Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In 1965 the Yardbirds were riding high with For Your Love and Heart Full Of Soul.

They would soon fade on the charts, however, and I am wondering why. Did their musical direction change with changing personnel, did Gouldman's input wane or were the times just changing.

I would be interested in your thoughts.

My memory is somewhat dim now, but as I recall, Chris Dreja was both the driving force and one of the founders of the Yardbirds. He attracted people like Page, Beck and Clapton. Their hard driving bluesy guitar sounds helped shape the band into one of the premier touring bands in England.

When they finally got themselves into the recording studio the A&R team made them record pop stuff for their "A" sides. They were not a pop band. They were a British blues band.

I believe that's why they lost their guitarists one by one. They did not stay true to form. Losing top musicians is very hard on an established band. I think that adversely affected their opportunities to stay on top of their game and their ability to remain on the charts.

Just my .02 cents worth for what it's worth.

I would attribute the decline of The Yardbirds to Mickie Most. By the time of the 'Little Games' sessions, he had them recording weak pop material like 'Little Games', 'Ha Ha Said The Clown' and 'Goodnight Sweet Josephine'. I don't know why they agreed to go in this direction, but it was obviously a huge mistake. Their live shows at this time were still heavy and bluesy, and Jimmy Page was already performing material (i.e. 'White Summer' and 'Dazed And Confused') that would be used by The New Yardbirds after their name changed to Led Zeppelin.

The Yardbirds were always like a lot of groups more famous as a whole than parts. The famous ones like Clapton and Page did not emerge till later.

Fact of the matter is in my opinion their shows as Brian has pointed out did not reflect what was making them successful in commercial terms which were good Pop records not the blues stuff. 5 top ten hits and 2 lower 40's hits between Nov 64 and Oct 66. 65 was their year 3 top three records and all great For Your Love, Evil Hearted You/Still I'm Sad plus Shapes Of Things.

"Ha Ha Said The Clown." This made me laugh out loud Randy and I can just imagine what the band members said about this.

Peter: Yep, they must have known they had reached rockbottom with that song choice. I can only hope they were too stoned to let it get them down. I believe Manfred Mann did alright with that song though. In the 1980's, the Television Personalities' song 'Happy All The Time' opens with the lyric 'Ha Ha Ha said the clown as he fell down..."

The elements were always there but the chemistry was disrupted too many times too soon.

Paul stepped out to produce. Jeff quit. Jimmy tried to help with direction.....

.....and The Beatles kept changing the template.

Hate to say it considering the previous comments but I loved that song and Little Games was even cooler. They were both hits in Ma. Got the CD, it's pretty good.

Bob: My comments regarding 'Little Games' were meant to be from the viewpoint of The Yardbirds themselves. They wanted to be heavy psychedelic blues band (think Led Zeppelin), but were being forced in a pop direction. I happen to like a lot of their songs from this time period. I enjoy a lot of music from that time that The Yardbirds would no doubt have considered 'uncool', like The Kinks' album 'Village Green Preservation Society'.

Ha Ha Said The Clown both versions for comparison

Manfred Mann Version
http://tinyurl.com/rdmqq

Yardbirds Version
http://tinyurl.com/mau8c

One of my favourite tracks by The Yardbirds relegated to B side of Shapes of Things in UK.

Great Lyrics in my view

http://tinyurl.com/lb3xf

I agree Roy that song does contain great lyrics. The lead solo was pretty cool for the day also.

Keith Relf actually did not sound too bad singing that song. He was a pretty good songwriter IMO. Thanks for posting it.

That is a great song, I know it and don't think it was on any of their American Albums either. I always liked Relf's voice.

Also on Ha Ha Said The Clown, who recorded the song first, Manfred Mann or The Yardbyrds Roy? They are almost carbon copies of each other, I must give the edge to the Yardbyrds, love both bands though.

How About Happenings Ten Years Time Ago? It was one of four songs by them with both Page and beck playing lead, also John Paul Jones played bass.

Not sure on that one Bob I'll check, I know Ha Ha was released as a single by The Yardbirds in the States but not in UK as MM had the hit but who recorded first not 100%

Do you want me to post Happenings.

A great song Roy. Here is yet another interesting one that reminds me a bit of The Kinks. It shows the depth of the Yardbirds and a difficult song to sing. It is called Mr. Zero.