Album Review: “Having a Rave Up” By The Yardbirds

The sophomore album of The Yardbirds features the band going more and more experimental with psychedelic and hard rock leanings while keeping in touch with the blues. Eric Clapton had already left the band due to creative differences and had Jeff Beck join the lineup to fill in. Clapton has some involvement in the album, though, as side B features older recordings previously released on Five Live Yardbirds.

“You’re a Better Man Than I” starts the album heavy with a more innovative implementation, Beck’s sustain-filled tone being the center of attention. “Evil Hearted You” has a Latin influence before blowing up as the song progresses, while Bo Diddley’s “I’m A Man” has a rushed but satisfying jam, with Keith Relf’s harmonica doing extra specials on the track. “Still I’m Sad” is the sole original cut on the album and sports a somber folk sound, complete with chants to build the ambiance. “Heart Full Of Soul” is one of the band’s best cuts with Eastern influences and was sort of a rock music timepiece, while “The Train Kept A-Rollin'” did well with its gritty instrumentation and a dynamic backbeat to top it off.

“Smokestack Lightning” is as bluesy as Howlin’ Wolf did it, while the Isley Brothers’ “Respectable” is a scathingly paced track. “Here ‘Tis” closes the whole album with a tasteful bass progression with tremolo picking on the guitar and fast-paced percussion building the mood.

Having A Rave Up became the band’s best release in the US, and was a landmark album for blues, hard rock, and psychedelia conglomerated into one record.