Ranking greatest guitarists of all time is a futile task, but Hendrix usually ends up at number one, and Jimmy Page often ends up at number 2.
I think to do any sort of meaningful ranking requires breaking down by era and genre.
Anyway, for rock guitarists starting in the 60s, I think Beck is definitely in the top 5. And I would put him higher than Clapton.
As I understand and recall it, his early solo stuff was getting into the heavy ahead of Led Zeppelin. Then he turned more to a jazzy instrumental focus (or something like that).
I believe the Jeff Beck analysis in the first Rolling Stone Record Guide was "The greatest guitarist to have never put out a great album". I think that is a fair appraisal. {Added by edit - Checked, was not in the first Rolling Stone Record Guide, maybe in a later edition or elsewhere}
One memory of my limited cable TV/MTV era (late 80s/early 90s) - Beck was doing some session work for Jon Bonjovi for some move sound track (Young Guns(?)). Beck had recorded a solo and Jon didn't find it to be what he wanted. Beck listened with great focus as Jon tried to articulate what he wanted. Suddenly Jon stopped and said "Here I am trying to tell Jeff Beck how to play the guitar".
Stevie Wonder wrote "Superstition" for Jeff Beck, but the recording of it got delayed (Beck injury(?). Eventually Beck did record it.
Those are my currently unresearched recollections.
Rick Beato is the better to discuss the Jeff Beck technique (Why JEFF BECK is UNCOPYABLE):
Moose
Edited by Minnemooseus, : Found some misspellings. Also added comment about the Rolling Stone Record Guide.
I think part of his lack of mainstream fame and hit albums is that he preferred instrumental work. Most people, including myself, need the lyrical piece to hold everything together. He was a guitarist's guitarist more so than a popular musician. It did not make him less great just not as mainstream.
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Bacharach is described by writer William Farina as "a composer whose venerable name can be linked with just about every other prominent musical artist of his era".
A "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" kinda guy who collaborated with Hal David mostly, writing for Dionne Warwick and others.
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