Yeah, the party line on the Velvet Underground is that the band was almost completely ignored during the 1960s, their flowers of darkness vibes passed over in favor of flower power. But as it turns out, plenty of people were listening — including this one guitarist you may have heard of, a guy called Jimmy Page. Of course, Page had a direct connection to the Velvets, having played 12-string on Nico’s debut 1965 single, “I’m Not Sayin’,” and the Yardbirds even shared a bill with the VU in late 1966. So he may have picked up The Velvet Underground and Nico when it hit stores in 1967 and been suitably blown away by that LP’s second track, “I’m Waiting For The Man,” — blown away enough to add it to the Yardbirds’ repertoire in the band’s final days. This recording, taped by an audience member at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium in May of 1968, won’t win any awards for fidelity, but it is a kick to hear Page and co. apply their patented rave up groove this then-brand-new tune. A pity there’s no studio version of this arrangement, but we’re lucky to be hearing it at all. Now, where’s that outtake of Zeppelin covering “White Light White Heat”? words/ t wilcox

MP3: The Yardbirds :: I’m Waiting For The Man (Velvet Underground)