Roger the Engineer

Good ol' Yardbirds, I know them for the song "For Your Love," and of course for incubating three legendary rock guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. This album is post-Clapton, pre-Page, all Beck, and you can hear him flexing his ability. There are some cool songs on here, but plenty others that feel very derivative and indistinct. Wikipedia says this is "psychedelic rock"--I'm not so sure. Maybe half the tracks are tinged with psychedelic elements (mostly the better ones), but the rest strikes me as imitative blues filler. I mean c'mon, "What Do You Want" is such an obvious rip-off of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love." This album comes from an era of white British rockers essentially doing cosplay of black American blues/rock artists. Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin, they all did it at points. At least those bands had the STONES to do covers and openly credit the pioneers. I would imagine Yardbirds evolved into psychedelia, and I'd rather hear that stuff, but this album does very little for me. Favorite tracks: Lost Woman, Hot House of Omagarashid, Over Under Sideways Down. Album art: Very creative drawing, and I love the font. Looks like it would be right at home in a Shel Silverstein or Scary Stories book. Apparently this is a doodle that one of the band members made of their engineer, Roger. I don't know if that's endearing or just plain mean. I'll leave that up to Roger, he's famous now. 2.5/5

No Jimmy Page or Eric Clapton on this album, which is fine considering I always think of The Yardbirds as Jeff Beck's band. To compare the 3 guitar legends, it's best to liken them to the 3 greatest home run hitters in Major League Baseball history. Jimmy Page is Babe Ruth, forever deified with legendary riffs and solos. Clapton is Barry Bonds. He puts up great numbers, but he's such an asshole that it demeans his accomplishments. And Jeff Beck is Hank Aaron, the steady, consistent great who's never as flashy as Page or Clapton but overall stakes a legitimate claim as perhaps the best ever. I guess that would then make Jimi Hendrix Willie Mays (best all around player), and Eddie Van Halen is Mickey Mantle (mythical talent that was taken too soon by alcohol abuse). I could go on but we're talking about the Yardbirds here. This album is a joy. It dances with seemingly every genre available at the time, and has a sort of magic that makes it sound like it's right out of 1966 and like it could have been produced yesterday. I even ride for the bonus coverage you get with alternate versions here (especially "I Can't Make Your Way"). Right there in the 4.5 category, but "Over Under Sideways Down" is reason enough to curve up.

If you ask 100 people who are leaving a rock concert who Jeff Beck is a majority will know the name. If you also ask them if they know who Keith Relf is you will not need your second hand to count the number of yesses. You probably won't even need your first hand.  (Before reading on, I'll let you in on a secret: he was the Yardbirds' lead singer.) Great guitar players need a lead singer who can do two of the following three: 1) sing, 2) entertain, and 3) write music. All three are not needed but  two of the three are.  Pete Townshend found Daltrey who could do 1 and 2. Keith Richards found Mick who can do 2 and 3 and Jimmy Page found Plant who can do 1 and 2. Keith Relf couldn't do any of the three. The result is excellent guitar playing (Jeff Beck’s in the case of this album) being stranded in a wasteland of songs that, from all other perspectives, are painfully mediocre.  To finish with a cherry on top, the best song on the album is "Jeff’s Boogie". It has no vocals. I rest my case.

Fine. All rock of that era sounds basically the same. I'm sure it was more exciting at the time. Clapton's a piece of shit though

Respect all the musicality of the Yardbirds, and this feels like a 3.5 for me, but I have to go four because I gave that to Korn yesterday and it'd feel gross.

Birdshit

Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds because he thought they were getting too commercial, but who wants to be on Clapton’s side in any argument? I’d rather listen to proto-psychedelic pop rock than a load of white English blokes doing blues covers, and this was so much more fun than I was expecting.

