Songs The Yardbirds Taught Us (#4): Jimmy Reed - I Ain't Got You

The Yardbirds did a blistering version of I Ain't Got You with Eric Clapton at the helm. It appeared on The Yardbirds US debut album, For Your Love.

I Ain't Got You dates back to 1955 when both Billy Boy Arnold and Jimmy Reed recorded the number for the Chicago based Vee Jay Records. It is almost a certainty that The Yardbirds got their inspiration from this version which has a distinctive harmonica retort that is not in Billy Boy Arnold's version.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Songs The Yardbirds Taught Us (#2): Billy Boy Arnold - I Wish You Would

We're back after a whopping 27 hours off! We return to our look at songs The Yardbirds covered. Yesterday we did the Flip-Side of The Yardbirds' debut single. Today we look at the A-Side. The A-side of their 1964 release was a scorcher of a version of I Wish You Would, a song written and performed by Billy Boy Arnold. Billy Boy Arnold went to Chess Records to get some releases and was told to go packing. Down the road apiece was rival Vee Jay Records. They opened the studio and Billy Boy Arnold came out with this Bo Diddley influenced number. It was released in June of 1955. Probably early in the morning. You know, like maybe around the break of day. 

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Song of the Week: "I Wish You Would", Billy Boy Arnold

Listen - Billy Boy Arnold performs I Wish You Would

"Early in the morning, about the break of day." Most know that opening line from The Yardbirds' stellar debut single from 1964, I Wish You Would. But nine years before Eric Clapton's heavily fuzzed Telecaster spit out the two note riff, Billy Boy Arnold recorded his original for Vee Jay Records in Chicago. Billy Boy Arnold had served as Bo Diddley's harp man on the Chess Recording of Diddley Daddy and took the spirit of that song to create his own debut single. It's a gem. Hope you like it.

Below is a nice vid from 1964 of The Yardbirds, with Eric Clapton, performing the same number. This live version tracks much closer to the original than did the Epic Records release.