Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
When this came out in 2003, it marked the first studio release by the Yardbirds in 35 years. In that time, of course, the personnel had changed quite a bit. Even those inclined to get excited by reunions of great bands should know right off that it includes just two original members, drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja (though Jeff Beck plays guest guitar on one number, "My Blind Life"). Rounded out by three "new" members (including bassist John Idan, whose lead singing sounds fairly close to original Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf in style and tone), the record also features guest lead guitar cameos by Jeff Baxter, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Brian May, with Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls singing lead on "For Your Love." The instinct is to make cruel, sardonic jokes about how the absence of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and (for the most part) Jeff Beck doesn't matter, as guitarists were always the weak links in the Yardbirds anyway. Yes, the non-presence of these fabled guitar heroes, as well as Relf (who died in 1976), does mean that this can't be compared in any way to the group's classic 1960s output, even if it's billed to the Yardbirds' name. For all that, however, this is a lot better than you'd expect, and certainly far more respectable than most reunion/comeback efforts by decimated lineups of classic outfits. The production is straight-ahead without the usual sellouts to modern technology, putting the sleek guitar work to the fore. Half the record has remakes of old Yardbirds staples like "For Your Love," "Shapes of Things," and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," but they're not done badly, though you feel as though you're listening to a really good Yardbirds tribute band rather than the real deal. The original material, though not as good as those old Yardbirds tunes, actually sounds -- whether as a result of conscious or unconscious effort -- in the Yardbirds style, with plenty of irregular tempos, minor-keyed melodies, metaphysically questing lyrics, and Gregorian vocals (as on the Relf tribute "An Original Man (A Song for Keith)").
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133,33/month
Mose Allison, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Paul Samwell-Smith, Composer - James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - Chris Dreja, Composer - Jeff Beck, Composer - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - KEITH RELF, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Graham Gouldman, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Lois Mann, Composer - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - Tiny Bradshaw, Composer, Lyricist - HOWIE KAY, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Paul Samwell-Smith, Composer - James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - KEITH RELF, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Chris Dreja, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Paul Samwell-Smith, Composer - James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - Chris Dreja, Composer - Jeff Beck, Composer - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - KEITH RELF, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - Mike Hugg, Composer, Lyricist - Brian Hugg, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James Patrick Page, Composer - James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - Jeff Beck, Composer - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - KEITH RELF, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
James McCarty, Composer, Lyricist - Chris Dreja, Composer - The Yardbirds, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Ken Allardyce, Producer - Gypie Mayo, Composer - John Idan, Composer
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Album review
When this came out in 2003, it marked the first studio release by the Yardbirds in 35 years. In that time, of course, the personnel had changed quite a bit. Even those inclined to get excited by reunions of great bands should know right off that it includes just two original members, drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja (though Jeff Beck plays guest guitar on one number, "My Blind Life"). Rounded out by three "new" members (including bassist John Idan, whose lead singing sounds fairly close to original Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf in style and tone), the record also features guest lead guitar cameos by Jeff Baxter, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Brian May, with Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls singing lead on "For Your Love." The instinct is to make cruel, sardonic jokes about how the absence of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and (for the most part) Jeff Beck doesn't matter, as guitarists were always the weak links in the Yardbirds anyway. Yes, the non-presence of these fabled guitar heroes, as well as Relf (who died in 1976), does mean that this can't be compared in any way to the group's classic 1960s output, even if it's billed to the Yardbirds' name. For all that, however, this is a lot better than you'd expect, and certainly far more respectable than most reunion/comeback efforts by decimated lineups of classic outfits. The production is straight-ahead without the usual sellouts to modern technology, putting the sleek guitar work to the fore. Half the record has remakes of old Yardbirds staples like "For Your Love," "Shapes of Things," and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," but they're not done badly, though you feel as though you're listening to a really good Yardbirds tribute band rather than the real deal. The original material, though not as good as those old Yardbirds tunes, actually sounds -- whether as a result of conscious or unconscious effort -- in the Yardbirds style, with plenty of irregular tempos, minor-keyed melodies, metaphysically questing lyrics, and Gregorian vocals (as on the Relf tribute "An Original Man (A Song for Keith)").
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:56:52
- Main artists: The Yardbirds
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Favored Nations
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Blues
2003 Favored Nations 2003 Favored Nations
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.