THE YARDBIRDS Having A Rave Up (Epic BN 26177) RARE German 1st Pressing MINT-

	€		78
	$		90

SHIPPING COSTS ARE €9.50 TO GERMANY / €15 WITHIN THE EU / €22 TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

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THE YARDBIRDS Having A Rave Up (Epic BN 26177) RARE German 1st Pressing MINT-

RARE German first pressing of The Yardbirds` seminal third album, "Having A Rave Up" on Epic Records (November 1965).

"The Yardbirds' third album (and their second with guitarist Jeff Beck, who replaced Eric Clapton) is one of the very best rock records of the entire mid-60s, a scintillating collection of tunes that plays like a best-of collection. In its original (vinyl) incarnation, Having a Rave Up was split neatly down the middle: Side 1 consisted of six studio tunes recorded with Beck on guitar, while Side 2 featured four songs recorded live during the group's Clapton days (these recordings, as well as several others, can be found on the group's 1964 U.K. debut, Five Live Yardbirds). This may seem like a messy and unfocused way to organize an album, but it works fantasticaly well- the record effectively showcases the unique talents of each guitarist, as well as the distinctive features of both eras of the band's career. The first half is marked by Beck's effects-laden guitar virtuosity- the band's amazing rendition of "Train Kept A-Rollin'" is a hyperactive rush of fuzz-toned soloing and brutal thunderclouds of feedback. Keith Relf's exuberant, double-tracked vocals are equally inpressive. The cover of Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" is another freewheeling classic, propelled by a storming, air-tight rhythm section and some swaggering harmonicas from Relf. The instrumental break, in which the tempo switches to a double-time gallop and Beck turns his guitar into a pure rhythm machine, is nothing short of dazzling. "Mister, You're A Better Man Than I" burns with quiet intensity, riding along on Jim McCarty's crackling drums and some bitterly sarcastic vocals. Jeff's searing, distorted guitar solo is, of course, superb. "Heart Full Of Soul" is a slice of minor-key mid 60s cool with a few superb fuzz-toned guitar interjections. The folky, melancholy "Still I'm Sad" and the puzzling paranoia of "Evil Hearted You" are also excellent. 

Side 2 shows off the Yardbirds when they were still a young and hungry blues-rock band, bashing out out songs with more gritty passion than technical skill. It's every bit as good as the first half, a wonderful showcase of rock 'n' roll in its rawest and purest form. The cover of Howlin' Wolf's classic "Smokestack Lightening" captures all of the original's menace and vicous bite, throwing in a rip-roaring instrumental explosion for good measure. "Respectable" keeps things going with a rip-roaring burst of R&B drenched fury, while another rendition of "I'm a Man" (compare to the one found on the first side) features a searing harmonica solo and a raucous Relf performance. Finally, the take on "Here' Tis" is a rhthmic blood-pumper with some of Clapton's coolest guitar-strangling. All in all, a superb little record." - Amazon customer review by "OG" (May 2007).

GRADING:

EX+ COVER in amazing condition for its age. Please see the photos for details.

- Original German fully laminated two-ply sleeve.

- Light scuffing to the bottom corners.

- Minor record imprint on the back cover, as shown.

- Traces of black felt marker on the back cover (left of album title, at top).

- Also includes original plastic-lined inner sleeve in EX condition.

- The matrix stamps in the run-off grooves read "XSB111496-1A  639 554 A" and "XSB111497-1D 639 554 B", with "Made In Germany" suffix.

- The record is certified to be a German first pressing of "Having A Rave Up With The Yardbirds", released in November 1965.

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SHIPPING COSTS ARE €9.50 TO GERMANY / €15 WITHIN THE EU / €22 TO THE REST OF THE WORLD