Five Live Yardbirds is among the best British albums to come out of the Sixties. It captures the pulse, power and passion of London's heaving Rhythm and Blues scene.

This is a lasting tribute to the influential Yardies with guitar maestro Eric Clapton in blistering form, especially on the last ten bonus tracks.

Too Much Monkey Business, Got Love If You Want It and Smokestack Lightning positively crackle with excitement. Recorded live at London's legendary Marquee Club in March 1964, it features cover versions of R&B heroes such as Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Howlin' Wolf. This was a rave-up before they were even invented. Unmissable.

More R&B (Raunch and Beat) from The Animals, this time live from Newcastle's Club-A-Go-Go. These are The Animals raw and untamed doing justice to Chuck Berry's Let It Rock, Almost Grown and John L Hooker's Boom and Dimples. Eric Burdon, Alan Price, Chas Chandler and co show how they help put the swing into the Swingin' Sixties. This is where it all began for them and fortunately it was recorded by Rolling Stones discoverer and mentor Giorgio Gomelsky. Even their great Blues hero, Sonny Boy Williamson, makes a pop-up appearance. Great times, great music... this album will give you back years.

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, June 12, 2003