Beck-Ola

Jeff Beck’s sophomore LP finds him perfecting his tight, jam-packed take on blues rock, officially adding pianist Nicky Hopkins to his lineup of late-'60s British rock icons. On "Girl from Mill Valley," Hopkins even takes lead, guiding the group through a melodic instrumental that's both nostalgic and sweet. On tracks like "All Shook Up," however, Hopkins becomes just one piece of a coordinated full-band attack, adding some rhythm underneath Beck's adrenaline-filled guitar workouts and Rod Stewart's searing vocals.