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Guitar legend Jeff Beck hit number 11 on the Billboard album chart this week with “Emotion and Commotion.” “Emotion and Commotion” is Jeff Beck’s first album in seven years and his highest chart placing since “Blow by Blow” in 1975.

The album opens with Benjamin Britten’s “Corpus Christi Carol”, which was famously recorded by Jeff Buckley. Beck’s guitar blends seamlessly with the orchestration, with very pleasing results.

An eclectic mix of songs follows, from the jazzy “Hammerheard, to the Hollywood standard “Over the Rainbow,” to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ classic “I Put a Spell on You,” featuring a strong vocal by Joss Stone. Stone also delivers on “There’s No Other Me.”

Here’s Jeff Beck and Joss Stone performing the two songs at London’s O2 in February.

Another worthy collaboration is with singer Imogen May on “Lilac Wine,” which bizarrely, but effectively, segues into an instrumental version of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” (forever associated with the World Cup in the UK.)

“Emotion and Commotion” closes on a high note with the orchestral piece “Elegy For Dunkirk,” which features vocals from Olivia Safe, who also appears on the track “Serene.” “Elegy for Dunkirk” was composed by Dario Marianelli for the film “Atonement.”

“Emotion and Commotion” was co-produced by Steve Lipson and Trevor Horn.

“Emotion and Commotion” tracklist

1. Corpus Christi Carol
2. Hammerhead
3. Never Alone
4. Over The Rainbow
5. I Put A Spell On You – Beck, Jeff & Joss Stone
6. Serene
7. Lilac Wine – Beck, Jeff & Imelda May
8. Nessun Dorma
9. There’s No Other Me – Beck, Jeff & Joss Stone
10. Elegy For Dunkirk – Beck, Jeff & Olivia Safe

Jeff Beck is a superb guitarist and at 65 years of age continues to produce interesting and varied work. Some fans might find the orchestration a little heavy in places, but generally the album is a very strong effort and a worthwhile addition to your collection.