This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
No, it isn’t another compilation. It’s a brand-new Yardbirds album.
Yes, those Yardbirds. The ones who did For Your Love, Heart Full of Soul, etc. They’re back — well, some of the ones who are still alive and might need the money are, anyway. To be more precise: Rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty. Thankfully, they have a few friends. The pair (and their faceless bandmates) enlist a passel of hot-shot guitar-slingers on Birdland, their first studio effort in (yikes!) 35 years. Mixing nostalgic-sounding new cuts with old faves, the band welcome the likes of Joe Satriani (who makes tracks on Train Kept A Rollin’), Steve Vai (who rebuilds Shapes of Things), Slash (who cranks up Over, Under, Sideways, Down), Brian May (who revisits Mr. You’re a Better Man Than I) and, best of all, ex-’Bird Jeff Beck, who returns to the nest for the bluesy newbie My Blind Life. The results? Surprisingly listenable. The old dogs are smart enough not to try any new tricks, the oldies-heavy set is guaranteed to please and the guest list is almost enough to make you forgive the absence of Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Sure, throwing your own comeback party is a tad tacky, but hey, after 35 years, you can’t blame them for getting tired of waiting.