British Beach Boys but not good

Garbage - found this really hard work

anything jeff beck touches is magical

This is The Yardbirds' only studio UK album and third US album. It is the only album with Jeff Beck on all tracks and, boy, does he bring it on most of the songs. I've never dug extremely deep into the Yardbirds, kind of always thinking of them with that lead harmonica and guitar combination and a bluesy feel which eventually led into Led Zeppelin. Well, you hear that here too but a whole lot more as well. There is a heavy psychedelic element to a lot of these songs. A few, slow sing-along type songs, a heavy percussion-based song with chanting and some straight-forward rock songs. Black Sabbath was without a doubt listening to their last song, "Ever Since the World Began," at least the intro. Definitely, a more varied album than I was expecting. "Lost Women" starts the album in a very bluesy way and sounds kind of "quenessital" Yardbirds. It then kicks in with a long harmonica solo and Beck ending it with a Bo Diddley-esque guitar riff. The second song "Over Under Sideways Down" is the only single from this album and introduces a pyschedelic guitar intro and chorus to basically a blues beat. Outstanding. "The Nazz Are Blue" showcases Beck as lead singer and especially his bluesy guitar as it just rips. "What Do You Want" is their most straight-forward rock sounding song and ends with a searing guitar solo. Jeff Beck is a highlight of this album but this is also a very, very good band. Outstanding and innovative. A great time finally digging into this.

For more than 5 years I used to work the sound board at a radio station every week inserting local ads for a 3 hour national oldies radio program. In that time I probably listened to more than 1000 hours of 60s music. What a shame that I recall NOTHING from this album ever making it into those weekly shows! How refreshing would some of this have been to add more dimension to those programs?! I’ve heard talk about how important The Yardbirds were - after all their members included Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page - but all I recall hearing from them before this is “For Your Love” and “Heart Full of Soul”. Maybe I should have been more proactive… Even the Wikipedia article is woefully light on detail about this album. No mention at all of where that great album cover comes from? Or the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions that I find on Apple Music? It seems as though there is a level of 60s music that is wildly interesting that lies below the usual stuff we hear today in the mainstream. A total gem with an amazing band (Jeff Beck!) doing great, interesting songs. I’m thankful again for this web site and the 1001 book!

A recording to ignore the green areas of music of the time and influence many future sounds. I liked that it covered so many genres in the one album

great album. Lost Women has such an awesome bass grove.

This is the third blues-rock album that I've had chosen in the last week, and provides an interesting contrast with the other two (Shake Your Money Maker and Cosmo's Factory). This album has a very 60s feel to it, but not in a way that is confined to any specific genre. There is a definite psychedelic influence, but there's also rockabilly and early 60s pop influences. This album at once sounds like more authentic blues than the other two but at the same time strays further away from the blues. Jeff Beck's guitar does a lot to pull this album together and make it an interesting listen. It's cool, groovy, and it goes by quickly. 4/5

Another timeless classic

Jeff Beck is your favorite guitarists favorite guitarist. He is the obvious draw to this album as his playing is top notch. Solid British blues rock. Dig it.

A tour de force of rock and roll

Wow! I was aware, but not familiar with The Yardbirds. So good. Hippy rock with blues roots blended into a beautiful album.

Really enjoyed this. They were so original and the sounds really evokes the period. Exciting times for innovative and exciting music that went on to influence other bands. Great 👍

One of the few 60s albums that has a genuine sense of jaunty fun without becoming extremely annoying. "Hot House of Omagarashid" is amazing, just so layered and jaunty, while "Ever Since the World Began" seemingly sets the template for Black Sabbath's dark voyages.

5 stars because of Jeff Beck!

Now this is more like it! This is what I want from my British Blues. Out of curiosity, I went back and listened to Blues Breakers immediately after listening to Roger the Engineer and I think the difference is that The Blues Breakers could play, but they never got beyond jamming on old songs and basic Blues patterns. The Yardbirds is full of great riffs and is all well arranged, as well as including the jamming. It’s also the best sounding of the British Blues records I’ve listened to, both Blues Breakers and Jeff Beck’s Truth being quite muddy. But what really clinched this as a five for me was Ever Since The World Began which invokes Satan in the first line, starts off as an intimidating Psychedelic chant backed with minimal percussion before breaking into the jauntiest, most Pop sounding tune on the album. Brilliant

