Release 2003
One of the most influential british invasion groups, with not  fewer than 3 of UKs Super-Guitarplayers in their rows.
BECK-CLAPTON-PAGE  with JEFF as the most innovative one...for me he comes near to HENDRIX.
They started in 1963 as R&B Band  with Top Topham on the guitar, who had to give his chair to ERIC CLAPTON,
before the first  recording date. They backed Sonny Boy Williams on a 1964 Tour, in 1965 Clapton went unhappy
with the direction to more Pop orientated songs and split to join JOHN MAYALLS BLUESBREAKERS.
His repleacement came from R&B group The TRIDENTS and started the most experimental phase.
Their best effort was the album ROGER THE ENGINEER (=OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN)
The next to split from the band was PAUL SAMWELL-SMITH to go into production with Cat Stevens as best known act.
DREJA took over the bass for a short time only to make the place free for one of the top UK session musician
JIMMY PAGE (bass). Only a single with twin lead-guitars  (Beck & Page) was released in 1966 (Happenings...)
After Beck leaves the band on a US-tour, PAGE took over the lead-guitar for the last album LITTLE GAMES and
a Live album, which was taken from the market short after its  (US only) release on Epic.
In 1968 all was over...and LED ZEPPELIN started. The YARDBIRDS reformed first in the mid 80s and still
touring today with McCARTY & DREJA in the lineup.

Style:  R&B; Pop; Psych;

see: 
Casey Jones ;  Tridents;  John Mayall ;  Cream ;  Derek & The Dominoes ; Eric Clapton ;  Jeff Beck ; 
Led Zeppelin ; Renaissance ;  Armageddon ;  Reign ;  Shoot ;  Illusion ;  Box Of Frogs ;  Jim McCarty Band ; 
Keith Relf ; Top Topham ; Together ;  Sonny Boy Williams ; Medicine Head (K.Relf) ;

Musicians:
Jim McCarty - drums, perc., voc.;  Paul Samwell-Smith - bass;  Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, bass;
Keith Relf - vocals, harp; Tony Topham, Eric Clapton; Jeff Beck - lead guitar;  Jimmy Page - bass, lead guitar;

    Little Games (1967) +7 Studio Rec.67-68 + BBC Sessions
Tracks:

1. Little Games  (P.Wainman-H.Spiro)
2. Smile on me   (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)
3. White Summer   (J.Page)
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor   (Page-McCarty)
5. Glimpses   (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)
6. Drinking muddy Water   (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)
7. No ExcessBaggage   (R.Atkins-C.D.Errico)
8.Stealing Stealing   (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)
9.Only the black Rose  (K.Relf)
10.Little Soldier Boy    (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)

Additional Studio Recordings 1967-1968

       11. Puzzles  (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)  US Stereo Mix  1967
       12. I remember the Night   (Pirollo-Finizio) US Stereo Mix  1967
       13. Ha Ha Said the Clown  (T.Hazzard)  1967
       14. Ten little Indians (H.Nilsson) Us Stereo Mix  1967
       15. Goodnight sweet Josephine (T.Hazzard)  Version I Unphased  1967
       16. Think  About it  (Relf-Page-McCarty)  1968
        17. Goodnight sweet Josephine (T.Hazzard)  Phased US Single  Version  1968

         BBC Sessions:   March 1967 to March 1968

        18. Most likely you go your way  (B.Dylan)
        19. Little Games  (Wainman-H.Spiro)
        20. Trinking Muddy Water   (Relf-Page-McCarty-Dreja)
        21. Think about it   (Relf-McCarty-Page)
        22. Goodnight Sweet Josephine   (T.Hazzard)
        23. My Baby   (M.Shuman-G.Ragavoy)
        24. White Summer   (J.Page)
        25. Dazed and Confused  (J.Holmes- arr. Yardbirds)