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The Yardbirds - Ultimate! (1968)

Track listing:
Volume 1
  1. Track 01 2:26
  2. Track 02 2:20
  3. Track 03 2:19
  4. Track 04 2:20
  5. Track 05 3:53
  6. Track 06 2:40
  7. Track 07 5:42
  8. Track 08 5:15
  9. Track 09 2:46
  10. Track 10 2:29
  11. Track 11 2:01
  12. Track 12 2:31
  13. Track 13 2:35
  14. Track 14 2:40
  15. Track 15 2:30
  16. Track 16 3:42
  17. Track 17 3:59
  18. Track 18 2:27
  19. Track 19 3:26
  20. Track 20 4:21
  21. Track 21 2:26
  22. Track 22 2:39
  23. Track 23 3:04
  24. Track 24 2:35
  25. Track 25 2:38
Volume 2
  1. Track 01 3:14
  2. Track 02 2:24
  3. Track 03 3:03
  4. Track 04 2:27
  5. Track 05 3:14
  6. Track 06 2:44
  7. Track 07 2:25
  8. Track 08 2:29
  9. Track 09 3:12
  10. Track 10 3:22
  11. Track 11 2:57
  12. Track 12 1:50
  13. Track 13 2:46
  14. Track 14 2:25
  15. Track 15 2:03
  16. Track 16 3:51
  17. Track 17 2:54
  18. Track 18 2:39
  19. Track 19 2:54
  20. Track 20 2:52
  21. Track 21 2:17
  22. Track 22 2:29
  23. Track 23 2:46
  24. Track 24 3:50
  25. Track 25 1:55
  26. Track 26 2:47
  27. Track 27 2:19

Notes

It had to happen sometime, and after about 30 years of piecemeal Yardbirds compilations, here it is: a lengthy best-of anthology that manages to cross-license material from the Clapton, Beck, and Page eras. The result is a two-CD, 52-song anthology that includes all of their big hits, most of their outstanding albums tracks and non-hit singles, and a few rarities. If you're looking for one Yardbirds compilation, either as a starter or a summary, this is it. Previous anthologies almost always had to be divided in early 1966 after the "Shapes of Things" single for licensing reasons, but finally you can hear early blues-derived Clapton sides, 1965 initial British Invasion hit singles, "Shapes of Things," "Over Under Sideways Down," "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," and the (comparatively slight) highlights of the 1967-1968 Page lineup all in one place. As quite minor quibbles, one could argue that some of the album tracks that were passed over — like "Respectable," "Ever Since the World Began," and "Glimpses" — would have been better choices than some of the cuts that did make it. A few relatively obscure items are included — the late 1963 recording "Boom Boom"/"Honey in Your Hips," the 1965 B-side "Steeled Blues," the 1966 B-side "Psycho Daises," the Blow-Up soundtrack item "Stroll On," the weird Italian pop single "Questa Volta"/"Pafff...Bum," and particularly the three pop-folky 1966 songs from Keith Relf's solo singles. Some of those lesser rarities are at cross-purposes with the overall tone of a set largely selected on the basis of quality, rather than collectability. Still, with fine liner notes and packaging, overall it gives the music of one of the greatest rock bands the respectful, high-class presentation it deserves.