Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds (1965) Review | Stark Raving Psychedelic Psychics
Kronomyth 3.0: Another rave review.
The Yardbirds give The Rolling Stones a run for their money on Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds. I mean, the album’s a mess—the second side is drawn from live performances that first appeared on Five Live Yardbirds—and it’s still a scorcher. The new songs with Jeff Beck are the most exciting they’ve committed to vinyl, setting the tone for the psychedelic rock of the late 60s while still somehow being rooted in rhythm and blues. The album opens with You’re a Better Man Than I, which has all the makings of a counterculture anthem. The first of two Graham Gouldman songs, Evil Hearted You, is pop with a dark edge; Heart Full of Soul repeats the feat five minutes later. In between is a version of Bo Diddley’s I’m a Man that’s as tight as a cabin boy’s arsehole on the first day from port and a lone original, Still I’m Sad, that makes you thankful they didn’t write more songs. Beck impresses with his fearless experimentation, using feedback and effects to push the boundaries of electric guitar. The second side with Eric Clapton is good but seems like it was recorded ages ago. Beck and the band had moved the goalposts for R&B in a short time by embracing psychedelic elements. In his defense, Clapton would soon push them even further out with Cream, but at the time of its release Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds was some of the most exciting rock & roll on record.
The Product
A1. You’re a Better Man Than I (Mike Hugg/Brian Hugg) (3:17)
A2. Evil Hearted You (Graham Gouldman) (2:24)
A3. I’m a Man (Ellas McDaniel) (2:37)
A4. Still I’m Sad (Paul Samwell-Smith/Jim McCarthy) (2:57)
A5. Heart Full of Soul (Graham Gouldman) (2:28)
A6. The Train Kept A-Rollin’ (Tiny Bradshaw/Lois Mann/Howie Kay) (3:26)
B1. Smokestack Lightning (Chester Burnett) (5:35)
B2. Respectable (O’Kelly Isley/Ronald Isley/Rudolph Isley) (5:28)
B3. I’m a Man (Ellas McDaniel) (4:24)
B4. Here ‘Tis (Ellas McDaniel) (5:04)
*The mono elpee mistakenly omits Brian Hugg from the credits on “You’re a Better Man Than I,” erroneously lists Doc Pomus and Mort Shulman as the writers of the studio version of “I’m a Man” and gives no songwriting credits for “The Train Kept A-Rollin.”
The Players
Jeff Beck (lead guitar on side 1), Eric Clapton (lead guitar on side 2), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar), Jim McCarty (drums, backing vocals), Keith Relf (vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, percussion), Paul Samwell-Smith (bass guitar, backing vocals) with Giorgio Gomelsky (backing bass vocal on A4), Ron Prentice (bass on A5). Produced by Giorgio Gomelsky; musical direction by Paul Samwell-Smith.
The Plastic
Released on mono and stereo elpee on November 15, 1965 in the US (Epic, LN/BN 26177), Canada (Capitol, T 6166) and Germany (Epic, BN 26 177). Reached #53 on the US charts.
