Roger the Engineer / Over Under Sideways Down (Remastered)

iTunes Review

Originally released in the U.K. as Yardbirds, the Chris Dreja drawing of  audio engineer Roger Cameron led to it becoming known as Roger the Engineer in the U.K., with the U.S., Germany and France receiving the album in slightly altered form as Over Under Sideways Down. This 1966 release was the Yardbirds’ only album comprised of all-original material. Five tracks credited to their singer Keith Relf (rumored to include the Yardbirds as his backing group) are every bit as solid and intriguing (“Shapes In My Mind,” “Mr. Zero”) as the Jeff Beck-based group working their way through “The Nazz Are Blue,” “Over Under Sideways Down,” “Lost Woman” and “Hot House of Omagararshid” where the band’s twist towards psychedelia is the most advanced of the pre-Jimi Hendrix Experience groups. Compilation albums collect their famous singles, but for anyone interested in how the band were trailblazing through rock, check in here, complete with alternate takes. This edition features all the tracks from the different editions, along with the fantastic single “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” and “Psycho Daisies” that featured both guitarists Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.