Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your Zoo Crew spinning the vibes at THE ZOO radio station, and we’re groovin’ to the soulful sounds of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat from Jeff Beck’s 1976 album Wired. This track is a jazz fusion masterpiece, originally penned by Charles Mingus in 1959 as an elegy for the legendary saxophonist Lester Young, who was known for his signature pork pie hats. Beck’s version swaps the saxophone for his electric guitar, pouring raw emotion into every note. Fun fact: there’s a bit of mystery around Mingus’ reaction to Beck’s cover. Some say Mingus sent Jeff a letter praising it, as Beck shared in the documentary Still on the Run, while others claim Mingus wasn’t thrilled, feeling Beck didn’t stick to the original chord changes during the solo. Either way, Beck’s bluesy take, backed by Richard Bailey on drums and Max Middleton on electric piano, became a staple in his live performances, often segueing into his own Brush With the Blues.

Another cool tidbit comes from the recording of Wired. The album’s engineer, Peter Henderson, later admitted he wasn’t thrilled with the sound quality, saying it felt like it was “recorded direct to cassette.” Yet, fans and critics, like those at Rolling Stone, praised the album for its “fire and imagination,” and it went platinum, a rare feat for an instrumental record. Beck’s interpretation of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat stands out for its faster tempo compared to Mingus’ original on Mingus Ah Um, and his guitar work captures a mix of sadness and celebration that hits you right in the soul. Check out this live performance on YouTube to see how Beck made this tune his own, blending jazz, blues, and rock in a way only he could.

Now, let’s talk about how Jeff Beck got his start. Born Geoffrey Arnold Beck on June 24, 1944, in Wallington, Surrey, England, he was a self-taught guitarist who fell in love with the sounds of Les Paul and Gene Vincent as a kid. By his teens, he was gigging around London, playing skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll. His big break came in 1965 when he joined The Yardbirds, replacing Eric Clapton. Beck’s innovative guitar work on hits like Over Under Sideways Down helped shape the British rock scene. After leaving The Yardbirds in 1966, he formed the Jeff Beck Group with a young Rod Stewart on vocals, cutting two influential albums, Truth and Beck-Ola. These records caught the ear of folks like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, who later formed Led Zeppelin. By the mid-’70s, Beck shifted to instrumental jazz fusion, leading to gems like Wired, where his guitar became his voice, blending genres with fearless creativity.

Want to dive deeper into Jeff Beck’s world? Visit his official website at jeffbeck.com for tour info, music, and more. You can also follow his legacy on social media: check out Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and fan posts. For those craving community, join the Jeff Beck Fans group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks like you share stories, rare photos, and love for his music. There’s also Jeff Beck Fanzine, a fan-run site packed with articles, interviews, and discography details. So, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO, and let’s keep the Beck vibes flowing!