Ok... jak tak dalej pójdzie, zaraz się okaże, że po 1966 nie wymyślono już w muzyce niczego nowego xD I loved it. Każdy utwór był inny, każdy coś wnosił. Dobre teksty, świetna muzyka i wykonanie. Kawałki podobały mi się już wersji mono, stereo jeszcze spotęgowało wrażenia. Krótkie notki z różnych piosenek: "Over Under Sideways Down" - country + niezidentyfikowane, kobzopodobne instrumenty (?!) "Lost woman" - fajna jazzowa linia "I can't make your way" - jowialna harmonijka i tłusty, gitarowy riff "Hot house of Omagararshid" - ajajaaaa "Jeff's Boogie" - faktycznie boogie, lel "Turn into Earth" - w stereo robią robotę ścieżki głosowe <3 Dodatkowe uznanie za zajebistą okładkę z Rogerem the Engineerem, epic. PS Nienaćpany muzyk to pizda nie artysta. 4,5/5 ---- do 5/5 brakuje pierwiastka "OMFG I pissed my pants and it's changed my whole life"

Nice

When I listened to a lot of classic rock, I always meant to check out this album, but I never got around to it. I’m not familiar with Jeff Beck’s music at all, so I’m excited that The Yardbirds album that’s on this list is one that features his guitar playing, rather than Clapton or Page. There have been a handful of albums on this list that fall under ‘classic rock staples that I never got around to’ (2112 and Disraeli Gears stand out the most to me), and most have them have been pretty blah, but Roger the Engineer has definitely been one of the best of them. I really enjoyed the unique melding of psychedelia and blues that The Yardbirds put together on this album. The guitar playing is really solid, and it’s bolstered well by some really good bass playing and drumming. There are some spurts of other percussive instruments that I really enjoyed too, like on “He’s Always There,” which was one of my favorite songs on the album. A lot of the blues rock albums on this list feel kind of dull and uninspired, but the melding with psychedelic elements gave this album a unique and fun sound that really set it apart from other blues rock efforts. Additionally, the psychedelic sounds never felt cheesy or off-putting, and only enhanced the sound. I listened to the stereo version of this album on Spotify, and I thought it was incredibly well engineered. This isn’t the type of album that I’d listen to regularly, but I think it’s incredibly well made, and it was really enjoyable to listen to.

Complex blues rock. There is something new to appreciate with every listen. The percussion is fascinating. Much better in stereo!

Just the right amount of camp. And it's about an engineer? Fuck yeah.

Best album by The Yardbirds! Jeff played all the tracks and this album is gold!

Very cool blues album I had never heard. Biggest downside is that it is very long. Love the album cover.

I had written a Toppermost article (https://www.toppermost.co.uk/the-yardbirds/) on the yardbirds and after it was published I realised something. Apart from the three important guitarists who made up the lineup - Clapton Beck and Page - they weren’t a terribly good blues band. They were however a pretty terrific pop band particularly on this album. Jeff Beck, one of the greatest rock guitarists, never stopped developing as a player. The songs on this are terrific. Over under upside down is amazing. The Nazz is blue led one David jones, under his more renowned stage name, to describe the character of Ziggy Stardust. It also led Todd Rundgren to name his band. This is worth a listen. Though nearly all members would go on to to other interesting and important things. Not all the songs are bangers. But those that are slap hard. Vale Jeff. (And Keith).

Right off the bat, let’s all agree that Pink Floyd lifted part of track 3, “The Nazz Are Blue”, for “Money”. Cool, now that we’re all in agreement… This is pretty rad record. You’d expect interesting guitar parts from a band that had Jeff Beck in their ranks, but the surprising thing here is how textural and atmospheric the guitar parts are in many places rather than full-out blues based rock bombast. Add in the occult-ish chanting/backing vocals that pop up through out and you’ve a got a pretty unique 60’s psych record.

deserves a 3/5, only because of Jeff Beck's presence on this LP.

