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The Yardbirds Album: “Ultimate!”
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Release Date:2001-07-17
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Type:Album
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Genre:Classic Rock
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Label:Rhino
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Explicit Lyrics:No
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Review - AMG :
It had to happen sometime, and after about 30 years of piecemeal Yardbirds compilations, here it is: a lengthy best-of anthology that manages to cross-license material from the Clapton, Beck, and Page eras. The result is a two-CD, 52-song anthology that includes all of their big hits, most of their outstanding albums tracks and non-hit singles, and a few rarities. If you're looking for one Yardbirds compilation, either as a starter or a summary, this is it. Previous anthologies almost always had to be divided in early 1966 after the "Shapes of Things" single for licensing reasons, but finally you can hear early blues-derived Clapton sides, 1965 initial British Invasion hit singles, "Shapes of Things," "Over Under Sideways Down," "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," and the (comparatively slight) highlights of the 1967-1968 Page lineup all in one place. As quite minor quibbles, one could argue that some of the album tracks that were passed over -- like "Respectable," "Ever Since the World Began," and "Glimpses" -- would have been better choices than some of the cuts that did make it. A few relatively obscure items are included -- the late 1963 recording "Boom Boom"/"Honey in Your Hips," the 1965 B-side "Steeled Blues," the 1966 B-side "Psycho Daises," the Blow-Up soundtrack item "Stroll On," the weird Italian pop single "Questa Volta"/"Pafff...Bum," and particularly the three pop-folky 1966 songs from Keith Relf's solo singles. Some of those lesser rarities are at cross-purposes with the overall tone of a set largely selected on the basis of quality, rather than collectability. Still, with fine liner notes and packaging, overall it gives the music of one of the greatest rock bands the respectful, high-class presentation it deserves. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music GuideReview - Yahoo! Music - Ken Micallef :
From early days as raucous blues belters to hit records laced with Indian drones, Gregorian chants, and psychedelia, the Yardbirds were '60s innovators who laid the foundation for Cream, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and beyond. But for most, the Yardbirds were simply the band that exposed the titanic guitar scrawls of Clapton, Beck, and Page to a then-sleepy world. The first "pop" band to universalize the blues saw seven new Yardbirds' compilations in the year 2000 alone, with many more before that. Why another comp? Ultimate compiles the Yardbirds' best tracks in two CDs, with guitar glory and song experimentation delivered anew through better resolution and remastering. Thank God (or is that Eric Clapton?) for the digital era. Ultimate offers the usual hits ("Still I'm Sad," "Heartful Of Soul," "You're A Better Man Than I") and astounding guitar turbulence ("I Ain't Got You," "I Ain't Done Wrong," "Happening Ten Years Time Ago," "Psycho Daisies"), while leaving no bad 'Bird's song unturned. The Yardbirds will forever rank well below the Beatles and the Stones owing to (among other things) their inability to maintain topnotch songwriting amidst a very competitive generation. Many blame producer Mickey Most; whatever, lukewarm pop-rock product "Ten Little Indians," "Ha Ha Said The Clown" and "Puzzles" are at best tepid, and definitely throwaway. But then, "Tinker, Tailor Soldier, Sailor," the template for Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same," proves the band was also visionary, if completely maladjusted for massive success. Pity lead singer Keith Relf who, at the peak of Zeppelin's mid-'70s success, electrocuted himself one night in 1976 while practicing.
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