Shapes of Things
| "Shapes of Things" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Yardbirds | ||||
| B-side | "You're A Better Man Than I" | |||
| Released | March 1966[1] | |||
| Format | 7" 45 RPM | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, blues rock | |||
| Length | 2:31 | |||
| Label | Columbia[1] | |||
| Writer(s) | Paul Samwell-Smith, Keith Relf, Jim McCarty | |||
| Producer | Giorgio Gomelsky | |||
| The Yardbirds singles chronology | ||||
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"Shapes of Things" is a song written by Paul Samwell-Smith, Keith Relf, and Jim McCarty, originally recorded by The Yardbirds and released as a single in March 1966 by the Columbia Graphophone Company.[1] In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Shapes of Things" at number 61 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
The song is considered to be one of the first psychedelic songs and features a psychedelic-style guitar solo by Jeff Beck using his Fender Esquire guitar.[2]
A live version recorded in 1968 with the Jimmy Page line-up was released on the 1971 album Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page.
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM 100)[3] | 7 |
| UK (The Official Charts Company)[4] | 3 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 11 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[6] | 10 |
[edit] Cover versions
Beck re-worked the song two years later with his own group, appearing as the lead-off track to his band's first album, Truth (1968), with vocals by Rod Stewart. Co-writer McCarty recorded the song again with his band The British Invasion All-Stars for their Yardbirds Family Tree album on Mooreland St. Records, released in 2006.
The song has received numerous cover versions, including:
- The Allman Joys recorded a demo version of "Shapes of Things" at Bradley's Barn in Nashville in 1966.
- David Bowie recorded a cover for his Pin Ups album in 1973.
- Scottish hard rock band Nazareth placed this song on their 1974 LP Rampant, as well as on a later 1981 live album titled 'Snaz.
- Gary Moore covered the Jeff Beck Group version on his 1984 album Victims of the Future and on his live album released the same year, We Want Moore!.
- The Jeff Healey Band recorded it for their 1995 album titled Cover to Cover.
- The Dixie Dregs did an instrumental version on Full Circle released in 1994.
- An interesting cover appeared on the 2000 compact disc Live at the Greek by The Black Crowes featuring Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page.
- Rush included a cover of the song on their 2004 album Feedback.
- The eponymous debut album by Black Stone Cherry from 2006 contains a version of "Shapes of Things" as well.
- Guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen performed a cover (featuring an extensive guitar solo) on 2008's Live In São Paulo.
- It has also been covered by the Canadian prog rock band FM on their Surveillance album.
- The Gants and the Seclusions also covered Shapes of Things
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Ashley Brown, ed. (1990). "Flying High". The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated History of Popular Culture. Volume 6 (Reference ed.). Marshall Cavendish. pp. 652, 653. ISBN 1854360218.
- ^ Ashley Brown, ed. (1990). The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated History of Popular Culture. Volume 11 (Reference ed.). Marshall Cavendish. pp. 1228. ISBN 1854360269.
- ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5750&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3
- ^ http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=4223
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-yardbirds-p5888/charts-awards/billboard-singles
- ^ http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19660521.html
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