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Rating: 
Summary: THE 'Bird Watchers Guide
Review: For years I dreamed of writing the definitive Yardbirds tome to honor the legendary group behind "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Happenings 10 Years Time Ago" and the phenomenal "Shapes of Things". But my hopes were dashed with the appearance of the second printing of this magisterial biography. How hard core is this? Let's examine the evidence: 1) We learn Relf's middle name was Keith; his first name was William 2) We learn future Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen played organ on "Ha Ha Said the Clown" 3) We have a thorough rundown of the band's gigs from 1963-68 4) We have labels from the tape cartridges of the group's final NY recording sessions 5) We learn Page's revamped Yardbirds lineup was never called "New"; Russo reprints numerous concert ads for the pre-Zep quartet - poster after poster bills the combo as "Yardbirds" or "Yardbirds with/featuring Jimmy Page" 6) We learn what the heck happened to Top Topham after he made way for some guy named Eric Clapton. Granted, the book favors the recollections of drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja. You don't suppose it's because they were the only ones (bar Keith Relf) in the band from start to finish, do you? After all the misinformation that has been passed down over the years concerning ownership of the band's name, what records they played on and the behind-the-amps friction that contributed to their early demise, it's refreshing to finally hear the whole story outside the context of a Clapton, Beck or Page bio. Anything anyone would want to know about the Yardbirds, from asthmatic Relf's three-pack a day smoking habit to the band's recipe for lemon butter chicken is in here in greater detail and affection than I could have dreamed possible. The holy grail of Yardbirds information.
Rating: 
Summary: Buyer Beware!!!!!
Review: Full of errors, conjecture and wild theories. Nice photos though.
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware!!!!!
Review: Read this book from cover-to-cover in a day. Now that we're getting more perspective on this period, as we get older, the ramifications of this band are pretty astounding. In my mind, the Yardbirds were better than the bands that their three superstars spawned, but I'm not so sure what the ramifiactions of the band was when they were active. Eric Clapton, JImmy Page and Jeff Beck, however, re-shaped rock n' roll. This book is so detailed, but without a lot of commentary, that it leaves one to draw conclusions about the band to themselves. Well worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: A Lot of Fun
Review: Read this book from cover-to-cover in a day. Now that we're getting more perspective on this period, as we get older, the ramifications of this band are pretty astounding. In my mind, the Yardbirds were better than the bands that their three superstars spawned, but I'm not so sure what the ramifiactions of the band was when they were active. Eric Clapton, JImmy Page and Jeff Beck, however, re-shaped rock n' roll. This book is so detailed, but without a lot of commentary, that it leaves one to draw conclusions about the band to themselves. Well worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: THE 'Bird Watchers Guide
Review: This is THE book about the Yardbirds. So well researched that you can use it as an encyclopadia for ever. So detailed that you will be amazed. The discographies are the best ones around. All members have their own discography as solo artist. If you are a Yardbirds fan or Eric Clapton fan, BUY IT! That guy knows his stuff!!
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