VIA PRESS RELEASE | When The Yardbirds flew across the Channel to France in 1965 they were greeted as heroes by legions of young fans, even when they shared a concert bill with the all-powerful Beatles. Cheers rang out around the Palais des Sports in Paris in June that year, when the compere announced “The Yardbirds!” and the group stormed into hit song “For Your Love.”
Mercifully the magic of their various shows in France during the ’60s was captured for posterity by French radio and TV. As a result, we are proud to present the audio from shows that were broadcast to an even wider European audience than the thousands who had already flocked to see them perform live. Here is the electrifying sound of Keith Relf singing and blowing his trusty harmonica alongside the legendary Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page on lead guitars, backed by Chris Dreja (guitar), Paul Samwell-Smith (bass), and Jim McCarty (drums).
They roar into action on Yardbird favourites “Over, Under, Sideways, Down,” “Train Kept A-Rollin,” “Shapes Of Things,” and “Heart Full Of Soul”—just some of the gems on this essential CD / vinyl release, now digitally re-mastered by Eroc the Engineer.
Listening to Jimmy Page backed by Jim McCarty’s powerful drums on the bluesy and atmospheric “Dazed And Confused” we sense the future of heavy rock already boiling up on stage. The story of this influential band and their adventures in France from 1965 to 1968 is told in a superb 16-page booklet by Repertoire’s Chris Welch, which includes exclusive new interviews with founder members Jim McCarty and Paul Samwell-Smith. Learn about life on the road in Swinging ’60s France with The Yardbirds. Then listen to the music!
