Song Of The Day

“A Day In The Life” is one of the masterpieces in The Beatles’ catalogue. The song has it all; great lyrics, an awesome John Lennon vocal, complex arrangements, and signature George Martin production. Who could ever cover this song? Someone has actually pulled it off. Jeff Beck.

Back in 1998, George Martin released what was supposed to be his final album, “In My Life.” He got a bunch of his friends to come in and record Beatles songs. Some were quite odd (like Robin Williams' take on “Come Together” or Goldie Hawn’s take on “A Hard Day’s Night”) while others were entertaining. It was really intended to be a fun project for Martin’s last hurrah just as the back cover states; "With Heroes & Friends..."

The story is that he invited Jeff Beck to come by the studio during the “In My Life” sessions with the idea of Jeff possibly laying down a track. He and Jeff had collaborated together on some projects during the 1970s. In fact, Beck’s Jazz Fusion outing, “Blow By Blow,” which was produced by Martin, is one of the most successful instrumental recordings of all time and is still considered a highly influential guitar masterpiece. In fact, George considers it one of his greatest collaborations.

Anyway, back around the time “In My Life” was released, I remember reading a bit about Jeff’s rendition of this Beatles’ classic in one of the guitar magazines. Apparently George Martin had some song ideas, but Beck told him he wanted to record “A Day In The Life.” At first George was surprised, but he knew Beck was the one guitarist who could pull it off. In the liner notes of the CD, George says about Beck’s playing: “he is the one guitarist who can make his instrument sing like a human voice.”

That says it all. The track is absolutely stunning. Beck plays with so much feeling and has such a beautiful tone; there is really no way to describe it. If you are familiar with his playing, you simply know he is a genius that has taken the playing of the electric guitar to another place. He truly makes the instrument sing. As George Martin also says in the liner notes, “the orchestra was hardly needed for the climax, the guitar says it all.”

Do yourself a favor and check out this gem by Jeff Beck and George Martin. It is a thing of beauty.