The Yardbirds - Five Live Yardbirds [Varese]

This was always a miraculous album, a professionally recorded concert by the original Yardbirds lineup featuring Eric Clapton and near the top of their form. Ever since the original EMI-Columbia LP (which sounded unbelievably good) was deleted in the mid-'70s, however, it's been suspect. The status, condition, and master tape has been an issue, especially after the group's ex-manager, Giorgio Gomelsky, licensed (or sold -- the dispute ended up in court for years) the recordings in the mid-'70s; but the recording's importance was beyond dispute. Read More