May 26, 2025

1966 - January: The Yardbirds ”Having a Rave Up”

33 minutes

When you explore the music of The Yardbirds you are really observing the evolution of what would become hard rock. This group started in 1963 and over its time would engage the talents of three of the greatest guitarists of the rock world: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Additional musicians in the group through 1968 were Keith Relf on vocals and harmonica, Jim McCarty on drums, Chris Dreja on rhythm guitar, and Paul Samwell-Smith on bass. The group was founded in the blues, but over time would explore psychedelic rock, pop rock, and hard rock, with instrumental jams being a signature sound throughout their tenure.

Having a Rave Up, also known as "Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds," is their second American album, and showcases two of their virtuoso guitarists. The album has one side of studio recordings in which Jeff Beck is the guitarist. Side two is a compilation of live performances featuring Eric Clapton on guitar. During a time when most songs were expected to run about three minutes, the Yardbirds would extend these out in live performances to six or seven minutes with instrumental jams known as "rave ups." The combination of studio and live work is an excellent introduction to The Yardbirds, as the band's strength was in their live performances. Their studio efforts would improve with the experimentation of Jeff Beck.

Jimmy Page would become their guitarist in mid-1966 until their split-up in mid-1968. He would form a group as "The New Yardbirds" shortly thereafter, which would be renamed shortly thereafter to Led Zeppelin.

Rob brings us this study in the origins of rock for this week's podcast.

Heart Full of Soul

This song was the first single released by The Yardbirds after Jeff Beck joined the group. It was written by Graham Gouldman, who would later be the co-lead singer and bassist of 10cc. The band wanted to include a sitar in the instrumentation for this song, but when things didn't work out for that, Beck experimented with his guitar to duplicate the eastern sound of the sitar instead.

You're a Better Man than I

The opening song from the album is also known as "Mister, You're a Better Man than I." It was written by brothers Mike and Brian Hugg, and is an attempt at a more folk rock song. The socially conscious lyrics take aim at the hypocrisy of society and politics, stating that you shouldn't judge a person based on superficial appearances or education.

Smokestack Lightning

The live opener to side two is a cover of an old blues song recorded by American blues artist Howlin' Wolf in 1956. The inspiration for the title came from watching trains go by at night and seeing the sparks come out of the smokestack.

The Train Kept a-Rollin'

While Aerosmith's cover may be more famous, this jump blues piece was originally performed by Tiny Bradshaw in 1951. The Yardbirds played this song during their first American tour in 1965, and Sam Phillips recorded it for them in Memphis later that year. It closes out side 1 of the album.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main theme from the television action comedy "Batman"

This campy superhero show premiered this month.

STAFF PICKS:

Don't Think Twice, It's Alright by The Wonder Who?

Bruce begins the staff picks with a disguise group. The Four Seasons used the name "The Wonder Who?" for four records released from 1965 to 1967, including this one. Frankie Valli wasn't happy with his vocals on this song, and he recorded it with a "joke" falsetto voice while trying to break the tension in the studio.

All Your Love by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

Lynch brings us a blues song originally recorded by American blues musician Otis Rush in 1958. Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter John Mayall led this group, which included Eric Clapton on guitar and John McVie on bass. This single is the lead-off track to the debut album "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton," also known as "The Beano Album" because Clapton is reading a children's comic called "The Beano" on the front cover.

My Generation by the Who

Wayne's staff pick is the hit that started the trajectory for the Who. Guitarist Pete Townshend wrote this song about young rebellion. Roger Daltrey incorporates a stutter in his vocals to sound like a British mod on speed. While this song would reach number 2 on the UK charts, it topped out at number 74 on the US charts.

Day Tripper by the Beatles

Rob features a well known song from the Beatles, recorded during the "Rubber Soul" album sessions but not included on the album itself. It was released as a double A-side single along with "We Can Work it Out" during a time when the Beatles were under pressure to release a single in time for the 1965 Christmas season.

COMEDY TRACK:

The Lurch by Ted Cassidy

Ted Cassidy played Lurch on "The Addams Family," and also performed this novelty song.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings