Tag Archives: Chris Dreja

The Yardbirds: Five Live Yardbirds

On December 4, 1964, “Columbia” label released “Five Live Yardbirds”, the debut Yardbirds (The) album. It was recorded in March 1964, at “Marquee Club” in London, and was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky.

Personnel:

  • Keith Relf – lead vocals, harmonica, maracas
  • Eric “Slowhand” Clapton – co-led vocals, lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja – rhythm guitar
  • Paul “Sam” Samwell-Smith – co-lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Jim McCarty – drums
  • Phillip Wood – engineer, sound effects engineer
  • Richard Rosser – photography
  • Giorgio Gomelsky – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Too Much Monkey Business – Chuck Berry
  2. I Got Love If You Want It – James Moore (a.k.a. Slim Harpo)
  3. Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf
  4. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – Don Level, Bob Love
  5. Respectable – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
  6. Five Long Years – Eddie Boyd
  7. Pretty Girl – Ellas McDaniel (a.k.a. Bo Didley)
  8. Louise – John Lee Hooker
  9. I’m a Man – Ellas McDaniel
  10. Here ‘Tis – Ellas McDaniel

The Yardbirds: Little Games

In July 1967, “Epic” label released “Little Games”, the fourth American Yardbirds (The) album. It was recorded in March – May 1967, at “Olympic” and “De Lane Lea” in London, and was produced by Mickie Most.

Personnel:

  • Keith Relf – vocals, harmonica, percussion
  • Jimmy Page – guitars
  • Chris Dreja – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Nicky Hopkins – keyboards
  • Rick Nielsen – organ
  • Ian Stewart – piano
  • John Paul Jones – bass guitar, cello, orchestral arrangement
  • Joe Macho – bass
  • Clem Cattini – drums
  • Bobby Gregg – drums
  • Dougie Wright – drums
  • Chris Karan – tabla
  • Unidentified – oboe

Track listing:

  1. Little Games – Harold Spiro, Phil Wainman
  2. Smile on Me – Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
  3. White Summer – Jimy Page
  4. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor – Jimmy Page, Jim McCarty
  5. Glimpses – Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
  6. Drinking Muddy Water – Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
  7. No Excess Baggage – Roger Alkins, Carl D’Errico
  8. Stealing Stealing – Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
  9. Only the Black Rose – Keith Relf
  10. Little Soldier Boy – Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Ralf

The Yardbirds: Birdland

On April 22, 2003, “Favored Nations” label released “Birdland”, the sixth Yardbirds (The) studio album. Band’s first album in over 35 years was recorded 2002 – 2003, and was produced by Ken Allardyce.

Personnel:

  • Jim McCarty– vocals, drums, percussion
  • Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar
  • Alan Glen– harmonica, percussion
  • John Idan– lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Gypie Mayo– lead guitar
  • Jeff Baxter– guitar
  • Jeff Beck– guitar
  • Steve Lukather– guitar
  • Brian May– guitar
  • Joe Satriani– guitar
  • Slash– guitar
  • Steve Vai– guitar

Track listing:

  1. I’m Not Talking – Mose Allison
  2. Crying Out for Love – Jim McCarty
  3. The Nazz Are Blue – Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  4. For Your Love – Graham Gouldman
  5. Please Don’t Tell Me ‘Bout the News – Jim McCarty
  6. Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Howie Kay, Lois Mann, Tiny Bradshaw
  7. Saboteur – Jim McCarty
  8. Shapes of Things – Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  9. My Blind Life – Chris Dreja
  10. Over Under Sideways Down – Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  11. You’re a Better Man Than I – Brian Hugg, Mike Hugg
  12. Mystery of Being – Jim McCarty
  13. Dream Within a Dream – Jim McCarty
  14. Happenings Ten Years Time Ago – Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf
  15. An Original Man (A Song for Keith) – Chris Dreja, Gypie Mayo, Jim McCarty, John Idan

The Yardbirds: Having A Rave Up With The Yardbirds

having-a-rave-up

On November 15, 1965, “Epic” label released “Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds” the second Yardbirds (The) album. It was recorded March 1964, April – September 1965, and was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky.

Personnel:

  • Keith Relf– vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, percussion
  • Jeff Beck– lead guitar
  • Eric Clapton– lead guitar
  • Jimmy Page– second lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar
  • Paul Samwell-Smith– bass guitar, backing vocals, musical director
  • Ron Prentice – bass
  • Jim McCarty– drums, backing vocals
  • Giorgio Gomelsky– backing bass vocal

Track listing:

  1. You’re a Better Man Than I – Mike Hugg, Brian Hugg
  2. Evil Hearted You – Graham Gouldman
  3. I’m Man – Bo Diddley
  4. Still I’m Sad – Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty
  5. Heart Full of Soul – Graham Gouldman
  6. The Train Kept A-Rollin – Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, Lois Mann
  7. Smokestack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf
  8. Respectable – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
  9. I’m Man – Bo Diddley
  10. Here ‘Tis – Bo Diddley

The Yardbirds: Roger The Engineer

Yardbirds - Roger the Engineer

On July 15, 1966, “Columbia” label released “Roger the Engineer”, the fourth Yardbirds (The) album. It was recorded April – June 1966, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Paul Samwell-Smith and Simon Napier-Bell. “Roger the Engineer” was the only Yardbirds album with all original material. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 349 on it s list of the “500 greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Keith Relf– lead vocals, harmonica
  • Jeff Beck– lead vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar
  • Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar, piano, backing vocals, cover design, artwork
  • Paul Samwell-Smith– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim McCarty– drums, percussion, backing vocals, sleeve notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jeff Beck, Keith Relf, and Paul Samwell-Smith.

