The Yardbirds – In Session at The BBC – Feb-May, 1966 – BBC Radio 1 –

You’d be hard pressed to name a band which had as many legendary guitarists passing through its ranks as this one. Okay, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. But The Yardbirds boasted Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page – and for a while both Beck and Page shared guitar duties at the same time.

One of the most influential bands to come out of the initial British Invasion era The Yardbirds, of course went on to become Led Zeppelin – known briefly as The New Yardbirds. But during their formative period between 1964 and 1968 with Keith Relf on vocals, Jim McCarty on Drums, Chris Dreja on rhythm guitar and Paul Samwell-Smith on bass (along with, at various times, Clapton, Beck and Page), they released some of the most recognizable and enduring classics of the 60s, which are still listened to, studied and discovered by new fans to this day.

So tonight it’s sessions recorded between February and May of 1966 for the BBC, right at their peak of popularity and featuring Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page trading solos.

One of the truly great and memorable bands from a decade fairly crowded to overflowing with new and astounding music.

Enjoy the weekend.

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