Very High Frequencies Epsiode 177: Yardbirds

Very High Frequencies 177 (The Yardbirds) is a stereophonic Psychedelic Rave Up. From ‘65 to ‘68 three top tier English guitar hero’s blew speakers as well as minds. Jeff Beck influenced none other than Jimi Hendrix to amply the distortion and manipulate the feedback. Jimmy Page battled with band mate Beck for the twin lead guitar of Happenings Ten Years Time Ago. Besides the known hits the band recorded several amazing songs that didn’t get released until fairly recently. Jimmy Page has compiled a couple releases that chronicle the lost year of 1968. Lots of touring but no music was released after 1967’s Little Games didn’t chart. Many songs we identify as Led Zeppelin tracks were being performed in various incarnations live from ‘67 to ‘68. Dazed and Confused is very heavy although the lyrics are quite different, musically it’s pretty much the same other than Keith Relf playing counterpoint harmonica in places Robert Plant wailed away vocally. Besides Roger The Engineer we will be hearing BBC recordings, Live in Sweden in ‘67, Yardbirds ‘68, (both featuring Jimmy Page) and a few other compilations and live cuts. This week’s episode might make you reevaluate just how important The Yardbirds are to Alternative Music. The 10:18 live version of I’m A Man recorded in 1968 is absolutely mind blowing, featuring a truly psychedelic mid section with Page doing the violin bow thing over Keith Relfs Jim Morrison like mojo poetry. Tune in for the hits, stay for the deep cuts on VHF-177 (The Yardbirds).