A Century Removed: The Yardbirds

While eating at Tacos A-Go-Go (amazing queso) this week while on business in Houston, I heard The Yardbirds' "Heartful of Love" for the first time in years. When I was about 15, one of the first singles I ever bought (7" vinyl was the only option then) was an oldies reissue of "For Your Love" / "Heartful of Soul". I loved it but strangely never pursued anything else by the band.

About ten years later, a kind mod from the band Tapestry Drive took me deeper into the Yardbirds archives (not to mention The Easybeats, The Eyes, The Action, ahhh...). "I Ain't Got You" and "A Certain Girl" proceeded to rock my stereo for years on end after that. The best tracks ever by this stellar band. Total stiff-backed mod goodness oozing pure personality ("Well one day I'm gonna wake up and say 'I'll do anything just to be your slave'..." and "I've got women to the right of me, I've got women to the left of me, I've got women all around me, but I ain't got you..."). Play them loud and these songs sound as tight as ever.

The Yardbirds - "A Certain Girl".
The Yardbirds - "I Ain't Got You".