By the time Jimmy Page joined the Yardbirds in 1966, the group was already firmly established as one of the era's most innovative and creatively adventurous British bands. The addition of Page allowed the band's heady mix of blues and psychedelia to coalesce into an edgy approach that laid the stylistic groundwork for Page's next band, Led Zeppelin (who were known as the New Yardbirds in their early days). The Yardbirds' 1967 release Little Games--produced by noted British pop guru Mickie Most--is the band's only album to be recorded entirely with Page as a member, and the only one to feature the group's final lineup of Page and founding members Keith Relf, Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty. Little Games is also a transitional effort that finds the Yardbirds delving into an array of sounds and styles, from gritty blues-rock ("Drinking Muddy Water") to swirling psychedelia ("Glimpses") to introspective balladry ("Only the Black Rose"). Several of the album's tracks can now be seen as sonic blueprints for Led Zeppelin, e.g. "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor" and "Glimpses," both of which feature the distinctive guitar-bowing technique for which Page would soon become famous. Page's acoustic instrumental showcase "White Summer" would later become a frequent feature of Led Zeppelin's live performances. The album also features Page's future Zep bandmate John Paul Jones on bass, cello and string arrangements, along with guest appearances by UK session aces Nicky Hopkins and Clem Cattini. Sundazed Music's new CD and LP editions of Little Games have been sourced from the original UK mono masters. The LP version is pressed on 180 gram vinyl, and meticulously reproduces the album's distinctive original cover art.