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Copyright © 2002-2004
by James P. Hauser except where otherwise noted.  All rights reserved.

The Blues Connections of

The Yardbirds

The Yarbirds (a.k.a. The Blueswailing Yardbirds) were a short-lived but extremely influential band from the sixties. Their electric brand of blues formed early foundations for hard rock and heavy metal. Three of the world's greatest blues-rock guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, were members of the group at one time or another during the early parts of their careers. Clapton, the Yardirds' first guitarist, left the band because he was unhappy about its movement away from the blues towards pop. He was replaced by Beck, and, after he left (because he hated being on the road), Page took his place. He stayed with the group until it broke up and then went on to form Led Zeppelin.

Early in their career, the Yardbirds served as a back up band for the great blues harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson (a.k.a. Rice Miller). (Another British sixties band, The Animals, also backed up Williamson.) Two of the group's greatest records--the R&B classic "I'm a Man" and their pop masterpiece "Shapes of Things"-- were recorded at Chess Studios, the place where so many great Chicago blues classics were recorded. The band also recorded at Sam Phillips' legendary Sun Studios, the place where Elvis Presley and bluesmen like Howlin' Wolf and Ike Turner recorded. Phillips produced the Yardbirds "You're a Better Man Than I" and their hard-rocking cover of bluesman Tiny Bradshaw's "Train Kept A-Rollin'". This second song is especially great--it's a prime example of how a group of white British kids could reinterpret American blues with awesome power--the guitars and bass are superhot and Keith Relf's vocals are rough, tough, and served up with an exceedingly proper amount of English schoolboy snot.

More of the Yardbirds' Blues connections...

A list of blues songs recorded by The Yardbirds is below. The songs are arranged alphabetically by the name of the blues musician who composed, originally recorded, and/or popularized the song.

Billy Boy Arnold: I Ain't Got You, I Wish You Would

Chuck Berry: Too Much Monkey Business

Tiny Bradshaw: The Train Kept A -Rollin'

Bo Diddley: I'm a Man

Howlin' Wolf (a.k.a. Chester Burnett): Smokestack Lightnin'

Slim Harpo: Got Love If You Want It

Sonny Boy Williamson I (a.k.a. John Lee Williamson): Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

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