Released just months after “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul” marked a bold new chapter for The Yardbirds. It was their first single with Jeff Beck as lead guitarist, replacing Eric Clapton. The track quickly became a global hit, climbing to #2 in the UK and #9 in the US charts.
The Yardbirds initially experimented with an actual sitar for the distinctive riff—yet it lacked groove. Jeff Beck ingeniously recreated the sitar-like effect on his electric guitar using a fuzz box, achieving what’s considered one of the earliest milestones in raga rock.
His bent notes, droning open strings, and microtonal stylings created a mesmerizing, Eastern-tinged atmosphere—all while pioneering fuzz guitar before “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones.
Penned by Graham Gouldman (later of 10cc), the song’s lyrics are drenched in heartbreak and longing:
“Sick at heart and lonely, deep in dark despair… I got a heart full of soul.”
These melancholic yet hopeful lines tap into universal emotions of yearning, making the track timeless and deeply relatable.
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