Paul Samwell-Smith (The Yardbirds)
By Thomas Semioli
He set the template for scores of players – including Kenny Aaronson, Sal Maida, and Joe Gagliardo – with a lifetime’s worth of bass riffs. When he put down the instrument, he forged an equally influential (and more high profile) career as a producer during the zeitgeist of the singer songwriter movement of the 1970s.
Cradling an Epiphone Rivoli, Paul Samwell-Smith’s decidedly aggressive motifs with The Yardbirds profoundly inspired generations of rockers spanning Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, and the original Alice Cooper band to cite a very, very, very select few.
As a founding member of The Yardbirds, Paul Samwell-Smith anchored classics including “For Your Love,” “Over Under, Sideways, Down,” and “Heart Full of Soul” among others, which were a watershed meld of blues, pop, and psychedelic rock.
After Paul split from the group in 1966 – surrendering bass duties to Jimmy Page – he turned to the producer’s chair guiding such artists as Renaissance, Cat Stevens (Mona Bone Jakon, Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser & the Firecat, Catch Bull at Four, Buddah & The Chocolate Box), Carly Simon (Anticipation), Chris De Burgh, and Murray Head, among others, on several of their finest recorded works.
Paul Samwell-Smith Sound & Vision
Dig Paul Samwell-Smith workin’ the pocket and walkin’ double time on multi-instrumentalist / bassist Graham Gouldman’s composition “Evil Hearted You.” https://bit.ly/2R4nUsE
Dig the Yardbirds on American television “For Your Love” https://youtu.be/HU5zqidlxMQ
Dig Kenny Aaronson in the 21st Century Yardbirds https://youtu.be/HBzIHJwJlt8
Dig Billy Sheehan talkin’ and riffin’ Paul Samwell-Smith https://youtu.be/GTZHEo9gY6I
