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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good alternate versions and rarities, May 23, 2002
This c.d. collects performances the Yardbirds recorded for BBC radio programs between 1965 and 1968, and features mainly the Jeff Beck line-up, and concludes with six numbers from the Jimmy Page line-up. It's not just of historical interest for serious Yardbirds fans -- there's lots of great performances here, along with versions of songs signficantly different from previously available versions, and a few numbers that are only available on this collection (or other versions of this collection). There are other c.d.'s that have these recordings, but I like this one because it preserves the original interviews aired with these performances, which provide some insight into the group, as well as humor and a good mid/mod 60's vibe. As far as the music, Beck sounds a little tenuous on his first session, and he apparently left his fuzzbox at home, so we get a jangly version of "I'm not talking" completely unlike the proto-metal studio version. Beck's soloing is sharper(and louder!) on subsequent classics like "Shapes of things," "Over, under, sideways, down" and "You're a better man than I," and especially on "Too much monkey business" (dig those descending runs!). You also get a fair number of reworkings of some of their "Roger the Engineer" era songs with different lyrics. Page's first appearance is as a session bassist on "Smokestack Lightning." If you listen closely, you'll notice that the bass line he plays is the riff that became the basis for Led Zep's "How many more times"! After Page takes over the lead guitar duties, you get a pretty good Dylan cover, an energetic, thrilling version of "Little games" and a slow, spooky version of "Think about it," the Page-era Yardbirds' best rocker, which features a solo Page would later use for "Dazed and confused." Speaking of "Dazed and confused," (or "I'm confused") supposedly a BBC version of this song exists but it's not on here. Also missing is a second version of "Shapes of Things" that is present on other releases of the Yardbirds' BBC material. Otherwise, this is the stuff!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Radio Rave Up, December 14, 2001
Although this wonderful collection of BBC Yardbirds recordings is more for the collector than the novice fan, it wouldn't do anyone harm to check it out, especially if you dig sixties rock. The Yardbirds were innovators on many levels, not least the development of the electric guitar, and what makes this compilation so fascinating is how it allows the listener to follow their development from a daredevil R&B band to psychedelic pioneers. As the band never recorded for the Beeb with Clapton in the lineup, the CD kicks off with Jeff Beck on lead guitar. The versions of "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul," "Evil Hearted You," "Still I'm Sad" and "Over Under Sideways Down" aren't too different from the records (although the sound quality is much worse), but Beck lets rip on a sizzling version of "Too Much Monkey Business" that puts the cut on FIVE LIVE to shame. Plus, you can't argue with two different takes of the almighty "Shapes of Things." Beck also sparkles on "Train Kept A Rollin'," "I'm Not Talking" and "The Sun Is Shining," although his lead vocal on the latter is fairly lame. Keith Relf dominates the cavalry charge romps through "I Wish You Would" and "I'm A Man" with his breathless vocals and surging harmonica, and the band as a whole sounds tight and committed. Jimmy Page shows up on the last six tracks, though sadly his and Beck's dual guitar strut through the awesome "Happenings 10 Years Time Ago" was not recorded for the Beeb. Page's sloppy playing on "Little Games" actually gives the flimsy song a much needed edge. This fire of the band's four-piece lineup is captured best burning through "Drinking Muddy Water" and "Think About It." "Goodnight Sweet Josephine" is pap that doesn't improve in a live setting and "My Baby" is a capable version of the Garnett Mimms classic with a strong Relf vocal. One oddity is the Yardbirds' au go go interpretation of Dylan's "Most Likely You Go Your Way", with Page jangling away on the 12-string. My only real quibble with this set is the band's BBC recording of "Dazed and Confused" was inexplicably omitted. Instead there's a slew of archival interviews that range from intriguing (comments from Relf and Samwell-Smith) to embarassing (someone should have cut Brian Matthew's condescending joke intro to "You're A Better Man Than I"). Ira Robbins' liner notes are adequate, but his prose lacks the joie de vivre of Parke Puterbaugh, much less Cub Koda. No pictures either. In summary, this is a dignfied presentation of a great period in time when you (well, British fans) could hear great rock bands perform live on the radio. It's not as bracing as Hendrix's magnificent RADIO ONE, but it's certainly more comprehensive than the BBC sets from the Who or the Beatles.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yardbirds - 'Live At The BBC' (Warner Brothers), November 14, 2004
Depending on your taste,this just may be the best BBC collection of tunes ever released.Recorded during several of the band's appearances on the BBC between 1965-68.A total of 26 tracks,with 20 featuring Jeff Beck and 6 featuring Jimmy Page.Sorry,no Clapton.'...BBC' has an excellent choice of tunes,including slightly different versions of "I Ain't Got You","I Wish You Would",their signature song "Heart Full Of Soul",the foot-stomping "I'm A Man","Evil Hearted You","Train Kept A Rollin'" any my ultimate Yardbirds favorite "Over,Under,Sideways,Down".Only downside of 'BBC...' is the announcer yapping between every single tune.Someone maybe should've edited at least some of that out.I would still highly recommend this CD.
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by The Yardbirds 
