Little Games Songs Ranked
Little Games is the fourth American album by the English rock band the Yardbirds. Recorded and released in 1967, it was their first album recorded after becoming a quartet with Jimmy Page as the sole guitarist and Chris Dreja switching to bass. It was also the only Yardbirds album produced by Mickie Most. Although the new lineup was becoming more experimental with longer, improvised concert performances, the Yardbirds’ record company brought in successful singles producer Most to coax out more commercial products. However, neither material that properly presented their new approach nor hit singles were forthcoming. The release of the title track “Little Games” that preceded the album did not reach the singles chart in the UK and consequently, the album was not released there. However, the album saw limited release in the US, Germany, and New Zealand, but only reached number 80 in the US. Here are all of Little Games’ songs ranked.
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10. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor” is a tight and compact, hook-happy pop gem. And those are always good, right? Right. Fun harmonies near the end, the whole band seems to be into it, oh there’s an innovative-or-not bowed guitar bridge, it’s a good show on both sides of this single.”
9. Only the Black Rose
“Keith’s ‘Only the Black Rose’ is quite beautiful really, something critics of both his vocal and writing ability conveniently ignore, Jim, Chris, and Mr. Crowley’s pickpocket bestie all on top-form here.”
8. Smile on Me
“Jimmy Page congers magic, playing several terrific breaks … yet even these guitar solos sound like he’s walking through them, half there, and half somewhere else getting high.”
See more: The Yardbirds Albums Ranked
7. No Excess Baggage
“For pop-pickers ‘No Excess Baggage’ oozes 1967 cool, as does its flowerly-shirt title-track, something one would expect in an episode of the Saint as some groovy kids sneer at Templar when he knocks on their door, looking for answers to a recent shenanigans in the ‘hood.”
6. White Summer
“Jimmy gets a break on the instrumental “White Summer,” which he later, according to the convenient principle of leaving nothing even remotely useful behind, reworked into “Black Mountain Side,” sparkling Led Zeppelin’s first album. “White Summer” sounds pretty nice, especially when the tablas and saxophone come in to support Jimmy’s acoustic guitar-work. “
See more: The Yardbirds Songs Ranked
5. Stealing, Stealing
“The content of this collection runs the gamut from pop, blues, and psych, to semi-commercial rock. Inconsistent, to say the least, but plenty enough above the bar to satisfy.”
4. Little Soldier Boy
“Relf sings while Jimmy Page backwards the guitars as the song reaches its final stages. The drummer-boy rat-a-tat-tat of “Little Soldier Boy” is probably another attempt at a hit single but I hate it.”
3. Glimpses
“Soundly trumped by everyone’s fave Psych track – the brilliant ‘aah aah aah’ of “Glimpses”. Using sampled sounds from train stations, children’s playgrounds and wah-wah pedals on his guitars while Relf almost chants ‘aah’ throughout the song – you get a Psych groove that some have quite rightly compared to the early droning of Hawkwind. “
2. Drinking Muddy Water
“Drinking Muddy Water” was a direct lift from “Rollin’ & Tumblin,” and gets along fine even with a very restrained Jimmy Page. But just because the band gels so well and that old voodoo spirit is nicely bottled up, still leaving me feel that there’s something lacking.”
1. Little Games
“With all that context it’s a wonder that Little Games is not a complete disaster. Perhaps the main reason is that it’s mostly self-penned. In the past The Yardbirds’ best material always came from outside songwriters, but they also had a knack for good outside songwriters … but now with people like Tony Hazzard coming in, I think I might find relief with a Relf-McCarty-Page credit.”