Shapes of Things

"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.

Shapes of Things (album)

Shapes of Things is a double LP compilation album of classic recordings from 1964-1966 of the English blues rock band The Yardbirds, released in 1977. The album was manufactured and distributed by P.J. Imports.

Track listing

Side One

Introduction: Hamish Grimes

  • "Too Much Monkey Business" - 2:51 (C. Berry)
  • "I Wish You Would" - 2:18 (Billy Boy Arnold)
  • "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl " - 2:48 (Don Level / Bob Love)
  • "For Your Love" - 2:27 (Gouldman)
  • "A Certain Girl" - 2:18 (Neville)
  • "Got to Hurry" - 2:34 (O. Rasputin)
  • Side Two

  • "Smokestack Lightning" - 5:30 (C. Burnett)
  • "Evil Hearted You" - 2:26 (Gouldman)
  • "Still I'm Sad" - 3:00 (Samwell-Smith / McCarty)
  • "Steeled Blues" - 2:37 (Jeff Beck / Keith Relf)
  • "Train Kept A Rolling" - 3:23 (Tiny Bradshaw / Lois Mann / Howard Kay)
  • "Here 'Tis" - 5:20 (McDaniel)
  • Side Three

  • "What Do You Want" - 3:10 (Beck / Relf / Samwell-Smith / McCarty / Dreja)
  • "New York City Blues" - 4:17 (Relf)
  • "For R.S.G." - 4:04 (Beck / Relf / Samwell-Smith)
  • "You're a Better Man Than I" - 3:17 (Mike Hugg / Brian Hugg)
  • Donovan

    Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch; 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music (notably calypso). He has lived in Scotland, London and California, and, since at least 2008, in County Cork, Ireland, with his family. Emerging from the British folk scene, Donovan reached fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with live performances on the pop TV series, Ready Steady Go!.

    Having signed with Pye Records in 1965, he recorded singles and two albums in the folk vein, but after a new contract with US CBS/Epic Records his popularity spread to other countries. After extricating himself from his original management contract, he began a long and successful collaboration with Mickie Most, a leading British independent record producer, with hits in the UK, the US and other countries.

    His most successful singles were the early UK hits "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier" in 1965. "Sunshine Superman" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number two in Britain), and "Mellow Yellow" reached US number two the following year, with "Hurdy Gurdy Man" in the Top 5 in both countries in 1968. He was the first artist to be signed to CBS/Epic Records by the new administrative vice-president, Clive Davis. Donovan and Most collaborated on hit albums and singles between 1965 and 1970. He became a friend of pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones and The Beatles. He taught John Lennon a finger-picking guitar style in 1968. Donovan's commercial fortunes waned after parting with Most in 1969, and he left the industry for a time.

    Donovan (horse)

    Donovan (18861905) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1888 to 1889 he ran twenty-one times and won eighteen races. He was the leading British two-year-old of 1888 when he won eleven of his thirteen starts. At three Donovan won the Epsom Derby and the St Leger: he failed to win the English Triple Crown owing to a narrow and probably unlucky defeat in the 2000 Guineas. He set a world record by earning a total of £55,443 in win prize money. Donovan was a modest success as a stallion. He died after being injured in an accident in 1905.

    Background

    Donovan was a dark-coated bay bred by his owner William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland a Conservative politician and landowner. Among the Duke’s other horses were the undefeated St. Simon and the 1888 Derby winner Ayrshire. He was sent into training with George Dawson at his Heath House Stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

    Donovan’s sire Galopin was an outstanding racehorse who won the Derby in 1872 and went on to be a successful and influential stallion, being Champion sire on three occasions. Mowerina, Donovan’s dam, won sixteen races and produced several winners including the 1000 Guineas winner Semolina and the colt Raeburn, the only horse ever to defeat Isinglass.

    Donovan (disambiguation)

    Donovan is a popular Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

    Donovan may also refer to:

    People

  • Donovan (name), a given name and surname
  • Places

  • Castle Donovan, a ruined castle 12 kilometers east of Bantry, County Cork, Ireland
  • General Donovan Department, Argentina
  • Donovan, Illinois, United States
  • Donovan Lake, a lake in Minnesota
  • Donovans, South Australia
  • Donovans, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
  • Ships

  • HMS Donovan, a minesweeper launched 1918, sold 1921
  • The Infantry Landing Ship Empire Battleaxe operated as HMS Donovan from 1944 to 1946
  • Music

  • HMS Donovan (album), a 1971 album by Donovan
  • Donovan P. Leitch (album), a Donovan compilation
  • "Donovan", a song by Happy Mondays from their 1990 album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
  • Fictional characters

  • Clyde Donovan, a character in the television series South Park
  • Curtis Donovan, a character from Misfits
  • Donovan (American Horror Story), an American Horror Story: Hotel character
  • Donovan Baine, a character from the Vampire/Darkstalkers series of games by Capcom
  • Podcasts:

    Donovan

    ALBUMS

    Donovan

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Shapes Of Things

    by: Black Stone Cherry

    Shapes of things before my eyes
    Just teach me to despise
    Will time make man more wise
    Here within my lonely frame
    My eyes just hurt my brain
    But will it seem the same
    (Come tomorrow), will I be older
    (Come tomorrow), maybe a soldier
    (Come tomorrow), may I be bolder than today
    Now the trees are almost green
    But will they still be seen
    When time and tide have been
    Boy into your passing hands
    Please don't destroy these lands
    Don't make them desert sands
    (Come tomorrow), will I be older
    (Come tomorrow), maybe a soldier
    (Come tomorrow), may I be bolder than today
    Soon I hope that I will find
    A seed within my mind




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