Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock and heavy metal trends. Following the band's split in 1968, Relf and McCarty formed Renaissance and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin - the latter of which was initially intended as a direct successor to the Yardbirds.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They were included at number 89 in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and ranked number 37 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
The Yardbirds re-formed in the 1990s, featuring drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja as the only original members. Dreja left the band in 2012, leaving McCarty as the sole original member of the band in the present lineup.
The band formed in the south-west London suburbs in 1963. Relf and Samwell-Smith were originally in a band named the Metropolitan Blues Quartet. After being joined by Dreja, McCarty and Top Topham, they performed at Kingston Art School in late May 1963 as a backup band for Cyril Davies. Following a couple of gigs in September 1963 as the Blue-Sounds, they changed their name to the Yardbirds. McCarty claims that Relf was the first to use the name; he may have got it from Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road, where it referred to rail yard hobos. He adds that Topham identified it as a nickname for jazz saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker.
The quintet achieved notice on the burgeoning British rhythm and blues scene when they took over as the house band at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, succeeding the Rolling Stones. Their repertoire drew from the Chicago blues of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James, including "Smokestack Lightning", "Good Morning Little School Girl", "Boom Boom", "I Wish You Would", "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "Got Love if You Want It" and "I'm a Man".
Original lead guitarist Topham left and was replaced by Eric Clapton in October 1963. Crawdaddy Club impresario Giorgio Gomelsky became the Yardbirds manager and first record producer. Under Gomelsky's guidance the Yardbirds toured Britain as the back-up band for blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II in December 1963 and early 1964, recording live tracks on 8 December and other dates. The recordings would be released two years later during the height of the Yardbirds popularity on the album Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds.
After the tours with Williamson, the Yardbirds signed to EMI's Columbia label in February 1964, and recorded more live tracks on 20 March at the legendary Marquee Club in London. The resulting album of mostly American blues and R&B covers, Five Live Yardbirds, was released by Columbia nine months later, and it failed to enter the UK Albums Chart. Over time, Five Live gained stature as one of the few high-quality live recordings of the era and as a historical document of both the British rock and roll boom of the 1960s and Clapton's time in the band.
Along with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds were part of the British blues scene of the 1960s. As the blues rock genre developed, some acts like Chicken Shack were playing a louder and more aggressive style, while the Yardbirds emphasized instrumental textures and extended instrumental improvisations. They covered blues classics like Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning (1956) and Bo Diddley's I'm a Man (1955) which had a repetitive structure where instrumental solos were brief breaks between repetition of verses. The Yardbirds often extended these instrumental sections into "heavy jams".
New York City Blues
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know what I'm talking about,
Yes you do.
Well, if you've ever been to New York City,
You know what I'm talking about,
They got such pretty little girls in that big town,
Make a man want to jump around and shout.
She was about five foot eight.
I said "I want you to love me."
She said "Why man, that'd be great."
So,
I got long hair but,
She took me back,
Back to see her pad,
But the first thing I saw when I arrived there,
Was a big black shiny shotgun,
In the hands of her dad.
Alright now, this is how it was,
Oh no!
Well alright!
I finally learned my lesson,
Such a long time ago,
Next little woman that I date,
I've got to know, I've got to know her family too.
Yes indeed, I gotta know her family too.
But if you don't want to be filled full of shotgun holes,
Mister, this song is just for you.
The Yardbirds's song New York City Blues takes listeners on a journey through the city that never sleeps - New York City. The singer starts off by claiming that if you've ever been to the city, you know what he's talking about. He then goes on to praise the women in the city, stating that they're so pretty that they make a man want to jump around and shout. However, his tale quickly takes a turn when he meets a woman and visits her home, only to be confronted with a big black shiny shotgun in the hands of her dad. The singer admits that he's learned his lesson and from now on, he'll make sure to know the family of any woman he dates.
The lyrics are a reflection of the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of New York City, where one can easily get into trouble if they're not careful. The singer's experiences with the women and the shotgun serve as cautionary tales for anyone considering a visit to the city. The song also highlights the importance of understanding a person's background and family before getting too involved with them. Overall, New York City Blues captures the spirit of the city while also warning listeners of its potential dangers.
Line by Line Meaning
If you've ever been to New York City,
If you've had the chance to visit NYC,
You know what I'm talking about,
You understand what I'm referring to,
Yes you do.
Yes, you do know;
Well, if you've ever been to New York City,
Provided you've had the opportunity to visit the Big Apple,
You know what I'm talking about,
You comprehend what I'm speaking of,
They got such pretty little girls in that big town,
Beautiful women abound that huge metropolis,
Make a man want to jump around and shout.
To the extent that one wants to frolic and scream in exhilaration
I met a little girl there,
I ran into a young woman there,
She was about five foot eight.
She was approximately five feet, eight inches tall.
I said "I want you to love me."
I declared "I desire you to have affection for me."
She said "Why man, that'd be great."
The woman expressed "Why sure, that would be impressive."
So,
Consequently,
I got long hair but,
Despite my lengthy locks,
She took me back,
She invited me to her home,
Back to see her pad,
Leading me to view her dwelling,
But the first thing I saw when I arrived there,
However, the primary item that came into view when I arrived was
Was a big black shiny shotgun,
A large, black and shiny firearm,
In the hands of her dad.
Which turned out to be in possession of her father.
Alright now, this is how it was,
Allow me to elaborate, this is the true story,
Oh no!
Oh dear!
Well alright!
Okay then!
I finally learned my lesson,
Ultimately, I understand my missteps and will correct them in the future,
Such a long time ago,
Although it was quite a while back,
Next little woman that I date,
The following woman with whom I date,
I've got to know, I've got to know her family too.
It's vital that I establish knowledge of her family as well.
Yes indeed, I gotta know her family too.
Certainly, I must acquire information on her family as well.
But if you don't want to be filled full of shotgun holes,
However, if you would prefer to avoid being imposingly shot by a firearm,
Mister, this song is just for you.
Allow me to suggest, this melody may be of assistance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS DREJA, KEITH RELF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@taylorfusion
Eric Johnson brought me here.
@sharonraizor2839
Me too! I wasn't familiar with this one.
@joeakajoe1
what was the other song he mentioned? 'Nasser blue' or something?
@joeakajoe1
oh ' the Nazz are blue' found it
@dangarson8461
Me too...
@fenix478
Oh yeah
@Mexxx65
Rick Beato's interview with Eric Johnson brought me here
@VipulChagotra
me too
@kevinwrede
Me too
@Bonkshee
Yeah, Me too!