Yardbirds : The Ultimate Rave-Up [Paperback]

Greg Russo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2001

This is an authorized and definitive account of rock music's most influential band, which included Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page during its lifespan. Members of The Yardbirds went on to play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Led Zeppelin and Renaissance. In addition to the entire history of The Yardbirds, this book gives full accounts of each member's activities to the present. A discography of every Yardbirds-related recording and over 270 B&W photos and illustrations are included in its 288 pages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Ultimate Rave-Up" features extraordinarily detailed and expertly researched information on the world's first "supergroup." It is an encyclopedic work with great insight and expertise. This comprehensive account of The Yardbirds' numerous tours around the world, recording sessions and behind-the-scenes hullabaloo offers fans a rare window into one of the greatest groups of all time. -- Electric Magic, January 1998

Another fine book from Greg Russo at Crossfire Publications. Greg already greeted us last year with "Mannerisms: The Five Phases of Manfred Mann," and this time succeeds again with the great inside story of one of Britain's finest: The Yardbirds. If you want to read the Yardbirds story all over again, you won't find a more complete and finer book than this one. Good job! -- Smilin' Ears Magazine, Holland, March 1998

Greg Russo's brief is to detail the recordings as (and why) they happened, and to tell The Yardbirds' story in a way that makes sense of the convolutions of their discography - and beyond. A wealth of great band photographs is echoed by a collector's paradise of record sleeves and press adverts. If you care about The Yardbirds, go out and buy the records, because that is what "The Ultimate Rave-Up" will make you want to do. -- Goldmine, May 22, 1998 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

The Yardbirds were rock's most influential and experimental group, and their successive lead guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, paved the way for rock supergroups such as Cream and Led Zeppelin. Three decades on, the legacy of The Yardbirds shines on today's groups. "Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up" is the book that Yardbirds fans have only dreamed about!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crossfire Pubns; 3 edition (April 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964815788
• ISBN-13: 978-0964815780
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE 'Bird Watchers Guide, May 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Yardbirds : The Ultimate Rave-Up (Paperback)

For years I dreamed of writing the definitive Yardbirds tome to honor the legendary group behind "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Happenings 10 Years Time Ago" and the phenomenal "Shapes of Things". But my hopes were dashed with the appearance of the second printing of this magisterial biography. How hard core is this? Let's examine the evidence: 1) We learn Relf's middle name was Keith; his first name was William 2) We learn future Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen played organ on "Ha Ha Said the Clown" 3) We have a thorough rundown of the band's gigs from 1963-68 4) We have labels from the tape cartridges of the group's final NY recording sessions 5) We learn Page's revamped Yardbirds lineup was never called "New"; Russo reprints numerous concert ads for the pre-Zep quartet - poster after poster bills the combo as "Yardbirds" or "Yardbirds with/featuring Jimmy Page" 6) We learn what the heck happened to Top Topham after he made way for some guy named Eric Clapton. Granted, the book favors the recollections of drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja. You don't suppose it's because they were the only ones (bar Keith Relf) in the band from start to finish, do you? After all the misinformation that has been passed down over the years concerning ownership of the band's name, what records they played on and the behind-the-amps friction that contributed to their early demise, it's refreshing to finally hear the whole story outside the context of a Clapton, Beck or Page bio. Anything anyone would want to know about the Yardbirds, from asthmatic Relf's three-pack a day smoking habit to the band's recipe for lemon butter chicken is in here in greater detail and affection than I could have dreamed possible. The holy grail of Yardbirds information.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greg Russo's "Yardbirds: the Ultimate Rave-Up" is boss!, March 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up (Paperback)

I got an advance copy of Greg Russo's new book on the Yardbirds in January. An act of love for a band that is virtually unknown to many. His coverage of the early blues scene in Britain gives the initial context for what was to follow, but the way it took shape could not have made as much sense without his also includeing the milieu thriving in British art colleges. From there the bulk of the original Birish Invasion sprang. He quickly sets the Yardbirds apart from their comtemporaries. Because their strengths were never in sales, writing, promotion, or production the with consistency of say, the beatles or Rolling Stones. The focus is on what they were as a creative and daring musicial force which even today still sends ripples in the pop music world. The accurate use of recording, touring, and performing dates is especially well handled and narrowed down as much as can be. This makes for a logical and smooth transition as the group matured and the progession becomes more obvious because Russo,using exact, dates and interviews fills in the gaps left out by most other Yardbirds articles and linear notes, and even the members themselves in some cases. This creates the awarness of just how avant garde they really were. What could have been. Should have been. "Collector Alert!" sections were not just good for page lay-outs; they also served to highten the mystique and awareness of how the popularity of the Yardbirds has remained and grown. HIs review of the Yardbirds final shows and commercial out puts force a re-evauation of the Jimmy Page era unique to his book. In additon to those are the listings of pertinent yardbirds recordings with special attention given to each member of the group with up dates as rescent as the the fall of 1997! The question that had long nagged me was answered: "Why are there not any more that one well recorded complete concert?!" The answer is something you'll have to find out by getting the book. "How come Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were not recorded more and in concert?!" "How did they do against other bands of their time?!" "How close were they to really making it big?!" All these are answered. Legal questions about music ownership are also delt with. The book is well rounded without being scandlelous. The Yardbirds destroyed and then re-inventied rock and roll as rock easily, casually, and they paid a price! Listings of radio show on the BBC from the 1960's and pertinent broadcasts since then, session dates of the individudal members before and after the Yardbirds are listed to boot. In additon to that are Greg Russo's inclusion of Yardbirds sessions that have not been released and educated guests as to where, what, and when they were recorded. Web sites relative to the Yardbirds are given in the front of the book. All in all, a thorughly satisfying book! What part two is going to be must be seen to be believed!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This title fits!, January 4, 2007

By 

KENNETH OBRIEN (Cream Ridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yardbirds : The Ultimate Rave-Up (Paperback)

If you're a fan of this seminal blues rock band, this book tells their story and puts all their songs and records on one place. I like it because it gave me a better understanding of the various albums produced of the group. I wanted to collect their body of work, but with so many different albums, I needed something to make my selections. This book is it!