The definitive history of rock's most influential band.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Review
"'The Ultimate Rave-Up" features extraordinarily detailed and expertly researched information on the world's first 'supergroup.' Fans will enjoy reading this in-depth chronology, from the early 1960s to present day. Photographs of rare albums complement the book's abundant discography, which chronicles virtually every known recording from their first guitarist Top Topham right through to Jimmy Page. Solo discographies, both pre- and post-Yardbirds are also well archived. The Yardbirds were trendsetters and their place in rock and roll history is eternal. A generation of listeners have been inspired by their music, and the many fruitful offshoots including Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck Group, Renaissance, etc. "The Ultimate Rave-Up" is an encyclopedic work, with great insight and expertise. This comprehensive account of their numerous tour around the world, recording sessions and behind-the-scenes hullabaloo offers fans a rare window into one of the greatest groups of all time." - SAM RAPALLO, WWW.LED-ZEPPELIN.COM website administrator and creator of the magazine "Electric Magic"
"Greg Russo's liner notes on EMI's 'Little Games' collection indicate his fascination for The Yardbirds; 'The Ultimate Rave-Up" essentially expands on that fascination across the band's entire musical history, with the emphasis remaining on their musical output. Russo's brief is to detail the recordings as (and why) they happened, and to tell The Yardbirds' story in a way that makes sense of the convolutions of their discography - and beyond. The story follows through the Box of Frogs and 1990s Yardbirds reunion projects, and also covers the relevant portions of the various members' solo careers. A wealth of great band photographs is echoed by a collectors' paradise of record sleeves and press adverts. If you really care about The Yardbirds, go out and buy the records, because that is what 'The Ultimate Rave-Up" will make you want to do." - GOLDMINE MAGAZINE
"Another fine book from Greg Russo at Crossfire. I won't get into any details about how the band started, lineups, inside information, discography, etc. because that's what this book is for. Besides, it's all in there. Apart from a detailed history of the band and its individual members (before and after The Yardbirds), the book is blessed with many great black and white pictures. The discography could probably be the most complete one to date, with recording sessions, UK and US single and album releases, individual releases and cameo appearances. If you want to read The Yardbirds' story all over again you won't find a more complete and finer book than this one. Good job! - SMILIN' EARS MAGAZINE, HOLLAND
"The Yardbirds are among the most influential and innovative British R&B bands of the '60s. Additionally, they introduced three guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, who achieved superstardom individually after leaving the band. Therefore, it is strange that so little has appeared to date in book form about this band. 'The Ultimate Rave-Up' is the first detailed publication dedicated to The Yardbirds. Less an analysis of the band's influence, the author concentrates on the discographic dates and details of the band's history, which were also addressed in 1997 by two original members of the band, drummer Jim McCarty and guitarist Chris Dreja. The author meticulously, but in flowing narrative, describes the various releases of the band, which are much in demand by collectors today. Reproductions of album covers are an additional plus. The 'Guitarist Solo Section' concentrates on the three famous guitarists who were introduced by The Yardbirds. Consideration is also given to the recording sessions at EMI and Epic, as well as the BBC. Very useful is the 'Consumers Guide' which leads one through the impenetrable forest of reissues. Further useful information for the collector is found in the list of recorded radio shows, videos and TV appearances. This carefully documented and authoritative book is a must for every fan of their music." - GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE, GERMANY -- From The Publisher --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Author
Response to Oakland County, MI reader
As the author of "Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up" and owner of its publisher, Crossfire Publications, I would like to respond to the cowardly person from Oakland County, MI that refused to leave his name. This is also an open letter to all readers of this book.
As the author of "Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up" and owner of its publisher, Crossfire Publications, I would like to respond to the cowardly person from Oakland County, MI that refused to leave his name. This is also an open letter to all readers of this book.
"Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up" is a band-approved book that The Yardbirds have been selling at their live shows since its release in December 1997. There is no greater compliment than that, and I feel it's unnecessary to lower myself or Crossfire Publications to National Enquirer-level reporting to discuss personal band member activities just to satisfy anyone's needs for this type of information. Readers of my books know they're getting fact-based histories on the band, not scandal sheets.
I am strongly against promoting or exploiting drug use or wild sex, which the reader's recommended book "Hammer Of The Gods" dabbles in heavily. It is also filled with a tremendous amount of misinformation about The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. I hope that the purpose of reading is to learn, not to be misled. I have tried my best to present the most accurate portrayal of The Yardbirds, and I have no problem if this or any other reader finds it boring. My concern is in presenting the band fairly and accurately, and using that as my measure, I feel that I have greatly succeeded. The band feels this way as well and every Yardbirds members has a copy of this book.
As for using more sources, I used record company files, master tapes and the band members themselves - they're the best and most accurate sources. If anyone has any other useful sources I do not know about, I would love to hear about them.
