Two Classic Bands Together - The 60's At Their Best!
L. Brown | Los Angeles | 03/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Released in 2005 on the Fuel 2000 label, this re-issue packages The Animals' "In the Beginning" (retitled here as "Taken Alive!") with The Yardbirds' "Five Live Yardbirds".
This is where it all started for these two influential British bands. You can feel and smell the raw R&B, blues, and modest psychedelia running through their veins on these tracks. Much of both discs covers their early-'60s repertoires ("Let It Rock", "Got To Find My Baby", "Bo Diddley", "Smokestack Lightning", "I'm A Man" and other stripped down blues performances, including some incredible contributions from harmonica legend Sonny Boy Williamson who performs with both bands).
The first seven Animals' songs are live while the rest are studio releases. I like the combination because it allows one to experience both aspects of this fabulous band. With 36 songs between the two discs, there's plenty to like, enjoy, and reminisce. It doesn't get much better than this.