Bob-Dubery
Now here's a band that guitar freaks should be talking about. After all the lead guitar role was filled first by Clapton, then by Beck, then by PAge and, in fact, for a brief period they had both Page and Beck.
So anyhooo... I just got this re-issued Yardbird's album Roger The Engineer. (That is the engineer's name was Roger, not that they were keen on ... well never mind).
Beck was the lead guitarist on this album. Apparently this is the first album where they wrote all the songs themselves, and the songs aren't great (their biggest hit, "For Your Love" was written by Graham Gouldman, later of 10cc). However there's no doubting they were an exciting early 60s guitar-driven, blues-based band, and Beck certainly makes his presence felt.
But the most interesting thing for me is one of the bonus tracks. "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" was released as a single and, apparently, is one of the few recordings of the short-lived Beck/Page dual lead guitar line up. And it's kind of like a prototypical Hendrix song, it would not have been out of place on Are You Experienced.
I wonder who was looking over who's shoulder. The then unknown Hendrix arrived in London in September 1966 and his manager started putting a band together. The Yardbirds released "Happenings..." in October of the same year. Hendrix released his first single, "Hey Joe" in December.
dee
I'm currently reading "When Giants Walked The Earth" about Led Zeppelin, and the author mentions quite a few interesting points about the Page/Beck/Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin relationship. Seems that there was quite a lot of "borrowing" of musical ideas going on during that period.
I've yet to really give The Yardbirds a good listen though.
chris77
I have one of those musica cheapie bin compilations. Classic Collection series probably, but not sure what its called. Really wanted to like it because of the Clapton connection, but just didnt get into it all. Spent about two listens on it and then no more. Might have been a crap compilation or me expecting too much of it, dont know. But based on what I remember I think that if the guitarists didnt enjoy such phenomenal post- Yardbird success, the bands music itself would have largely been forgotten by now.
