The Yardbirds
Janovitz also identifies "Smokestack Lightning" as a blues standard "open to varied interpretation, covered by artists ranging from the Yardbirds to Soundgarden, all stamping their personal imprint on the song". Clapton identifies the Yardbirds' performances of the song as the group's most popular live number. They usually played it every night and sometimes it could last up to 30 minutes. One version lasting 5:35 is included on the Yardbirds UK debut album, "Five Live Yardbirds" (1964) and the US split studio/live album "Having a Rave Up with The Yardbirds" (1965). Howlin' Wolf reportedly referred to the group's interpretation as "the definitive version of his song".