| features in: Album Chart of 1964 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s |
A highly spirited debut from the south-west London blues rockers, where sheer energy trumps finesse. I should point out that this is purely down to the adrenalin-fuelled nature of the live gig experience; it’s clear the players have talent in abundance. They were: Eric Clapton (lead guitar); Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar); Jim McCarty (drums); Keith Relf (lead vocals, harmonica, maracas) and Paul Samwell-Smith (bass guitar). With demands on the Rolling Stones becoming ever greater, the Yardbirds were drafted in as the resident band at the Crawdaddy Club by late ‘63. It wasn’t too long until their prominent position won a recording contract, and it was agreed that their first LP would be best served as a document of their brashy live rave ups. The set was recorded on the 13th March, 1964 at the Marquee Club in London. In the set list, the Rock n Roll world is represented by 3 Bo Diddley’s and a Chuck Berry, whilst the blues covers include numbers from Slim Harpo, Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eddie Boyd and John Lee Hooker. Added to that is a dash of Isley’s soul and there you have the typical set of the British R n B group of the day; played hard and fast with the emphasis very much on having a rave-up. By the sounds of it, a good night out was had by all, but I can’t help but pine for the studio album that never was…
The Jukebox Rebel
26–Jun–2008
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:51]  The Yardbirds - Too Much Monkey Business [live ’64] (Charles Berry) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| A2 | [02:40]  The Yardbirds - Got Love If You Want It [live ’64] (James Moore) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| A3 | [05:35]  The Yardbirds - Smokestack Lightning [live ’64] (Chester Burnett) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| A4 | [02:42]  The Yardbirds - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl [live ’64] (Bob Love, Don Level) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| A5 | [05:35]  The Yardbirds - Respectable [live ’64] (O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| B1 | [05:18] The Yardbirds - Five Long Years [live ’64] (Eddie Boyd) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B2 | [03:04]  The Yardbirds - Pretty Girl [live ’64] (Ellas Otha Bates) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| B3 | [03:43]  The Yardbirds - Louise [live ’64] (John Lee Hooker) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| B4 | [04:33]  The Yardbirds - I’m A Man [live ’64] (Ellas Otha Bates) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
| B5 | [05:10]  The Yardbirds - Here ‘Tis [live ’64] (Ellas Otha Bates) Blues Rock / Soul Rock |
