Monocled Alchemist

“Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” / “Psycho Daisies” (Columbia DB 8024) October 1966

The Yardbirds | Happenings Ten Years Time Ago | (Columbia) 1966 | The time has come, the walrus said, to have a go. Well, he didn’t actually say that, but I am going to have a go.

I have always thought that a record should give, to each individually, should impart something musically nice. I have had enough of this sort of excuse for music. It is not clever, it is not entertaining, it is not informative. It is boring and pretentious. I am tired of people like the Yardbirds thinking this sort of thing is clever when people like the Spoonful and the Beach Boys are putting real thought into their music. And if I hear the word psychedelic mentioned I will go nuts. (Disc & Music Echo, 22/10/66)

Yardbirds with their own Stateside influenced composition. Keith Relf‘s inaudible vocals make the lyrics hard to catch, which reduces impact. Unfortunately somebody has tried to label this as psychedelic music (a current American rage) but it’s not.

Ad lib crescendoes, weird noises, strange voices, backward running tapes, and anything else you want to chuck in – doesn’t make a psychedelic disc. More thought is needed. However the unsubtle approach is exciting, and Jeff Beck‘s guitar swings along on a well constructed record. Should hit quite big. (Melody Maker, 22/10/66)

Not quite so way-out, but way-out enough. An usual song, presented jerkily but with big beat. Needs close attention to get the full gist. Instrumental break is alarmingly fierce, along with talking bits. An obvious hit and commended for originality. Flip is also a bit contrived, but effective for fans. Top Fifty Hit. (Record Mirror, 22/10/66)

YARDBIRDS deny ‘splitting rumours—and Relf rocks the Rolling Stones boat

FOR THE BENEFIT of pop rumour mongers, the YARDBIRDS aren’t splitting up. Not for some time at least. But they ARE sick and tired of Britain and determined to spend as much time as they can away from the country.

“The boys and I are cheesed off with England. The whole ratty scene here stinks!” declared a very unhappy KEITH RELF this week. “And our general unrest stems from the frustrated feeling of not getting any credit for the things due to us.

“Things like the introduction of the sitar into pop and our being played down on the recent Stones tour. Despite what you may have heard, we’ve been going down very well on it.

“I’m not knocking the Stones. You can’t. It’s just that they’ve not been getting it all their own way.”

So now British fans will be seeing a lot less of the exciting Yardbirds. They’ve agreed to take advantage of as many offers that keep them abroad as possible.

“In the States, at least you get credit for the things you do,” explained the newly-shorn Mr. Relf. (“I had my hair cut after seeing that photo of me in Disc.”)

“As far as the sitar is concerned, well although he wasn’t with us then, Jimmy Page had a sitar two years ago. He had it sent over specially from Bombay. After we used it on ‘Heart Full Of Soul’ all recognition seemed to go to people like George Harrison and Brian Jones.

Keith feels pop has reached saturation point here. There isn’t anything left for the go-ahead groups.

“It doesn’t take enough effort to send a record up the chart anymore. In ballrooms, too, there’s no longer a great division between the audience and the group that’s playing. Nowadays the audience can identify themselves with groups.

Mobbed

“Our first tour was with Billy J. Kramer — and sometime before we had a hit with ‘For Your Love.’ Then we were mobbed everywhere we went. And that was WITHOUT a hit! Today a pop star can walk down the street or sit in a pub and have a drink and hardly be bothered.

“If everybody in the business owned up, they would realise this.”

Few groups have progressed so musically as the Yardbirds—and their new single with the mysterious title “Happenings Ten Years’ Time Ago” is set to give the scene quite a jolt.

Said Keith : “It’s a rather revolutionary record even for us. There are one or two odd ‘IN’ jokes in the song and a fantastic bomb explosion about halfway through. Jeff Beck does some ridiculous guitar noises like you’ve never heard in your life before.

“Actually, I suppose it’s about on the verge of being psychedelic-inspired. Like all that stuff we picked up in the States on our last trip.”

Returning to the subject of the Yardies splitting, Keith said: “We’re not splitting—that’s definite. And it certainly won’t happen for some time. We’ve got too much work lined up and we’ll be off to the States, Australia, the Phillipines and the Far East for a long time.

“Truth is that this Stones tour has seemed to unite us even more. We’re all happier and are even owning up to each other about all sorts of things—like we never used to do before.” (Disc & Music Weekly, 15/10/66)