This is the ninth installment of this category featuring recordings of outstanding performances by noteworthy guitarists – or – outstanding guitarists giving noteworthy performances.
Truth – the 1968 debut solo album by Jeff Beck – was an early addition to my record collection.
I listened to it often and enjoyed it so much that when Truth and a handful of other LPs were stolen one day from the back of my parent’s station wagon, I went out as soon as I could and bought another copy, this time on cassette tape. (So that I could listen to it while driving around in that station wagon.)
When I heard the sad news of Jeff Beck’s death earlier this month – January 10, 2023 – I simply had to get that tape out of storage and envelope myself once again in all of the guitar wondrousness of Truth.
I also read as many of the obituaries and tribute articles to Jeff Beck that I could find online. (The best, in my mind, were the ones published in the Boston Globe.) But after all of the stories and the countless well deserved accolades, I noticed that not a single author mentioned my favorite guitar performance on record by Jeff Beck.
“Greensleeves”
Jeff Beck’s solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar arrangement of this traditional English folk song – the tune of which dates back to the late 16th-century – starts off Side 2 of Truth.
It proved to be an incredibly influential performance in my life as both a musician and a guitarist.
I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to it for yourself.
Thank you, Jeff Beck, for this and all of the truly inspirational guitar music you left behind.
sixstr stories 
Beautiful
Thanks! Glad you think so, too. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for sharing. I had no idea he did this.
It still amazes me that Greensleeves has its own lyrics and was also What Child Is This? for Christmas music.
You’re most welcome, Vic. Glad you enjoyed the post and the music. Thanks for commenting!
This sounds so wonderful. Jeff Beck could get sounds out of a guitar that no one else did…but yea I’ve haven’t heard a lot of acoustic by him….this is great.
Glad you enjoyed it, Max! Beck was indeed phenomenal on any kind of six string! Thanks for commenting.
Thank you, Eric, for always continuing to share these back stories. I always find something interesting in each of them. I also enjoyed listening to Jeff Beck back in the day. I believe you have inspired me to take a “listen back” now too. Keep spreading the musical joy, as you do it so well!
You’re most welcome, Kathy. Glad you enjoyed the post and the recording. Thanks for commenting!