Although I'm neither well-versed or particularly into a lot of 60s rock, I like it that (a) the album cover reminds me of a Ralph Steadman illustration, and (b) Jeff Beck participated heavily in this album, and (c) they went with a truly quirky album title (although I now discover that it's not really the official title of the album, sadly). An interesting(ish) mix of 60s blues/rock fare with the occasional foray into skiffle-sounding stuff and then (Beatles-inspired?) Eastern instruments and tunings. Not a lot of distinctive stuff here, but my favorite tracks are probably "Rack my mind", "Hot House of Omagararshid" (particularly the US version with a much more prominent Jeff Beck solo), and "He's always there". A shame we didn't get any Yardbirds music on this album with Jimmy Page *and* Jeff Beck playing together, although I kind of cheated and listened to the 1983 reissue of this album with a (mono) version of the dynamic duo's "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago", which wasn't quite as mind-blowing as I'd hoped....

It was OK but hasn't aged well

Good music, but the singing and lyrics don't work for me.

Good album. Can definitely hear how this album influences other music down the road. 3/5 Might listen again

Boring

This is the hundred ninth album I’m rating. I've never liked The Yardbirds that much I've always thought they had made bad music despite a lot of talent. Adding to my Playlist - Lost Women, Over Under Sideways Down, The Nazz are Blue, I Can't Make Your Way, Rack my Mind, Farewell, Hot House of Omagararshid, Jeff's Boogie, He's Always There, and What do you Want. Not Adding to my Playlist - Turn into Earth and Ever Since the World Began. Lost Women - Maybe I was wrong. All in all I liked 10/12 songs. Cool album and surprised me. I really thought this entire album would all be like Turn into Earth.

Great

I liked it from the start, but it actually got better with every track. I may gush here. I didnt know the Yardbirds, and I am slightly restless as I cant find the words for their groove - how could you keep still in the 60s with this around? I very much like the pace and energy - its full vibrant blues/rock and really fun to listen to. Feels like I found a perfect musical windows into a little secret performance in the late 60's by the talented ahead-of their-time players who actally showed off their mastery of instruments and styles in a way that only highligts the best of the era - tyhe stuff you'd still want to hear 50 years later - it DELIGHTS (unlike so many 'off-piste' annoying experiment garage projects in this list). These players have the energy, the fun and soul or zeitgeist of the era bottled to perfection. Even "Farewell" which could be naff folk on any other album, is basically a hilarious sing along which brings to mind Michael Palin. Damn, now I need to go find some restored stereo Yardbirds to listen to (unless there is a reason mono is better). Ha, got you thinking. Its okay, I will just binge on whatever I can stream for now, but if I see a good Yardbirds LP, you know, one with low odour and mould levels, I will be procuring it forthwith. 5+

This was definitely a good find for me. Another awesome garage rock and psychedelic album with strong blues influences. It also has a nice raw and gritty sound to really bring out the garage rock feel.

Must have been revolutionary for its time. Still full of good songs

Yes, there were songs that didn’t inspire but I am impressed by how well this album stands the test of time. Excellent musicians

Very cool record! I liked lot how they where not just playing plain blues but also opened them up for other influences

This is an important part of music history when blues rock was evolving into psychedelia. But it's much more than that. You can hear how they influenced so many bands to come and also pop culture in general. The opening track Lost Women, with that bass line, could easily be on a Tarantino soundtrack. He's Always There was sampled by the Pussycat Dolls. Black Sabbath was obviously inspired by Ever Since The World Began.

This was great. I know all the musicians and the band but have never heard this album. Great stuff here, even back then their playing was awesome

Really great album

Groovy!

This is another fun one. A real window into 60's psychedelia with some of the best guitarists in history. Jeff Beck shows what an absolute monster he is. Just so many good tunes here. And this was all new to me. I basically knew the Yardbirds from "For Your Love" and because they birthed Led Zeppelin and Clapton. This was a whole new trip. Definitely enjoyed! Unexpected banger(s): Over Under Sideways Down, Rack My Mind, Farewell, Jeff's Boogie

Super!

Everything about this is so good. I’m upset I’ve not heard it before.

