A live album as a debut album. The British beat band Yardbirds, founded in London in 1963, consisted at the time of this recording of Keith Relf (vocals and harmonica), guitarists Eric Clapton and Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith on bass, and drummer Jim McCarty. Their manager and producer Giorgio Gomelsky got them a record contract with the major label Columbia. Disappointed by the technical inadequacies in the recording studios at the time, Gomelsky and the group decided in favour of a live recording. Their manager persuaded the management of the Marquee Club to allow recording equipment. On the very first opening night on 13 March 1964 in the new premises at 90 Wardour Street in London's Soho district, the Yardbirds delivered an energetic performance as the opening act for Sonny Boy Williamson II and Long John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men. Playing their loud rhythm & blues and blues rock to a full house, the audience's applause, cheering and hooting became a major factor in this unique historical document in the development of British blues.
In terms of captured performance and recording quality, it was the best live record of the decade. And one of the most influential albums in music history. The mono first pressing on blue Columbia, released in England on 31 December 1964, is therefore still in demand worldwide.
