the yardbirds ♦ shapes of things (2003 release) ♦ edit
Edit for headphones, March 2023. A song from the 2003 album "Birdland", the fifth studio album by English blues rock band the Yardbirds. Their first studio album in over 35 years, the only band members from the 1960s group who appear are drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja (former lead guitarist Jeff Beck has a cameo on "My Blind Life"). Newer members are lead singer and bassist John Idan, lead guitarist Gypie Mayo and harmonica player Alan Glen. Notable lead guitarists make cameos throughout the album, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai (on this song), Slash and Brian May.
The album contains seven new originals (composed mostly by McCarty or Dreja), and eight remakes of classic songs from the 1960s. The song "An Original Man (A Song for Keith)" was dedicated to Keith Relf, original Yardbirds singer who died in 1976.
In 1966 the first release of the song charted #3 in the UK, #7 in Canada, #10 in the USA, #22 in Germany, #38 in Holland.
Personnel on the album:
The Yardbirds:
Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar
Alan Glen – harmonica, percussion
John Idan – bass guitar, lead vocals
Gypie Mayo – lead guitar
Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, vocals
Additional musicians:
Steve Vai – guitar on "Shapes of Things"
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitar on "The Nazz Are Blue"
Jeff Beck – guitar on "My Blind Life"
Steve Lukather – guitar on "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"
Brian May – guitar on "You're a Better Man Than I"
Joe Satriani – guitar on "Train Kept A-Rollin'"
Slash – guitar on "Over Under Sideways Down"
Johnny Rzeznik – guitar & backing vocal on "For Your Love"
Martin Ditchum - additional percussion
SHAPES OF THINGS
(Jim McCarty/Keith Relf/Paul Samwell-Smith)
shapes of things before my eyes
just teach me to despise
will time make men more wise
here within my lonely frame
my eyes just heard my brain
but will it seem the same
come tomorrow will I be older
come tomorrow maybe a soldier
come tomorrow may I be bolder than today
now the trees are almost green
but will they still be seen
when time and tide have been
falling into your passing hands
please don't destroy these lands
don't make them desert sands
come tomorrow will I be older
come tomorrow maybe a soldier
come tomorrow may I be bolder than today
soon I hope that I will find
thoughts deep within my mind
that won't displace my kind
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