The Yardbirds (with Eric Clapton) - I'm A Man (1964)

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The Yardbirds were one of the important bands in the 1960s London blues / pop / rock scene.

Early repertoire consisted of blues covers by the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

Numerous personnel changes mean there isn't a definitive Yardbirds line-up. However, Keith Relf (vocals), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar, later bass), Jim McCarty (drums) and Paul Samwell-Smith (bass, until mid-66) formed the stable part of the band, initially with Top Topham on lead guitar.

Their first album, "Five Live Yardbirds" was recorded with Eric Clapton on lead guitar at London's Marquee Club.

Clapton left, not pleased with the pop direction of the band, just before the single "For Your Love" brought the Yardbirds fame both throughout the UK and internationally.

The second LP, known today as "Roger the Engineer" but originally as "The Yardbirds", featured Jeff Beck, the lead guitarist who was a member during their most successful period.

"Little Games", the third album, was not released in the United Kingdom, as popularity declined.

And the final LP was barely released at all, being a live set which pointed the way to Led Zeppelin, formed by Beck's replacement on lead, Jimmy Page. This album is currently only available on bootlegs.
A succession of not only lead guitarists, but also managers and producers, mean that their LP and CD discography is rather disjointed.
Since splitting in 1968, Topham, Clapton, Beck, Page, Relf and McCarty have enjoyed varying levels of recording success. Relf died in 1976 after being electrocuted at home. Samwell-Smith became a music industry producer (after some production experience with The Yardbirds), and Dreja a photographer.

SOURCE: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Yardbirds-Biography/CB01F4FA1E3095...

"I'm a Man" is a popular American song written and released by Bo Diddley in March 1955 on Checker Records as the b-side to his hit "Bo Diddley". The writing credit is under Diddley's real name, Ellas McDaniel. Based on Muddy Waters' 1954 blues song "Hoochie Coochie Man" written by Willie Dixon, Waters recorded a cover of "I'm a Man" in May 1955, retitled "Mannish Boy," a play on words on Bo Diddley's younger age as it related to the primary theme of the song. The song is ranked #369 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Category:

Education

Tags:

• british
• rock

[TheDenny2]

@John1948ThirteenB Thanks for the confirmation. I grew up listening to the 60's groups and I was sure that wasn't Clapton's style, but I've been wrong before. I apologize for the caustic "twisting the facts"-I've logged on to so many videos claiming to have "lost" videos of songs that are just doctored fakes-how many people are misled that believe them? You're alright, man-keep posting-people need to learn these songs to understand where today's music came from.

[John1948ThirteenB]

@TheDenny2 Did we ever reach a firm conclusion whether this is the Clapton or Beck version? I was going by info with the download. You and happoer both think you recognize Beck's style here. I would like to get it right. Anyone ???

[TheDenny2]

As I recall, Jeff Beck played guitar on this audio track, and this video is Louise-quit twisting the facts

[John1948ThirteenB]

@TheDenny2 This was Eric Clapton in 1964. There is one from 1965 with Jeff Beck - youtube[DOT]com/watch?v=vPji87­WIhVQ

[John1948ThirteenB]

As I remember, when fm first came out it was just for "high class" music like symphony orchestras, maybe some jazz, almost all instrumental.

[haupper]

@TheDenny2 You're absolutely right. This is the '65 studio version of the song, released as a single, with Jeff Beck on guitar, NOT Clapton.

[TheDenny2]

@John1948ThirteenB Can't seem to locate that video; if I'm wrong I apologize, but this sure sounds more like Beck than Clapton on lead.

[CTOL1]

Farout man, I used to really get into this song in my "man cave" = workshop getaway in my parents basement. AM radio was still king then, but I believe one station did simulcast on FM.

Thanks for getting this up here