Jeff Beck With the Jan Hammer Group Live

This 1977 live document captures Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer on tour together in support of the previous year’s collaboration, Wired. Even as he got deeper into jazz fusion, Beck couldn’t completely let go of his R&B dreams, and “Earth (Still Our Only Home)” and “Full Moon Boogie” are Stevie Wonder-esque romps that feature vocals from drummer Tony Smith and mononymous synth player Freeman. But the band’s primary duty is providing a roiling groove over which Beck allows his instrument to squeal and careen, as on “Freeway Jam.” On the more understated side of things, “She’s a Woman” is a great example of Beck’s ability to “sing” through his guitar. Because this is essentially a prog-rock concert album from 1977, the most definitive track is “Darkness/Earth In Search of a Sun.” Admittedly, it’s indulgent, and even a bit silly, but there’s really nothing more fun than hearing Beck and Hammer use sound effects to build the song from lonely astral soundtrack into explosive funk eruption.