Great Rock

I can't say that this is a masterpiece, it isn't, but I sure enjoyed it and that's what counts. It's a forward-moving product of its time and that's a good thing. This is a solid 4.5 in my book and the only album so far that I've wanted to listen to twice before deciding where to land with it. This one just squeaked into a 5 spot since I can't give it a half-star and it's better than a 4.

if you like this album, quite frankly, you know ball

10/10 can’t go wrong with The Yardbirds, holy shit

Jeff Beck, Jeff Beck, some Jimmy Page. What can go wrong ?

Great mid 60s sound. Really enjoyed

Second half of the album really kicks off - plenty to like. The instrumental breaks and jamming are good fun and help keep the album interesting. Lots of tight riffs and memorable lyrics. I'd heard a fair amount of these tracks before but couldn't tell you who did them. Now I can. Farewell, Jeff's Boogie, He's Always There, and What Do You Want stood out the most for me. Another 4.5, but again I'll be kind. Definitely returning to this.

Really enjoyed this eclectic mix of tracks, especially the more psychedelic tinged ones Saved tracks: Lost Women, Jeff’s Boogie, Over Under Sideways Down, Turn Into Earth, What Do You Want

VERY sixties, and I love it. Just a comfy album to strap in and listen to. Smooth, catchy, and enjoyable, I don't know what else to say about this album that hasn't already been said. So nice, I played it twice (mono and stereo). Just a rocking, great listen.

Didn’t realize how many of these songs I already knew. Really awesome music

This was super cool

I loved this one. Quite varied as well with the first half of the album being more blues-rock and the second half psychedelic rock, but easier to listen to than psychedelia sometimes tends to be. Also amazed by how much the first minute of "Ever Since The World Began" sounds like early Black Sabbath. Must have been a huge influence for them. So yeah, The Yardbirds are somewhere between The Beatles and Black Sabbath, combining some of boths' greatness. With the appropriate skill to back it up, that's a 5 in my book.

Great album.

some nice instrumentals

One of my all time fav records! Genuinely holds up and slaps so hard

cool

Rock n roll af. “He’s always there” was sampled for Pussycat dolls “When I grow up”

A surprisingly good album! The first time I’ve been pleasantly surprised by an album I’ve not previously heard of

I really like it. It feels like it was inspiration for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Some songs are feeling a little out of place and the whole album is somewhat incoherent, but I had fun listening to it.

Without Dimery's list (which I was able to find online), I would never have discovered this wonderful record, one of those rare kinds of albums that transcends its day and age while fully sounding *from them*. Like mostly everyone interested in sixties music, I knew (and liked) famous Yardbirds stuff such as the Graham Gouldman-penned "For Your Love" and "Evil Hearted You". But "Roger The Engineer (The Yardbirds)" is so much more than that... Contrary to what a few reviewers with a short attention span have written here, Clapton was already out of the picture when the band recorded this album--and it was a good thing: Clapton was then way too "conservative" at the time with his blues orthodoxy to let "Roger"'s adventures happen (the man also proved how obnoxious he could be on many occasions during his later career--but that's a story for another time...). The end result here is that the band then used Jeff Beck to replace him, and this to great effects if you're a fan of good guitar playing--see for instance the technically impressive "Jeff's Boogie". Yet all of this wouldn't be worth a rat's ass if the birds hadn't embraced the psychedelic shenanigans of those days in such an orginal and varied way. From the bizarre yet mellifluous fuzz riffs of hit "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" to the groovy basslines of "Lost Women" and "Hot House Of Omagarashid", the mood is definitely "shaggadelic, babe!" at an Austin Powers-on-LSD level of intensity. Yet as fun as those tracks are, they never fully forget that Chicago blues inspiration either. "Roger The Engineer" just allows you to hear that sound evolving to become... something else. And that something else is the future of rock'n'roll. You can obviously smell whiffs of Led Zeppelin here and there (Jimmy Page is indeed the young guitarist who will replace Jeff Beck not long after this record). You can even behold the seed that would be soon sowed in Iommi and Osbourne's twisted minds not long before they created Black Sabbath in the mystical "Turn Into Earth" and "Ever Since The World Began" (especially in the latter's long introduction). This closer actually sums up the scope of moods embraced by the album, from a droning lament to a lively booter shaker to cap things neatly and nicely. For this album, I highly recommend the 1987 Impact Record edition, because it includes the killer single "Happening Ten Years Time Ago" *within* the tracklisting (and not in the end, as a bonus, as in the online links provided here). That single is simply a masterpiece and deserved to be part of the feast anyway. French alternative rock fans will find its riff, quickly descending half tone after half tone, familiar. That riff was actually ripped off by Noir Désir for their hit "Tostaky" (directly or indirectly), their stroke of genius being that thay also gave it an *ascending* counterpart. But apart for this riff, the single has many other assets to boast about, so don't forget to give it a spin too... So here it is: "Roger The Enginner". More than a psychedelic doodle, it is a fully realized vision--adventurous, fun yet ambitious in its scope and moods. A hidden gem that deserves each and everyone of its five stars. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 883 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 62 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 29 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 27

