Celebrating the extraordinary contributions of legendary guitarist Jimmy Page, yesterday marked his 82nd birthday. While he is best known for his groundbreaking work with the iconic British rock band Led Zeppelin—an ensemble he formed while attempting to reconfigure his previous late-1960s group, The Yardbirds—Page’s musical journey began long before.
Jimmy Page first joined The Yardbirds in 1966, stepping in for original bassist Paul Samwell-Smith. However, it wasn’t long before he transitioned to playing guitar, where he teamed up with fellow guitarist Jeff Beck to create an electrifying dual-guitar sound.
But before immersing himself in the world of The Yardbirds, Page had already made a name for himself as a sought-after session guitarist in London. He lent his remarkable skills to numerous early recordings by various renowned artists.
In honor of Jimmy’s special day, let’s explore four notable tracks by famous musicians that feature the legendary guitarist—a fact not widely known.
“As Tears Go By” by Marianne Faithfull (1964)
One of the earliest compositions by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, “As Tears Go By,” was deemed a potential hit by Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham. However, he felt the baroque-pop ballad didn’t align with the band's image and instead handed it over to rising star Marianne Faithfull, a 17-year-old singer he had met at a party for The Stones.
During the recording session, Jimmy Page contributed his talent by playing a 12-string guitar. Released in June 1964, “As Tears Go By” marked Faithfull's debut single and quickly climbed the charts, reaching the No. 9 spot in the U.K. and hitting No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Interestingly, The Rolling Stones later recorded their own rendition of the song in late 1965, which became a U.S. hit, peaking at No. 6 in early 1966.
“Baby, Please Don’t Go” by Them (1964)
Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Them was a garage-rock band heavily influenced by blues, led by the young and charismatic Van Morrison. Jimmy Page played guitar on several of Them’s early recordings, including their cover of the classic blues track “Baby, Please Don’t Go.”
Released in October 1964, their version of “Baby, Please Don’t Go” became the band’s breakout hit, soaring to No. 10 on the U.K. singles chart. Page also contributed to other successful Them tracks like “Mystic Eyes” and “Here Comes The Night,” both of which enjoyed Top 40 success in the U.S.
“Downtown” by Petula Clark (1964)
By the time Petula Clark released “Downtown,” she was already a well-known figure in the U.K. music scene, but this single catapulted her to international fame, especially in the U.S. Written by the talented Tony Hatch, “Downtown” hit the airwaves in October 1964. It quickly became a sensation, spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1965 and peaking at No. 2 in the U.K.
Jimmy Page was among the many session guitarists who participated in the recording of this iconic track.
“I’m Not Sayin’” by Nico (1965)
Nico, born Christa Paffgen, initially pursued a career as a model in the 1950s and dabbled in acting, appearing in Federico Fellini's classic film La Dolce Vita. By the mid-1960s, she shifted her focus to music, inspired by her romance with Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones. She signed with Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate Records label.
Her debut single, a pop version of Gordon Lightfoot's “I’m Not Sayin’,” featured both Jones and Jimmy Page on guitar, with Jimmy also taking on the role of producer. Released in August 1965, the single did not achieve commercial success.
Interestingly, Jones introduced Nico to the influential Andy Warhol, leading her to perform with The Velvet Underground in New York City by 1966, marking a significant turn in her artistic trajectory.
