Beck, Bogert & Appice Previously Unreleased Live Box Set Arrives
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Before his death in January, guitar great Jeff Beck revisited concert recordings made by Beck, Bogert & Appice, the power trio he formed in 1972 with drummer/singer Carmine Appice and bassist/singer Tim Bogert, both previously members of the Vanilla Fudge. The live music captures the band at the beginning and end of its short partnership, with two shows in Japan in 1973 and one of the group’s final performances in London a year later.
In honor of what would have been Beck’s 79th birthday on June 24, ATCO/Rhino announced the release of the new BBA boxed set, Live In Japan 1973, Live In London 1974. The collection arrived on Sept. 15, 2023, on 4-CDs or 4-LPs. Listen to many of the tracks, including the Stevie Wonder cover “Superstition,” recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London, below.
left to right: Tim Bogert, Carmine Appice and Jeff Beck in a 1973 Billboard ad
All three band members were involved in creating Live In Japan 1973, Live In London 1974, and the collection is dedicated to Beck and Bogert, who died in 2023 and 2021, respectively. The set includes an expansive booklet with liner notes detailing the group’s history by music journalist/manager Bruce Pilato, along with memorabilia, archival photos and a replica poster.
More from the June 22 announcement: Beck and Appice mixed all the concerts in this set from the original multi-tracks that had been in Beck’s archive for almost 50 years. The two performances at Koseinenkin Hall in Osaka, Japan (recorded May 18 and 19, 1973), were released exclusively in Japan a few months after the shows, but never in the U.S. The complete concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England (recorded January 26, 1974), has never been released anywhere.
In a 1972 interview, Beck said seeing Vanilla Fudge live impressed him. “I saw the Fudge’s potential as a group, but I didn’t see anything in common with my playing. It’s just when they were jamming, I found that Carmine had some other things going aside from the Fudge stuff, and Tim did as well. Tim is a Martian-type bass player. He plays like a Martian from Motown!”
Live In Japan 1973 was recorded only a few weeks after Beck, Bogert & Appice’s self-titled debut came out. In addition to “Superstition,” the track list includes such tunes as “Lady” and “Livin’ Alone.” The trio also played songs by the Yardbirds (“Jeff’s Boogie”) and the Jeff Beck Group (“Morning Dew” and “Going Down.”)
After the band’s 1973 tour supporting its debut, Bogert told the British music press that some fans weren’t prepared for BBA’s high-energy approach. “We surprised a lot of people who were expecting laid-back music…Mainly we appeal to people who like loud, raunchy, good-time music. We’re a raunchy band and we aim to get people turned on.”
The concert on Live In London 1974 was recorded eight months after the shows in Japan and right before the trio disbanded. The performance introduces several songs the group planned to record for BBA’s never-completed second studio album, including “Satisfied,” “Jizz Wizz” and “Solid Lifter.”
Half a century after the trio formed, Appice says the experience was over too soon. “It was artistically fulfilling at the time, but it was too quick…the fact that we got to play together was great. Jeff, Tim and I did play great together, but before we knew it, it had ended.”
Listen to “Black Cat Moan,” from Osaka, Japan, and featuring Beck on talkbox
The track listing and more performances appear below the Amazon links.
Live In Japan 1973, Live In London 1974 Track Listing
Live in Japan 1973
LP One: Side One
“Superstition”
“Lose Myself With You”
“Jeff’s Boogie”
Side Two
“Going Down”
“Boogie”
“Morning Dew”
LP Two: Side One
“Sweet Sweet Surrender”
“Livin’ Alone”
“I’m So Proud”
“Lady”
Side Two
“Black Cat Moan”
“Why Should I Care”
“Plynth / Shotgun” (Medley)
Live in London 1974
LP One: Side One
“Satisfied”
“Livin’ Alone”
“Laughing Lady”
Side Two
“Lady”
“Solid Lifter”
“Jizz Wizz”
LP Two: Side One
“Name The Missing Word (Prayin’)”
“(Get Ready) Your Lovemaker’s Coming Home”
“Superstition”
Side Two
“Blues De Luxe / You Shook Me”
“(Rainbow) Boogie”
Related: Our review of a 2016 Beck concert at the Hollywood Bowl
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3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThey were Jeff’s backing band, straight-up. When Jeff got tired of them, he moved on. Tim and Carmen who had stayed by his side longer. But Jeff had visions of higher achievement. In 1972 my friends and I were 17. We wanted more Vanilla Fudge and couldn’t find it. BB&A we rushed out to buy, but their music didn’t stick, in the same way EC’s first solo record after Cream failed to thrill us. So, yeah, buy ’em if you like it. We had moved on back in 72. I’ve tried to like it, but, well, it decays as soon as it hits my ears. But Vanilla Fudge I’m never with out, after all these decades.
I totally understand the joy of listening to Vanilla Fudge. One, if not the most, original sounds of the time. If you don’t have the box set “Box o’Fudge,” by all means get it. It has a lot of rarities and most of the big selections, including live takes and selections from all the released albums. And a great booklet. I’ve gone to Carmine clinics and know his manager/publicist, Bruce Pilato.
My favorite rhythm section…I reunited Cactus in 2005 and got to play harp with the until last year. BBA’s album wasn’t “right”, but the London show makes Cream sound “relaxed”. The songs for the 2nd album are great. 100% BADASS!!