Shapes of Things - The Very Best of the Yardbirds

The Yardbirds were one of rock music’s most important groups. Three of Britain’s finest guitarists — Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page — spent time guiding the group and their playing, alongside memorable radio hits, made them a most formidable team. Clapton, it has been well documented, didn’t care for the pop direction of “For Your Love” and moved over to John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to fulfill his interest in the blues. But that brought Jeff Beck to the group and it was his interest in furthering the sound that led to the Middle-Eastern stirrings of “Heart Full of Soul” and the demonic tromp of “Train Kept a - Rollin’” as well as the cataclysmic shudder of “Shapes of Things.” This twenty-two-song collection features plenty of early material with the band tearing it up on “I Wish You Would,” “I Ain’t Got You” and “Let It Rock.” The dour haunt of “Evil Hearted You” and “Still I’m Sad,” the social justice of “You’re A Better Man Than I” made them a group well ahead of their time.