I find the reader's comment "This book comes from a small publishing company, which could mean that they might not make many more printings of this (book)" to be extremely offensive. This Yardbirds title is not in its second printing, and a third printing will take place later this year. Crossfire Publications already has four books in print with three other distributed titles available. I'm not sure how a person can reach this conclusion without seeing Crossfire's financial statements. Sounds like Mr. Oakland County, MI wants to bury Crossfire and this book, doesn't it? Crossfire is not going away - I personally assure it!
While I can find thousands of other real Yardbirds fans that found this book refreshing and highly entertaining, I understand that there will be a few like our Oakland County reader that will be frustrated. I heartily welcome any feedback which will make my books more useful to as many fans as possible.
Thank you for reading my side of the story.
Greg Russo --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
This book has now been available for over three years, and its presence at Yardbirds concerts ever since is something for which I am very grateful (thanks Jim and Chris!). Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
This book has now been available for over three years, and its presence at Yardbirds concerts ever since is something for which I am very grateful (thanks Jim and Chris!). Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is a book any hardcore yardbirds fan should have in their collection. It has a full discography of all of the members works in the back of the book. Something you probably won't find anywhere else. It has many rare album covers and pictures of the band. It has a discography on all of the band members solo careers that were extensive and interesting. I was especially glad to see information on the solo careers of Jim McCarty, Keith Relf and Chris Dreja. Out of all of the sources I have looked at on the Yardbirds, this is the only source I have come across that has this much information on their solo careers. This was one of the few high points of the book.
However, I was dissapointed with this book for a number of reasons. When I bought this book I was expecting information on the members personalities and their interests in general. The only personal the author listed was about Jeff Beck's interest in cars and his nervous breakdown-that's it. He spent most of the time writing about the recordings themself. He hardly talked about the band and their interactions outside of recording the music. This is a major reason as to why I found this dissapointing and boring. If your an aspiring record producer this might interest you, but I didn't interest me. He could have used more sources to add more depth. The book was only 86 pages long (text) and the discogaphy was about half of the total makeup of the book. In general this book was informative; but it had an impersonal feel to it. If you are up and coming Yardbirds fan I would suggest reading Hammer of the Gods or the page booklet inclosed in The Yardbirds: BBC Sessions cd. You can find interviews with Chris Dreja in both of these publications which has much information about the band itself than this book did. This book comes from a small publishing company. Which could mean that they might not make many more prinings of this. So if you are a hardcore fan, consider buying this book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE 'Bird Watchers Guide
7 May 2002
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
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.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Greg Russo's "Yardbirds: the Ultimate Rave-Up" is boss!
10 Mar 1998
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I got an advance copy of Greg Russo's new book on the Yardbirds in January. An act of love for a band that is virtually unknown to many. His coverage of the early blues scene in Britain gives the initial context for what was to follow, but the way it took shape could not have made as much sense without his also includeing the milieu thriving in British art colleges. From there the bulk of the original Birish Invasion sprang. He quickly sets the Yardbirds apart from their comtemporaries. Because their strengths were never in sales, writing, promotion, or production the with consistency of say, the beatles or Rolling Stones. The focus is on what they were as a creative and daring musicial force which even today still sends ripples in the pop music world. The accurate use of recording, touring, and performing dates is especially well handled and narrowed down as much as can be. This makes for a logical and smooth transition as the group matured and the progession becomes more obvious because Russo,using exact, dates and interviews fills in the gaps left out by most other Yardbirds articles and linear notes, and even the members themselves in some cases. This creates the awarness of just how avant garde they really were. What could have been. Should have been. "Collector Alert!" sections were not just good for page lay-outs; they also served to highten the mystique and awareness of how the popularity of the Yardbirds has remained and grown. HIs review of the Yardbirds final shows and commercial out puts force a re-evauation of the Jimmy Page era unique to his book. In additon to those are the listings of pertinent yardbirds recordings with special attention given to each member of the group with up dates as rescent as the the fall of 1997! The question that had long nagged me was answered: "Why are there not any more that one well recorded complete concert?!" The answer is something you'll have to find out by getting the book. "How come Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were not recorded more and in concert?!" "How did they do against other bands of their time?!" "How close were they to really making it big?!" All these are answered. Legal questions about music ownership are also delt with. The book is well rounded without being scandlelous. The Yardbirds destroyed and then re-inventied rock and roll as rock easily, casually, and they paid a price! Listings of radio show on the BBC from the 1960's and pertinent broadcasts since then, session dates of the individudal members before and after the Yardbirds are listed to boot. In additon to that are Greg Russo's inclusion of Yardbirds sessions that have not been released and educated guests as to where, what, and when they were recorded. Web sites relative to the Yardbirds are given in the front of the book. All in all, a thorughly satisfying book! What part two is going to be must be seen to be believed!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This title fits!
4 Jan 2007
By KENNETH OBRIEN
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
If you're a fan of this seminal blues rock band, this book tells their story and puts all their songs and records on one place. I like it because it gave me a better understanding of the various albums produced of the group. I wanted to collect their body of work, but with so many different albums, I needed something to make my selections. This book is it!
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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