it ...
The river's course cannot be changed or stopped, and people must learn to adapt to it and keep moving forward.
Writer(s): Oscar Ii Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.