Little Games – THE YARDBIRDS***

Little Games/Smile On Me/White Summer/Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor/Glimpses/Drinking Muddy Water/No Excess Baggage/Stealing Stealing/Only The Black Rose/Little Soldier Boy

Little Games was the final US only album release from The Yardbirds. It is notable for featuring Jimmy Page on guitar who would soon transform the group into Led Zeppelin. (US:80)

“There is a very definite attempt here towards a 'pop' album. This change of direction ultimately does not fit the band who cut their teeth on earnest blues stylizing. It's actually quite surprising considering what Jimmy Page would unleash upon us two years later with the hard rocking blues of Led Zeppelin's debut.”

“After the departure of Jeff Beck The Yardbirds released their final US album in the of Summer of Love. This time the guitar work was by Jimmy Page and he does a pretty nice job even if it can't be compared to his work with Led Zeppelin some time later. At this time psychedelic rock had already taken over the world, so it's no surprise that this particular Yardbirds album was their most psychedelic. Not a rock masterpiece, or anything like it, but a nice little album.”

“Clearly their most psychedelic. Unfortunately, its lack of focus will leave many scratching their heads. Not that diversity is a bad thing, as long as it segues well together, but this album gives diversity a less than reputable name. Individually, the songs are all relatively solid, save for a couple of clunkers. But I doubt many will enjoy listening to this album straight through very often, as there is very little flow to it. But I'm equally sure no self respecting Yardbirds fan would be without it in their collection.”

“Most of Little Games sounds badly dated now. It's a diffuse collection of pop tunes, some of them pretty poor, and original blues numbers which owe most of their being to older blues songs. The album suffers particularly from The Yardbirds' lack of song-writing. Most of the lyrics are weak and some of the production is pathetic. No wonder Page wanted to take things into his own hands.”

“I wish that Little Games was on par with the rest of The Yardbirds discography but it's not. It not only has a weaker set of songs but the guitar work, with no disrespect to Jimmy Page, is just not as exciting or interesting. This is less bluesy, less quirky, and lacks the amazing breadth and range of songs found on their previous albums."