1966: Live and Rare

Released in 2018, 1966: Live and Rare captures The Yardbirds during a pivotal year, when their blues foundations were giving way to psychedelic experimentation and the harder guitar sounds that would reshape British rock. Combining live performances, studio singles, advertising curiosities and Keith Relf solo recordings, it offers a fascinating snapshot of a band in transition.

The concert material delivers excitement. French television performances of “Train Kept A-Rollin’”, “Shapes of Things” and “Over, Under, Sideways, Down” underline the group’s ability to make adventurous music feel urgent and accessible. Further recordings from the NME Poll Winners Concert reinforce their reputation as a formidable live attraction.

The studio selections provide some of the strongest moments. “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” is a dizzying collision of psychedelic atmosphere and aggressive guitar work, while “Psycho Daisies” and “Stroll On”, featured in the film Blow-Up, point towards the heavier possibilities emerging within their sound.

Elsewhere, Sanremo performances and commercials add period colour, while Relf’s “Mr. Zero” reveals a gentler, more reflective side. The varied sources make this an archival collection rather than a unified album, but its contrasts are revealing. For listeners, it illuminates the restless creativity behind one of British rock’s most influential groups.