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The Yardbirds - Birdland Audio CD

A fair review of the The Yardbirds "Birdland" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Yardbirds reviews here, or go back to the The Yardbirds tabs.

The Yardbirds Band: The Yardbirds
Title: Birdland
Rating:
Release Date: 2003-04-22
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: I'm Not Talking 2: Crying Out For Love 3: The Naz Are Blue 4: For Your Love 5: Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout The Newa 6: Train Kept A Rollin' 7: Mr. Sabotuer 8: Shapes Of Things 9: My Blind Life 10: Over, Under, Sideways, Down 11: Mr. Your're A Better Man Than I 12: Mystery Of Being 13: Dream Within A Dream 14: Happenings Ten Years Time Ago 15: An Original Man (A Song For Keith)

Spectacular Yardbirds redeux!
It sounds like the original recordings (in style, etc. What a fine album/CD this is! ALL the great Yardbirds songs from the 60s, re-done with updated musical and recording equipment and with TWO of the original band members, Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja. ) except that it's BETTER!

I always chuckle when I hear armchair music historians repeat the erroneous information, "The Yardbirds became Led Zeppelin". I suppose in a left-handed way, this is partially true. . . . BUT this CD is proof positive that The Yardbirds still exist as such. And I'm VERY pleased that they do.

Just take a listen to this version of "Over, Under, Sideways, Down," and you'll be instantly transported back to the local county fair midway where that unforgettable tune was frequently blasting away amid all the pretty young country girls and the glittering rides and other amusements.

Don't pass this fine recording by -- it's a wonderful rendition of all The Yardbirds' hits and a huge bargain.


Interesting!


"For Your Love" is a fascinating song (both how it is played and the lyrics), and probably is the best one on this album. This album has a lot of interesting songs! It is historically significant in being the major starting point for a lot of musicians who would go on to have successful careers: Eric Clapton, Page & Plant, and Jeff Beck.


What a Surprise!
Now original members Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja have reformed the Yardbirds with lead-singer and bass-player John Idan as their new front man. It has been more than 30 years since the previous studio-album from the Yardbirds. Since the release of this 2003 album, guitarist Gypie Mayo and harmonica-player Alan Glen have been replaced by equally qualified musicians Ben King and Billy Boy.

I was fortunate to see this terrific new line-up here in Denmark in April 2006. What a concert! It surpassed my wildest expectations. Young guitarist King is capeable of playing all the original Yardbirds guitar-parts with inspiration and conviction. The same thing can be said about the harmonica-playing of Billy Boy. Lead singer John Idan has a very sympathetic stage appearance and sounds very much like Keith Relf. Original drummer Jim McCarty is a terrific musician, he more or less appears to be the leader of the band. McCarty joins in on most choruses and takes an occasional lead vocal now and then. Guitarist Chris Dreja is reliable as solid rock.

I had to buy their new album, which I honestly was not aware had been released. And I was not disappointed; on the contrary. Often re-unions are pale extracts of what once was. This is not the case with the Yardbirds. Half of the songs on the album are re-recordings of old Yarbirds favourites; the other half new songs - most of them written by McCarty.

The re-recordings are very true to the originals - better sounding without losing their sixties feel. Some of them actually surpasses the originals; especially the opening track "I?m not Talking".

The new songs reveal McCarty as a fine songwriter ( actually he wrote a lot with the original Yardbirds, too ). His new writing has the same "feel" as the originals, and new and old material blends perfectly on the album. Among the fine new songs the at least three of them deserves a mention. McCarty?s "Crying Out for Love" is a very catchy tune. Sounds like a 1960?s song; could easily have been a hit in those days.

The bluesy "Mr Saboteur" has a slightly more modern approach; lyrically dealing with the fear of terrorism that people in the modern world apparently has to live with. Great recording with both guitar and harmonica solos. Another McCarty song.

The closing track "An Original Man" is a fine group composition written for original singer Keith Relf. Another melodic song with a beat not unlike the Who?s "Disguises".

Interesting guest appearances from people like Jeff Beck, Jeff Baxter, Brian May, Joe Satriani and Slash add to the appeal of the album.

Fine booklet with lyrics, photos and great artwork from Dreja, who was also the man behind the legendary "Roger the Engineer" cover.

Highly recommended listening!
And a must-have for fans the Yardbirds.


Yardbirds - Birdland
However, this isn't the 'Yardirds' I remember back in the 60's, as these are re-recordings, and whilst some of the songs may be after Keith Relf had died, none are the original recordings nor featuring Keith Relf. Not quite what I expected - I chose this album as it contained more of the songs I knew. Some songs do stick to the original, but the guitar solo on 'Shapes of Things' sounds nothing like the original. Still good to listen to, but with hindsight, would have chose a different album.


A new cd from the YARDBIRDS???? You must be joking
I am a child of the sixties and grew up with some awesome YARDBIRD hits, but not one decent ALBUM ( as they were known ). Those were my first thoughts. What a shock to finaly get the awesome album that they were unable to produce in their prime a mere 38 years later. This is like the quintessential british R&B cd from the 60's using 21st century technology, musos that have improved by about 35 years and a guest list that makes you drool with anticipation. This is irresistable and all the updated versions of their original songs improve 100 % from the new treatment. If you liked the original YARDBIRDS, you're bound to love this incarnation. .


You can see a complete list of all The Yardbirds discography, or go back to the The Yardbirds tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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