The bass line of the first track really pulled me in. I loved the jam of this album. A couple of tunes left me a little flat, but overall an awesome listen!!

Very nice driving blues rock. Didn't know any of the songs but lots of good ones on here. Good good fun.

No surprise here; a well-regarded 60s rock band was indeed good.

Psycho Daisies 👌🏻

Decent.

1966 - English blues rock band

Great album full of near-legendary tracks.

So gut wie einflussreich!

Excellent album

Fantastic

Bit rock and roll- I liked it

Tip top bluesy rock, as to be expected from such a lineup. Listened to most of the (31 track!) "album" this site sends you to and then found the original album/tracklist and listened to that, which listens sooo much better as an album.

Qué bueno que al final sí lo escuché. Me gustó todo el disco, buenas percusiones, bien la guitarra, bien el bajo. Mención especial a las dos primeras canciones, muy energéticas, álbum variadito y divertido. No me lo esperaba

Un album que tout guitariste devrait avoir écouté dans sa vie! Un classique du genre et précurseur du Blues Rock britannique des Années 60. 5*

Sorry don't wanna write anything rn

Blues, blues, blues. Jeff Beck can play the blues. This album was released shortly before Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin joined the band. You can tell that they loved Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, that whole Chicago Blues scene. A lot of English kids did. This album has some incredible tones for 1966 and still rips when I throw it on today. Psych Blues supergroup that split to spawn solo careers and other famous bands. Favorite song: The Nazz Are Blue Least favorite song: Hot House of Omagarashid

Solid album that mixes psychedelic rock and blues well. The tone of Jeff Beck's guitar is sublime. Liked Songs Added: Over, Under, Sideways, Down The Nazz Are Blue

Roger the Engineer is a great showcase of everything that made the Yardbirds such an important band — especially when it comes to guitar work. It’s hard not to respect a group that helped launch the careers of guys like Clapton, Beck, and Page. That legacy alone gives the album some serious weight. You can hear the blues roots all over this record, but what’s really cool is how a few tracks start leaning into psychedelic territory. It’s like they’re standing right on the edge of the musical shift that was about to explode in the late ’60s. Favorite song: Lost Woman

A really nice album, seemingly ahead of its time. You can see the beginnings of some rock, and even some psychedelic stuff going on here. Quite enjoyed it.

Such great rockin 60s Brit-blues. Looking at the roster, it’s no surprise they have rippin solos and catchy hooks. They keep you on your toes, not selling into any particular sound.

