Shapes of Things
| "Shapes of Things" | ||||
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German single picture sleeve
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| Single by the Yardbirds | ||||
| B-side | "You're a Better Man Than I" | |||
| Released | 25 February 1966 | |||
| Format | 7-inch 45 rpm record | |||
| Recorded | December 1965 – January 1966 | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock | |||
| Length | 2:31 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Writer(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Giorgio Gomelsky | |||
| British singles chronology | ||||
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| "Shapes of Things" | |
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Japanese single picture sleeve
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| Song by Jeff Beck Group from the album Truth | |
| Released | July 1968 (US) |
| Format | LP record |
| Recorded | May 1968 |
| Studio | Abbey Road, London |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:19 |
| Label | Epic |
| Producer(s) | Mickie Most |
"Shapes of Things" is a song by the English rock group the Yardbirds. With its Eastern-sounding, feedback-laden guitar solo and anti-war/pro-environmental lyrics, it "can justifiably be classified as the first psychedelic rock classic", according to music critic Richie Unterberger. The song was built on musical elements contributed by several group members in three different recording studios in the US. When it was released as a single on 25 February 1966, it was their first composition to become a record chart hit. The song reached the pop Top 40 in several countries, but, aside from compilations, was not included on a Yardbirds' album.
The song features Jeff Beck's musical use of feedback, which he learned to control by finding the guitar's resonant points and bending the strings. Music writers have called his work groundbreaking and cited its influence on Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix. Several live Yardbirds recordings with Beck and later with Jimmy Page have been released. In 1968, Beck reworked it for the lead track on his debut album Truth. The new arrangement, along with other album tracks, has been described as a precursor of heavy metal. "Shapes of Things" is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's permanent exhibit of the "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" and several artists have recorded renditions of the song.
By the end of 1965, the Yardbirds had released three albums and several singles. However, except for a few B-sides, their material was adapted from older blues and rhythm and blues songs or composed by songwriters not associated with the group. "I'm a Man", a reworking of the 1955 Bo Diddley song, was their latest Top 40 radio hit.Giorgio Gomelsky, the group's producer and manager, arranged for the recording at Chess Records studio in Chicago during their first American tour in September 1965. One week after the start of the group's second US tour in December 1965, they were again at Chess. According to drummer Jim McCarty, the Yardbirds were experimenting with their sound, but had yet been unable to translate it into a hit song:
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Wikipedia