Shapes of Things: From the Yardbirds to Yusuf with Paul Samwell-Smith

Shapes of Things contains a series of interviews with bassist and producer Paul Samwell-Smith discussing the first decade of his career. Paul got his start in the pioneering 1960s band the Yardbirds, working alongside guitarists Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. He led the group’s musical evolution during the group’s peak years, moving from hard-hitting covers of American blues and R’n’B songs to a string of influential Top Ten singles, including “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Evil Hearted You/Still I’m Sad,” “Shapes of Things,” and “Over, Under, Sideways, Down.” After leaving the Yardbirds in 1966 (Jimmy Page was his replacement), Paul became a highly successful producer, especially known for his work with Cat Stevens/Yusuf and Carly Simon. In these interviews, Paul talks about life as a pop star at the height of Beatlemania, learning the ropes and coming into his own as a producer, and the personal crises that twice forced him to step back from the rock’n’roll life. Along the way, he provides an intimate look at recording the Yardbirds, Yusuf, and Carly Simon, as well as encounters with artists from Jimmy Reed and Sonny Boy Williamson II, to Cyril Davies, the Beatles, Peter and Gordon, Jackie DeShannon, the Rolling Stones, Murry Head, Paul Simon, and more.