## In-Depth Review: *Roger the Engineer* by The Yardbirds *Roger the Engineer* (1966) stands as The Yardbirds’ only album of all-original material and the sole LP to feature Jeff Beck on every track. It’s a record that captures both the band’s restless creativity and their transitional status between blues roots and the emerging psychedelic soundscape of mid-1960s Britain. Below is a detailed review focusing on the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Eclectic, Playful, and Occasionally Dark** The lyrics on *Roger the Engineer* are a patchwork of playful British wit, surreal imagery, and bluesy introspection. Tracks like “Over Under Sideways Down” employ wordplay and ambiguous phrasing to evoke the disorienting experience of fame and the countercultural mood of the era[7]. “Hot House of Omagarashid” and “Turn Into Earth” delve into psychedelic nonsense, with chant-like vocals and cryptic lines that fit the album’s experimental edge[6]. On the other hand, songs such as “Rack My Mind” and “The Nazz Are Blue” stick closer to traditional blues themes—frustration, love, and personal struggle—though often filtered through a slightly tongue-in-cheek lens[3][6]. “Farewell” stands out for its sensitive treatment of loneliness and existential despair, a rare moment of emotional gravity on an otherwise light-hearted album[3]. **Pros:** - Inventive and humorous, with flashes of genuine pathos. - Lyrics support the album’s experimental, genre-blending character. **Cons:** - Lacks thematic cohesion; the album feels more like a collection of ideas than a unified statement[3]. - Some tracks veer into throwaway territory, with lyrics that feel slight or underdeveloped[4]. --- ## Music **A Fusion of Blues, Psychedelia, and Early Hard Rock** Musically, *Roger the Engineer* is defined by its adventurous spirit and the dazzling guitar work of Jeff Beck. The album opens with “Lost Woman,” a masterclass in dynamic build-up and bluesy rave-up, featuring inventive bass lines, harmonica, and Beck’s feedback-laden solos[5]. Tracks like “Over Under Sideways Down” and “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” (on some editions) showcase the band’s embrace of psychedelic rock, with swirling guitar effects and unconventional song structures[1][7]. The blues remains a persistent thread, heard in “The Nazz Are Blue” (with Beck on vocals) and “Rack My Mind.” Instrumentals like “Jeff’s Boogie” pay homage to Chuck Berry while pushing the boundaries with speed and technique[1][7]. Experimental numbers such as “Hot House of Omagarashid” and “Turn Into Earth” feature odd time signatures, chant-like vocals, and Middle Eastern influences, reflecting the band’s willingness to push beyond the blues-rock template[6][7]. **Pros:** - Jeff Beck’s guitar work is consistently inventive, blending blues, rock, and psychedelia in groundbreaking ways[2][5][7]. - The rhythm section (Paul Samwell-Smith on bass, Jim McCarty on drums) provides a solid foundation for the band’s experimentation[6]. - The album’s musical diversity is both a strength and a source of its enduring interest. **Cons:** - The album’s stylistic range can feel erratic, with some tracks (“Jeff’s Boogie,” “Rack My Mind”) reverting to standard forms that undercut the more innovative moments[1][2][4]. - Not all experiments succeed; some songs are slight or feel unfinished (“Hot House of Omagarashid,” “Turn Into Earth”)[4]. --- ## Production **DIY Spirit and Studio Experimentation** *Roger the Engineer* was recorded at Advision Studios in London, with bassist Paul Samwell-Smith handling production duties. The band was given a rare week of creative freedom by their label, and the result is a record that feels both spontaneous and experimental[3][7]. Chris Dreja’s hand-drawn cover art and the album’s self-contained production reinforce its DIY ethos[3]. The production is notable for its clarity and inventiveness, especially in the layering of guitars and the use of feedback, distortion, and studio effects. Beck’s guitar is often front and center, but the mix allows space for harmonica, percussion, and vocal harmonies. The album was issued in both mono and stereo, with the stereo version offering a slightly more expansive soundstage[4]. **Pros:** - The production captures the raw energy and inventiveness of the band, especially Beck’s guitar textures[7]. - The album’s sound is crisp and immediate, with a live-in-the-studio feel. **Cons:** - Some tracks suffer from thin or dated vocal production, especially compared to contemporaries like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones[2][6]. - The album’s rough edges can sometimes feel like missed opportunities for refinement. --- ## Themes **Transition, Experimentation, and British Psychedelia** Thematically, *Roger the Engineer* is less a concept album than a snapshot of a band in flux. The songs oscillate between blues tradition and psychedelic exploration, mirroring the broader shifts in mid-60s rock[2][7]. There are recurring motifs of disorientation (“Over Under Sideways Down”), personal struggle (“Rack My Mind”), and playful absurdity (“Hot House of Omagarashid”). Unlike the era’s more ambitious albums, *Roger the Engineer* does not attempt grand statements or unified narratives[3]. Instead, it revels in its own eclecticism, with humor and irreverence often taking precedence over seriousness. **Pros:** - The album captures the spirit of 1966 London, balancing R&B roots with psychedelic innovation[6]. - Its lack of pretension and willingness to experiment are refreshing. **Cons:** - The absence of thematic cohesion may leave some listeners wanting a more focused artistic vision[3]. - The humor and lightness can undercut the emotional impact of the album. --- ## Influence **A Precursor to Psychedelic Rock and Heavy Metal** *Roger the Engineer* is often cited as a pivotal album in the evolution of British rock. Jeff Beck’s guitar work—marked by distortion, feedback, and Eastern scales—helped lay the groundwork for both psychedelic rock and the heavier sounds that would emerge in the late 1960s and beyond[7]. The album’s blend of blues, rock, and experimental textures influenced contemporaries and future acts alike, from Cream to Led Zeppelin (whose Jimmy Page replaced Samwell-Smith in The Yardbirds shortly after this album)[7]. The record’s willingness to experiment with song structures, studio effects, and genre-blending set a template for later psychedelic and progressive rock bands. While it may not have achieved the iconic status of *Revolver* or *Pet Sounds*, its impact on guitar-driven rock is undeniable[5][7]. **Pros:** - Pioneered techniques and sounds that would shape psychedelic rock and heavy metal[7]. - Showcased the creative potential of the electric guitar in a rock context. **Cons:** - The album’s influence is sometimes overshadowed by the later achievements of its members, especially Beck, Clapton, and Page[4]. - Its legacy is more about innovation than commercial or critical consensus at the time. --- ## Pros and Cons Summary | Pros | Cons | |---|---| | Dazzling, innovative guitar work by Jeff Beck[2][5][7] | Lacks thematic and stylistic cohesion[3][4] | | Adventurous blend of blues, rock, and psychedelia[7] | Some tracks feel slight or underdeveloped[4] | | DIY production and all-original material[3][7] | Vocals and lyrics occasionally underwhelm compared to peers[2][6] | | Captures the spirit of mid-60s British rock[6] | Not as consistent or groundbreaking as top albums of the era[2][4] | | Influential for psychedelic and hard rock genres[7] | Influence sometimes eclipsed by later projects of band members[4] | --- ## Conclusion *Roger the Engineer* is a fascinating, if uneven, artifact of its time—a record that bridges the Yardbirds’ blues past with the psychedelic future of British rock. Its strengths lie in Jeff Beck’s groundbreaking guitar work, the band’s willingness to experiment, and its snapshot of a scene in transition. The album’s weaknesses—lack of cohesion, some undercooked tracks, and occasionally thin vocals—prevent it from reaching the heights of the era’s most celebrated LPs. Yet, its spirit of invention and its influence on the evolution of rock music remain undeniable, making it a must-hear for anyone interested in the roots of psychedelic and hard rock.

didnt know it, but very enjoyable album. Pure rock/country. It felt less than 1hour 4/5

Really enjoyed this - and then remembered that Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Geoff Beck make an appearance so not surprised it's so good!

I mean it was weird and trippy but the type of weird and trippy I like. IDK maybe Jeff Beck's guitar is just too good to deny. 7/1p

Really pretty good early blues and guitar rock. Some of the very 60s sounding stuff doesn't age that well. Also, there are at least 2 versions of this album on Spotify. And they're both remastered etc etc. And I would be nice to just listen to the actual album that was out at the time. All of a sudden I'm listening to B sides and various versions of songs never released and it makes the album usually sound worse. No one's fault, just ranting.

I’m starting to see a revolving problem. Lots of proto that’s too proto 7.5/10 Favorite Song: The Nazz are blue

Blues, weirdness, psychedelia...much to dig here...but can't quite get to a five on this one. 4.5

Loved Robert Plant's vocals on th- I MEAN KEITH RELF'S VOCALS ON THIS