The Yardbirds Albums Ranked

The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band’s core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja, and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band is known for starting the careers of three of rock’s most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 greatest guitarists. The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including “For Your Love”, “Heart Full of Soul”, “Shapes of Things” and “Over Under Sideways Down”. Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature “rave-up” instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock, and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock, and heavy metal trends. Following the band’s split in 1968, Relf and McCarty formed Renaissance and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin. The Yardbirds reformed in the 1990s, featuring drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja as the only original members of the band. Dreja left the band in 2012, leaving McCarty as the sole original member of the band present in the lineup Here are all Yadrbirds albums ranked.

Never miss out the songs of the group that launched Rolling Stone’s greatest guitarists, The Yardbirds. Click and enjoy the pioneers of psychedelic rock!

10. Birdland (2003)

“An excellent blend of some of their classic 60s hits done with a fresh, updated edge and energy, mixed with several new (and very, very good) songs as well. What should you do after you have had a successful formula of Clapton, Page and Beck on guitar? Why not invite other great guitar players to sit in as guest soloists on different songs? Well, that’s what they did and it works incredibly well. Jeff Beck appears on one cut and I commend him for that. The array of top-notch (and diverse) players is not only a tremendous line-up, it is unheard of in today’s music scene. The vocalist does a bang up job, harp is good too. I must admit, I didn’t miss Clapton or Page at all and the participating original members are better than ever. You can actually feel the spark and energy projected by the guest guitar players in conjunction with the Ybirds on each track. “

9. Where the Action Is! (1996)

“The Yardbirds were men of their times, yet do to their level of performance, and the adventurous nature of the band, it seems to me that the Yardbirds were also ahead of their times!
The tight schedule didn’t leave much room for the sort improvisation that helped gain them a favorable reputation while on the BBC. Still, even today, to do justice to the music, a band has to be good!”

8. Stroll On With the Yardbirds (1966)

“This track features the last Yardbirds line-up with Jimmy Page on guitar. ‘Stroll On’ is just ‘Train Kept a Rollin’ with new lyrics. Maybe it was a copyright thing, but with the yardbirds the playing was the main attraction. This is the best version I’ve heard, stuffed full of distinctive Yardbirds flourishes. I especially like the feedback at the beginning. In the film Blowup the protagonist hears the sound of the feedback and follows it to the doorway of a rock club, with the loudness of the feedback increasing as he approaches the entrance – a nice effect. The lineup in the film shows Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page on double lead guitar and the music sounds as one would imagine that combination (i.e. intense!) but according to an interview with Keith Relf only one of the two is actually on the recording – I’m assuming Page. The double-lead effect was produced by over-dubbing. Still, a must-have track for fans.”

7. London 1963: The First Recordings! (1981)

“After the recently released Yardbirds 68, which practically documented the transition to Led Zeppelin, here is the beginning of one of the best British rock and blues bands of the 60s and absolutely equal to the Stones at that time. At least in terms of playing pleasure. The big hits weren’t there yet, and Keith Relf was never the shouter like a Mick Jagger. Nevertheless, the primeval Yardbirds showed with an unknown Eric Clapton what energy and musical skills they had. They played absolutely on par with Stones and Co.Legendary the recordings from the Craw Daddy Club Richmond and the session with Sonny Boy Williamson. “

6. BBC Sessions (1991)

“This music collection that is Led Zeppelin The Complete BBC Sessions has an abundant amount of live studio sounding tracks that include some of their well known songs: Heartbreaker, A Whote Lotta Love, Black Dog, Stairway to Heaven,etc. There are also some other multiple songs that are very memorable to listen to in this collection that include: You Shook Me, What is and What Should Never Be, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Going to California, The Girl I Love She Got Long Wavy Black Hair, Sunshine Woman, How Many More Times etc. I admit that I obtained the opportunity to purchase track 5 of this music collection via Amazon by the July 14 2019 timeframe and I obtained the opportunity to purchase the rest of this enjoyable music collection at a later timeframe via an online amazon gift card gifted to my husband and I from my mother in law. This is a good music collection to listen for eclectic music listeners who are receptive to hearing live sounding music coupled with rock and blues/soul music melodies.”

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5. Little Games (1967)

“I love the Yardbirds!!! This is a must have album for all Led Zeppelin and Yardbirds fans. I highly recommend it!!!”

4. Eric Clapton & The Yardbirds (2002)

“One of those Springboard platters from the early 70’s and this is one of their better releases. During this period Eric Clapton was a guitar god and the Yardbirds were a happening bunch. Some studio stuff and some “live” material make this long play a good listen. “

3. For Your Love (1965)

“The Yardbirds. They rate a rocking 5. “Hard Rock” music at it’s finest. The music is timeless. The lead guitarist(s) are the best of anyone who has ever picked up an Axe. My favorite is “Stroll On”. What a rocker.”

2. Roger the Engineer (1966)

“Hard rock, as it began in the late Sixties, basically emanates from the Brits–having thoroughly absorbed our Yank blues, R&B, and early rock and roll over the previous few years, and then combining it with psychedelia, young white English blokes (as well as a black American expatriate by the name of Hendrix) began upping the wattage and experimenting at earsplitting decibel levels. The Yardbirds, featuring at various times Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, were perhaps the most important band in rock history, in guitarist terms, and their back catalogue is, thankfully, back in print. 1966’s “Roger The Engineer” (formal title: “The Yardbirds”), named for recording engineer Roger Cameron, is mid-period for the band and features Jeff Beck, though future lead guitarist-bandleader Jimmy Page is also on the record (“Happenings Ten Years Time Ago”, a signature early-psychedelic track featuring studio wizardry which must have been state-of-the-art for the time). “

1. Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds (1965)

“A stellar collection of the finest songs of The Yardbirds’ catalog – Mr You’re A Better Man Than I, I’m A Man, Train Kept A Rollin’ etc. all show the superb ass kicking power of Jeff Beck’s guitar playing and surely inspired millions of garage bands. Before Jimi Hendrix arrived, Jeff Beck was definitely the most impressive guitarist around.”