Jeff Beck - Wired (1976)

The follow-up to 1975's phenomenal 'Blow By Blow' finds Beck fiercer, flashier and funkier than ever, though there're some lyrical moments on the album ('Sophie', 'Love is Green') to balance out rip-roaring workouts like 'Led Boots', 'Blue Wind' and 'Head for Backstage Pass'. Jan Hammer, the synth world's equivalent of a shredder, is a perfect foil on the uptempo tunes, but there's never a moment's doubt who's the boss here.

I played the 'Wired' (lusted after a white Strat like the one on the cool cover for years!) and 'Blow By Blow' LPs a lot through much of the late '70s and the '80s, and got the CD versions soon as they hit the shops. It's music that never seems to go out of style!