The Yardbirds - "The Yardbirds - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: 1964-1966"

While the Yardbirds graduated three of the greatest guitarists in rock history--Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page--during their 1963-68 existence, the group's best work came during Beck's '65-'66 tenure, which produced nearly all their hit singles and virtually everything found here. (Notable exception: their debut hit, "For Your Love," which Clapton was barely audible on anyway.) From the cat scratch fever of "I'm A Man" to the guitar-as-weapon solo in "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I," Beck rewrote the lead guitar textbook, and on one of the few songs recorded when he and Page were in the band together--"Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"--they foreshadowed the sound of '70s rock. --Billy Altman Amazon.com

Its Okay

the yardbirds are okay but nothin special if you ask me. okay so ya they got a few good songs like, for your love, train kept a rollin, im a man, etc. but they just sing about love and relationships thats it
dont waste 12 bucks on this July 26, 2008

Indispensable

In 1966, Michelangelo Antonioni released a highly controversial movie called Blow Up. Set in London, the film starred David Hemmings, Sarah Miles, and a young, and exquisitely beautiful, Vanessa Redgrave. Thomas, (Hemmings), lives a fast, ultra-hip existence and at one point finds himself in a wild, psychedelic nightclub. It's loud, it's cookin', and on the bandstand Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and the other birds are rippin' up a version of The Train Kept A Rollin' which had been slightly altered for copyright reasons. The live energy is absolutely explosive; high voltage, raw electric blues like that was simply unknown back then.

This CD chronicles the most important years in the short, but sparkling, career of a hugely exciting and influential band. When you consider that this music was recorded over 40 years ago it's easy to understand that, at the time, it was as revolutionary as the arrival of Hendrix. More remarkable still, the music sounds as great today as when it was released, full of edge, authority, and bite. Sure, there are clunkers that probably sounded dated even when they were released, You're A Better Man Than I finds the Yardbirds adopting a pious, and highly inappropriate, idealism while Still I'm Sad would have been better left to the Moody Blues or some other clinically depressed outfit. Putty (In Your Hands) is cute - a word that damns it - just too close to early Beatles for comfort.

Pretty much everything else is fast out of the gate and hot as Georgia asphalt in August. I'm Not Talking is a perennial favorite of mine, as are The Train Kept A Rollin', Smokestack Lightning, Evil Hearted You, Heart Full Of Soul, I Ain't Done Wrong. The Yardbirds definitely had their limitations, Keith Reif is a mediocre vocalist - compare him with what the Beck/Stewart match up on Truth sounds like. And this whole "guitar academy" factor everybody likes to cite - Clapton, Beck, Page - actually stood in the way of The Yardbirds ever coalescing as a group. However, they did manage to keep it together for a while, and in doing so, accomplished something artists rarely achieve, they produced music that was genuinely new and good enough to stand the test of time. April 26, 2008

THE YARDBIRDS greatest hits vol 1: 1964-1966

I seen the Yardbirds live in the early 60's. I could not believe what i was hearing. They were great. This album reminds me of that concert. This is a great album. A must for anyone who loves great talent. I rate the Yardbirds the second greatest group next to the Rolling Stones. August 3, 2007

This is where the roots took hold

I was reading through the reviews I saw where someone called the Yardbirds 'leaning towards pop rock.....I am sorry but were you there in 64 cause I was and when I saw the Ybyrds at the Hulabaaloo on Sunset Blvd there was no Jimi, no Carlos, no Janice, Bealtles there were and Stones there were but put them in club with Ybyrds and you had no contest the Big Boys had singers and writers and genius but blazing ear-shattering blistering blues rock well like I said no contest. Clapton, Beck, Paige was it lucky chance? Not hardly it was the best seeking out the best. Get this CD and you hold the root structure and 'first fruits' of all we treasure today. I recently saw Velvet Revolver in S Fla and I was whipped back 40 yrs blazing searing ROCK great vocals freight train bass and drums but what I saw back then was in club of maybe 150. Own this CD as a show of graditute for those that gave us Hard Rock and remember we too have roots. November 12, 2006

So, Cool

Being a huge fan of sixties music, I find this CD very appealing in terms of content, originality, and style. This group boasts three of thee greatest guitarists in the world; Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page. Their blues inspired wailings make this group stand out above other groups of the same era.

This music is gritty and raw and because the sound production wasn't really great on this particular album, it sounds a lot darker and moodier than maybe it's supposed to be. I'm not a musician and I have no idea about the technical aspects of music, but having been raised by a musician, I know in my soul how things should sound.

If you're looking to improve your music collection you really can't go wrong with this little gem. I know a lot of people gave it four stars and I'm not trying to disuade you from reading their reviews, but I really think (and feel) that if you want something loud, boisterous and completely cool, this CD is waiting for you.

Peace... August 17, 2006

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