Birdland

Yardbirds

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: April 22, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B00008NUX1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,130 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Birdland quite possibly qualifies for entry into the Guinness Book of Records under the "longest ever gap between studio albums" category. After all, when the Yardbirds last released a proper record (1967's Little Games, a mixed affair featuring some up-and-coming guitarist called Jimmy Page), man had yet to visit the moon, Tony Blair was a 14-year-old schoolboy, and the White Stripes were what you saw on the road at zebra crossings. Of course, nothing the Yardbirds could possibly do now will ever attain the dizzy, head-swimming heights of their psychedelic 1960s heyday, but Birdland--with some dignity--is certainly not the sound of washed-up ex-rock stars sucking their stomachs in and combing their hair forward. Reconvening around a nucleus of original members Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty, the latter-day lineup also boasts the pedigree of former Dr Feelgood guitarist and co-writer John "Gypie" Mayo as well as guest appearances aplenty from such ostentatious fretboard manipulators as Brian May, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Slash, and even Jeff Beck himself. And while dismissing the production work on their classic 1960s hits as "crap" may well be a poor excuse for offering these buffed-up re-recordings of their greatest moments ("Shapes of Things," "For Your Love," etc.), at least accusations of laurel-resting are convincingly countered by the inclusion of some stimulating new material. For example, "The Mystery of Being"--worryingly described by the band as "Afghan psychedelia"--is just the sort of Arabian rock illusion previously conjured up by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. The tribute to Keith Relf on "An Original Man" is worthy of the Byrds at their brotherly prime, and "Crying Out for Love" is mature blues with heart, soul, and sensitivity. Frankly, one could only wish the Rolling Stones' songwriting skills were still as sharp. --Kevin Maidment

Product Description
The first release by the Yardbirds in 35 years, featuring Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Alan Glen, John Idan, Steve Lukather, Brian May, Jim McCarthy, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and more. Features 7 new, 2003 tracks and re-recordings of 8 classic hits. Special digipak packaging includes lyric booklet. Favored Nations label. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Eric, no Jimmy, very little Jeff, get it anyway!!!, April 28, 2003

By	chris meesey Food Czar (The Colony, TX United States) - See all my reviews

In the Yardbirds first new disc in 30+ years, fabled guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page are nowhere to be found, and Jeff Beck only plays on one cut ("My Blind Love"). Still, this is a very worthwhile effort. If you've read Alan Clayson's excellent biography ("The Yardbirds: The Band That Launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page."), then you realize that drummer Jim McCarty and bass/guitarist Chris Dreja were far more instrumental to the band's sound that they are usually given credit. They form the nucleus of the new Yardbirds, along with guitarist Gypie Mayo (fine solos throughout), bass player and Keith Relf-sound alike singer John Idan (exceptional on "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I"), and harmonica man Alan Glen (whose delightful solos are an unexpected plus). Throw in a few guest guitarists like Skunk Baxter, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai and the result is an appealing blend of timeless classics and excellent new material. Standouts of the new songs are McCarty compositons "Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout the News" and "Dream Within a Dream". Finally, those old chestnuts, Mose Allison's "I'm Not Talking," and the Steve-Vai-led "Shapes of Things" sound brighter than ever. Listen, please don't fall into the trap of "Eric-and-Jimmy-and-Keith-aren't-on-this-record-so-it-can't-be-any-good." Give this disc a serious listen or two and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Good Cd From One Of The Sixties Best Bands!, May 25, 2003

By	highway_star (Hallandale, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I was shocked to see there was a new cd from the sixties British group The Yardbirds. My first thought was that this was a cd of unreleased material, but low and behold an all new release from this great rock band. Original members of The Yardbirds, Jim McCarty (drums) and Chris Dreja (rhythym guitar) as well as lead guitarist Jeff Beck who does a guest appearance are on this new release and a host of other artists such as Slash, Steve Lukather, Brian May, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, etc. This cd, while obviously not as stunning as the original 60's Yardbirds material, is suprisingly good. You've got some classics remade such as "I'm Not talking", "For Your Love", "Train Kept A Rollin'", "Shapes Of Things", "Over Under Sideways Down", "Mr You're A Better Man Than I", "Happening Ten Years Time Ago", "The Nazz Are Blue" as well as other songs such as "Crying Out For Love", "Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout The News", "Mr Saboteur", "My Blind Life", "Mystery Of Being", "Dream Within A Dream" and "An Original Man" (a song for Keth Relf). The Yardbird's new vocalist John Idan, (on some songs, mostly the classics) tries very hard to sound like original vocalist Keth Relf who died years ago, and he does a fantastic job. As a matter of fact the entire new line up of Yardbirds sounds great alongside the several original members. This is a cd that will not only appeal to those of us that grew up in the 60's and loved the music of this great rock band, but also to a new generation of music lovers. Long Live The Yardbirds! Highly Recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yardbirds - 'Birdlands' (Favored Nation), March 11, 2005

By	Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Boy,talk about all the reunions you never,and I do mean never expect to see take place.Two original members of the Yardbirds reunite for this fifteen track CD.Half old songs redone,half new tracks.Which most of them are quite good.I mean,I would expect maybe a reunion awhile back of the surviving members of the Beatles or Zeppelin before the Yardbirds,and with a half of lp's worth of new material,mind you.Very nice 2003 release,the older cuts of course,rock like "For Your Love","Train Kept A Rollin'","Shape Of Things","Over Under Sideways Down"(one of my favorite tunes of all time),"Mr,You're A Better Man Than I Am" and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago".The new cuts,like "Crying Out For Love","Please Don't Tell Me About The News" and "My Blind Life" are actually pretty decent,I thought.On most of these tunes,I thought the lead vocals sound very close to that of their late frontman Keith Relf.Line-up:Chris Dreja-rhythm guitar,Jim McCarty-drums,John Idan-bass&vocals,Gypie Mayo-guitar and Alan Glen-harmonica.Just all around good British blues rock revitalized.Recommended.They even toured the states awhile back.