The Yardbirds
Live Yardbirds! Featuring Jimmy Page

Notes and scan of cartridge provided by Larry Blumenfeld

This album was originally recorded in 1968 during The Yardbirds' final incarnation, which featured Jimmy Page as the band's fourth guitarist. The band played a live gig at the Anderson Theater in New York in March of '68 that was recorded for possible issuance as a live album; however, when the band heard the tapes, they decided against its release. Four months later, The Yardbirds were history.

In 1971, the band's old U.S. label released the album to capitalize on Page's sudden success with Led Zeppelin. Page quickly got an injunction against the label, and album was withdrawn from the market. The vinyl version of the album is very scarce; the 8-track even more so (See note below).

I've owned this tape since 1971. Only dimly aware of The Yardbirds at the time, I bought it because of Jimmy Page's name...exactly why Page wanted it withdrawn. Although some glimmers of future style comes through, just listening to "I'm Confused" compared to Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" will tell you why Page wanted the album suppressed.

Additional Notes: According to Dan Sutherland's article "The Rarest 8-Track" in issue #75 of 8-Track Mind, the vinyl LPof Live Yardbirds! was in the stores for about a week, and the 8-track tape was on sale for all of 24 hours before both were removed from the shelves! Those cartridges that were pulled were remaindered or destroyed, making this a bona fide collectors item.

And more: Jason Artman artmanja@pilot.msu.edu says "It wasn't so much the performance that Jimmy Page didn't like (although it was toward the end of the Yardbirds' time  together, so it wasn't the best), but the record company added in extra crowd noise, and -- get this -- clinking  champagne classes. They did this without asking the members of the band, and naturally they didn't like that.    Next time you hear the tape,  listen to the way the crowd  sounds every time Jimmy Page comes in for a solo. You hear  this sudden "Raaa-a-a-a-a!" Funny stuff."
 

Live Yardbirds! Featuring Jimmy Page officially enters the Hall of Fame on December 16, 1996.