Writer: Max Middleton
Producer: George Martin
Recorded: Late 1974 at AIR Studios in London, England
Released: Spring 1975
Players: | Jeff Beck–guitar Max Middleton–keyboards Phil Chen–bass Richard Bailey–drums |
Album: | Blow By Blow (Epic, 1975) |
After British guitar whiz Jeff Beck worked in the Yardbirds and Beck, Bogart & Appice, and also led his own band (which introduced singer Rod Stewart to the world), he finally came out with his first solo album in 1975. Titled Blow By Blow, it was an instrumental album that embraced elements of jazz fusion as well as rock.
For the groundbreaking effort, Beck tapped former Beatles producer George Martin, who recorded it at his Air Studios in London.
Beck's chief collaborator on Blow By Blow was keyboardist Max Middleton, who co-wrote “Freeway Jam” with the guitarist. “I take inspiration from chords,” Beck explained. “Max was always hitting me with nice chords. I'd have to be like a twerp for about two hours, where I fumbled around with them. That's what I've always done, though–just opened myself up and said, 'I can't play guitar, but I'll have a go at this.' And being totally honest and open and willing to start from square one works better than to try to force something that you already know over something new.”
At the time of Blow By Blow's release, “Freeway Jam” was actually eclipsed by another track from the album, a cover of Stevie Wonder's “'Cause We've Ended As Lovers,” which Beck dedicated to the late guitarist Roy Buchanan. It was only when “Freeway Jam” appeared on the subsequent Jeff Beck With The Jan Hammer Group Live that the song received radio play.
Blow By Blow reached Number Four on the Billboard 200 albums chart–the best showing ever for one of Beck's albums–and was certified platinum.