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| The Yardbirds (sans Eric) |
2020 Charity Shop Purchase 17 - Eric Clapton and the Yardbirds
Eric Clapton was namechecked a couple of weeks ago when I featured Buddy Guy's contribution to The Blues Collection.
He now appears as part of the Collection in the company of the Yardbirds.It is number 14 in the series and the 56th to appear on the shelves.
Purchased in an old favourite BRICC in Ballantrae where we stopped off at on the way back up the road from our latest Dumfries and Galloway excursion.
It is perhaps a bit of a misnomer to attribute the CD as Eric Clapton and the Yardbirds as the recordings cover the period 1963 to 1966. Clapton left the band in 1965 and was replaced by Jeff Beck so perhaps The Yardbirds would have sufficed. Beck was only a member from 1965 to 1966 with an overlap with a certain Jimmy Page who started off playing bass before switching to lead guitar after Beck's departure.
A pretty impressive trio I'm sure you will agree. They are ranked as three of the top 5 of the 100 greatest guitarists by Rolling Stone magazine - the top five being 5 - Jeff Beck, 4 - Keith Richards, 3 - Jimmy Page, 2 - Eric Clapton and 1 - Jimi Hendrix
Lest they be forgotten the other members of the band from this period were Keith Reif on lead vocals,Chris Dreja on rhythm guiter, Paul Samwell- Smith on bass and Jim McCarthy on drums.
The Yardbirds - For Your Love
The Yardbirds - Still I'm Sad
The Yardbirds - I'm a Man
If this album wasn't part of the Blues Collection, would it be a keeper?
ReplyDeleteProbably wouldn't have bought it. One or two good tracks though
DeleteBit of a racist back in the day was our Eric
ReplyDeletedrew - Eric's since apologised and blamed drugs or drink or something.
DeleteMy fave Yardbirds guitarist was Jeff Beck. His "Blow by Blow" album is outta this world.
Apology or not FBCB he is still a bit of a fud
ReplyDeleteCC - Agreed. I wasn't trying to make excuses for him. Blaming drink or drugs is his excuse and a very poor one at that.
DeleteWhich one is Eric in that picture? - Don't recognise him without the beard.
ReplyDeleteAssuming it is the right picture ( which is not always the case with Google images )I think he may be the one in the middle at the bottom.
DeleteHappy to br corrected if I've got that wrong
Just posted the line-up in my comment below, CC - that chap is Chris Dreja.
DeleteI love this period Yardbirds. Alyson, no Eric in that pic - left to right it's Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Chris Dreja (front) Keith Relf at back, Jim McCarthy.
ReplyDeleteI watched the BBC Four Eric Clapton documentary not that long ago, v interesting, although he came across as a bit needy especially re. women!) in my opinion and somewhat emotionally stunted. And he once chatted up an older friend of mine long ago... she took great pleasure in turning him down apparently!
Thanks for clearing that up - I had a look for pictures of the young Eric but couldn't match them up to any of the chaps above!
DeleteThanks C - right era/wrong line up!
ReplyDeleteKeith Reif has a touch of the Brian Jones' about him