  1. Lost Woman
  2. Over Under Sideways Down
  3. The Nazz Are Blue
  4. I Can’t Make Your Way
  5. Rock My Mind
  6. Farewell
  7. Hot House of Omagarashid
  8. Jeff’s Boogie
  9. He’s Always There
  10. Turn into Earth
  11. What Do You Want
  12. Ever Since the World Began

The Yardbirds: For Your Love

The_Yardbirds_-_For_Your_Love

On June 13, 1965, “Epic” label released “For Your Love”, the second Yardbirds (The) album. It was recorded March 1964 – April 1965 and was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky and Manfred Mann. “For Your Love” features US-only tracks and previously released singles compiled by Giorgio Gomelsky.

Personnel:

  • Keith Relf– lead vocals, harmonica
  • Eric Clapton– lead guitar
  • Jeff Beck– lead guitar
  • Chris Dreja– rhythm guitar
  • Paul Samwell-Smith– vocals, bass
  • Jim McCarty– vocals, drums
  • Brian Auger– harpsichord
  • Denny Pierce – bongos
  • Mike Hugg– vibes
  • Tom McGuinness– guitar
  • Mike Vickers– guitar
  • Ron Prentice – bowed bass
  • Manfred Mann– keyboard, backing vocals
  • Paul Jones– backing vocals
  • Giorgio Gomelsky– backing vocal

Track listing:

  1. For Your Love – Graham Gouldman
  2. I’m Not Talking – Mose Allison
  3. Putty (In Your Hands) – John Patton, Kay Rogers
  4. I Ain’t Got You – Calvin Carter
  5. Got to Hurry – Giorgio Gomelsky
  6. I Ain’t Done Wrong – Keith Ralf
  7. I Wish I Would – Billy Boy Arnold
  8. A Certain Girl – Allen Toussaint
  9. Sweet Music – Walter Bowie, Otis Leavill Cobb, Major Lance
  10. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – H.G. Demarais
  11. My Girl Sloopy – Wes Farrell, Bert Russell

The James Gang: Yer’ Album

Yer Album

On March 29, 1969, “Bluesway” label released “Yer’ Album”, the debut James Gang (The) studio album. It was recorded January 1969, at “The Hit Factory” in New York, and was produced by Joe Walsh and Bill Szymczyk.

Personnel:

  • Joe Walsh– vocals, guitars, keyboards, piano
  • Tom Kriss– vocals, bass guitar, flute, vibraphone
  • Jim Fox– vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards
  • Bill Szymczyk – engineer
  • Denis Minervini – engineer assistant
  • Henry Epstein – design
  • Ladimer Jeric – cover art

Track listing:

  1. Introduction – Bert de Coteaux, Jim Fox, Bill Szymczyk
  2. Take a Look Around – Joe Walsh
  3. Funk #48 – Joe Fox, Tom Kriss, Joe Walsh
  4. Bluebird – Stephen Stills
  5. Lost Woman – Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith
  6. Stone Rap – Jim Fox, Tom Kriss, Bill Szymczyk, Joe Walsh
  7. Collage – Patrick Cullie, Joe Walsh
  8. I Don’t Have the Tiime – Jim Fox , Joe Walsh
  9. Wrapcity in English – Joe Walsh
  10. Fred – Joe Walsh
  11. Stop – Jerry Ragovoy, Mort Shuman

 

Led Zeppelin: Same

LZ

On January 12, 1969, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, debut Led Zeppelin album. It was recorded October 1968 at “Olympic Studios” in London in only 36 hours, and  was produced by Jimmy Page. The album art was coordinated by George Hardie; the back cover photography of the band was taken by former Yardbirds member Chris Dreja. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 29 on its of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2004 it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Page– acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, backing vocals
  • Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
  • John Bonham– drums, timpani, backing vocals
  • John Paul Jones– bass guitar, Hammond organ, backing vocals
  • Viram Jasani– tabla
  • Glyn Johns – engineer
  • Peter Grant– executive production

Track listing:

  1. Good Times Bad Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
  2. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Anne Bredon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  3. You Shook Me – Willie Dixon,  B. Lenoir
  4. Dazed and Confused – Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes
  5. Your Time Is Gonna Come – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
  6. Black Mountain Side – Jimmy Page
  7. Communication Breakdown – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
  8. I Can’t Quit You Babe – Willie Dixon
  9. How Many More Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham