41. Having A Rave Up - The Yardbirds.

 The Yardbirds. The band that spawned three of the most prolific guitarists in rock history. The genesis of Led Zeppelin. When I saw this album as the next on my listening list, I thought "Now we are getting somewhere!".  I was not disappointed. This album bridges the era where the band went from essentially another English band doing blues covers, to delving into a more psychedelic sound. The departure from the blues is apparently largely the reason that Eric Clapton left the band. Side 2 features Clapton playing on live blues tunes from our old friends Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, and the Isley Brothers. Side 1 features Jeff Beck and the more experimental Yardbirds sound.

 The album opens with "Mister You're a Better Man Than I" which is a piece of social commentary that was written by the Hugg brothers. The song is like a cross between Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. The fuzzy sound of the guitar shows the availability of new sounds as technology advances. "Evil Hearted You" is the second track, which features a darker chord progression and some lightning fast guitar runs. This song was written by Graham Gouldman, who was a member of 10CC, and is responsible for some of early rock's biggest hits. Prior to listening to this album, I wasn't aware of Mr. Gouldman, or his prolific resume. Once again I am pleased that I have embarked upon this undertaking.

 The third song is the first of two covers on the album of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man." This one is a studio version featuring Jeff Beck on guitar, the second features Eric Clapton and is a live recording. The Clapton track is on Side 2, but the lead guitar takes a back seat to the harmonica, so, sadly, you can't really compare the two players based on these two tracks alone.

 I found it interesting that the songs on the album are mostly written by others. There is only one tune on the album that is written by members of the band and that is "Still I'm Sad". This one features Gregorian style chanting and bells and is strangely compelling. The word brooding comes to mind. Given the title, I suppose this shouldn't be a surprise. The track is definitely interesting, like a lugubrious Christmas carol, or a funeral dirge recorded by Boney M.

 Side 1 finishes up with two well known tracks, "Heart Full of Soul" (also written by Gouldman), and " Train Kept A Rollin'". This ends the more progressive side of the album, and leads into the live blues selections featuring Clapton. The tone is quite different, while the blues sound is there, it is electrified and has definitely mixed in some rock with the blues. It is a sound we have become quite familiar with.

 "Smokestack Lightning" is the Howlin' Wolf tune we heard many albums ago, the aforementioned "I'm A Man" and "Here 'Tis" from Bo Diddley, and an Isley Brothers song called "Respectable". The latter is quite interesting for an interlude where the vocals are singing about Humpty Dumpty over a beat that is arguably early ska. The whole set sounds like it would be an excellent show to see live. It is bursting with energy, and what guitar riffs do shine through are signature Clapton. 

 I found this album to be a very easy listen. The only disappointment is that Jimmy Page doesn't play on the record. He does however play on one of the bonus tracks on the reissue of the album. Having written that, it occurs to me how frustrating it must be to be one of the "other" Yardbirds, with all of the focus going to the legendary guitarists of the band. That's the way it goes. I enjoyed the introduction to the Yardbirds, it seems as though they are a musical link between the English blues and psychedelia. We will hear more from these guys, that much is certain. Rolling Stone placed this album at number 353 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Buy it here.