On this day, Jan.5th 1969 Led Zeppelin were wrapping up their first American tour concluding four nights at The Whisky ‘A Go Go in Los Angeles. Their opening act was Alice Cooper and the Zep were billed as “Led Zeppelin featuring Jimmy Page formerly of The Yardbirds”…Woah!
We think that speaks volumes about a band that today, The general public barely remembers – the Yardbirds. For those of you unfamiliar with The Yardbirds; During their brief run, on separate occasions they boasted Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton as their Lead Guitarist! Whoa, yet again!
Here’s a shot of The Yardbirds, that’s Jimmy Page second from the left!
I SAW THE YARDBIRDS ON T.V. ON THE AFTERSCHOOL REEN ROCK MUSIC / DANCE SHOW OF LLOYD THAXTON!!! WOW!!!! THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER IS COMMIN’ OUT OF A POT INDUCED HAZE WITH INCENSE SMOKE SWIRLLIN’ AND LIGHT FLASHING AND I’M HEARIN’ “CREAM — SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE”!!!! YOU ARE SO RIGHT NOBODY KNOW THIS STUFF ANYMORE. NAMES, BACKGROUDS, HISTORY ETC.!!!
P.S. WHAT IS THE REAL STORY OF THE “MOODY BLUES SONG IN ’65 ‘GO NOW'” AND THE FOREVER RUMORS OF THE SONG WRITTER OR VOCALIST AND A FIGHT WITHIN THE BAND.???? ALL I KNOW IS I LOVE THAT SONG BUT THE NEXT MOMENT OF AWARENESS SEEMS TO BE KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN???!!! SOME KIND OF A CHANGE-UP IN STYLE HERE!!
THANX the wood
MAJOR Points for Lloyd Thaxton! Those shows (Lloyd Thaxton Show / Where The Action Is) were so GREAT to enjoy on a weekday, after school. Yeah, fun times. Not sure what the REAL story of “Go Now” is but don’t care. Denny Laine, on lead vocal, was never better. One of my ALL TIME favorite tunes. Carry on…
Hey Jimmy, No Argument here, Denny Laines vocal on “Go Now” is Pop’n’ Soul perfection!
But, see my note to Ron Wood below and take a listen to the original recording by Bessie Banks!….
P.S. Thanks for the link to Keith Relf! We’ll be back to him right after my first cuppa coffee
Thanx Jimmy
Rick
so right on jimmy!!! great voice!!! and yes we had great great great rock shows!!! the last one I can remember is “Mid-Night Special!!
the wood
Hey Ron Wood, so great to see you weigh in! And we too LOVED Lloyd Thaxton. Except he looked like my uncle Orville which kinda FREEKED me out. Buy he played the coolest music, and like you, I’d rush home after school. I just couldn’t miss one of his shows?
Now, about The Moody Blues. Scroll way down on the blue bar on the left to a post we wrote about The Moody’s and “Nights in white Satin” The Post is called “Do you want to know a secret: Day’s of future past… It’s dated May 14, 2017….
But now, here’s the story about. “Go Now” To this day , OUR FAVORITE MOODY BLUES SONG! The song was written by an R&B writer Larry Banks! Larry wrote it for his wife Bessie Banks, a struggling “Soul Singer”……And her stunning recording of the song was produced by the incredible American R&B production team of Leiber and Stoller…..But! No matter! Because earlier in 64 The Moody’s heard Bessi’s version, rushed into the studio and got their recording to English radio stations, before Bessie could take a breath, the Moody’s record quickly crossed over to U.S. Where it instantly caught on FIRE and poor Bessie was barely ever heard from!
So, as we are here to please, here’s Bessie Banks doing her version of a song written for her…”Go Now”…Listen to how similar, yet stunning her performance comes off!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DydOrJ3wH38
Enjoy:
Hell Yeah Jimmy, Keith sooo rocked the harp…..and how about his solo on “Shapes Of Things”
And I agree, overall ( A blonde frontman ) and a “Mother Trucker”
Thanx Jimmy for the link to Keith’s killer performance on “I’m A Man”
Rick
I remember, early on in the tour they hit The Boston Tea Party, which was a club right across the street from Fenway Park. Wicked Pissah! I realize, Beck, Clapton, Page get all the kudos when it comes to Yardbirds but Keith Relf was the guy for me. Performer, songwriter and man, could he play that harp…
I agree. Around 1969 we had the pleasure of opening up for Renaissance for a few nights in DC. Renaissance was Keith’s post-Yardbirds band and featured his sister as well as Jim McCarty. Check them out on YouTube. Extraordinary band, especially live!
I remember, under over sideways down backwards forward square and round.
I think that’s right?
Yep…Pretty darn close ‘cept it’s “Over under” rather than “Under Over” But, yeah , that’s one of several GREAT Yardbirds hits!
Thanx for weighing in Bruddah…
Whoops! Typo. That should be Man not Nan although that would be a cool title too
John, you’re hilarious! When I saw your post and saw “Mister You’re A Better “Nan” than I”
I thought, “Wow an obscure deep track from The Yardbirds about CROSS DRESSING?
Thanx for a great laugh over possibly my favorite Yardbirds track! However I can’t say I’m a bigger fan of The Yardbirds than Zeppelin…..Except they we’re the originals. And Scroll below to Jimmy’s comments about Keith Relf. He is so right, as you are on Becks solo in “Mister You’re A Better “MAN” Than I”
And of course the solo in “Shapes Of Things” with the laughter and chatter in the background?
Thanx Mr. Z
P.S. Once again I find myself so envious of who you and The Malibooz have worked!
Good on ya, John
Personally I was always way more into The Yardbirds than the Zep. Their appearance in the film “ Blow Up” is legendary. The Malibooz have had the pleasure of opening for the latest Yardbirds’ lineup twice in the past few years. Now Jim McCartey is the only original member now that Chris Dreja has had to drop out due to medical reasons. ( Sane for original guitarist Top Topham who returned after 50 years!) nevertheless the latest lineup, featuring Johnny A in lead guitar is quite true to form.
For rock lead guitarists, The Yardbirds set the standard for tone and riffs. Everything you need to know is in Jeff Beck’s lead on “Mister You’re A Better Nan Than I”.