Although not quite out as I write, watch for the new Jeff Beck album. It threatens to be the best CD album of all Time. As a taster guitarist magazine has put one of the tracks onto their freebie CD-a slow mood number entitled "Angel (footsteps)". Goodness knows how many times I've played this already. A beat of a number played majestically as only Jeff can.

Since I tapped out the above, the album is out. It is easily the best album Jeff (or anybody) has ever put out, not one duff track, which has got to be a first for anybody who's ever put out an album. The rock magazines have been having a field day. All seem to be jumping on the bandwagon, trying to outdo each other with the ultimate Beck feature. Below is one little article a fellow Beck fanatic sent in, which seems to say it all.

Jeff Beck who else!

Guitar heroes aren't, thank god, what they used to be, but Beck remains one of the few who can make a guitar instrumental interesting. "What Mama Said", the opener on his first full studio album in a decade, fizzes with invention, pitching his fretboard antics against a neo-drum'n'bass backdrop. There are other intriguing touches of techno amid a mix of blues, hard rock and even Celtic airs. Beck can still come howling out of the sun on a fuzzbox (even odds) or soar contemplatively "Angel Footsteps", making who else! More of an earful than might reasonably be expected.

Head on down to my old sparring partner's site. Yardbirds official web site (USA) http://www.idsonline.com/Yardbirds run by Mike Ober. Loads of goodies to be had. If you haven't already checked it out, why not? Old Yardbirds/Beck morizers a big sorry, to all the people who have been trying to track me down over the last 2-3 years, who haven't heard from me.

I have been moving around quite a bit ducking and diving as they say. Anyway, provided you have access to at least a computer, you should now be able to get in touch. Please feel free to write in on anything Yardbirds/Beck/Page/Clapton.

And for the real fanatics all related bands-most notably ruthless blues. Whilst I'm at it, has anyone got Mr. John Knightsbridge's address as I have lost contact with him. Anyway, this is our page, so do get in touch out there.

It seems my old mate Mike Ober managed to talk for a while with Jeff once again, when Jeff toured last in the USA. Jeff had a really good laugh at some pics Mike took, way back at the 100 club, of Jeff with Jimmy page. Poor old Jimmy had just gotten over a really bad cold, and looked quite rough. What a Brilliant night that was, Right Mike.

I just managed to get hold of that rare Apple LP of Mary Hopkins, but as my record deck has just decided to pass away (the funeral is tomorrow in my back garden), I have not heard any of it. Produced by three different producers, someone called C Cartney, somebody called T. Visconti and the hit maker (except for talented groups) Mickey Most. The LP goes for around the £60.00 mark up price over here in the UK at present. The LP was released in 1971, I wouldn't swear to it, but I think Jeff's small contribution, was recorded on his welcome return after his long lay off following his car accident.