The Yardbirds' discography is a bit confusing. Most of the band's recordings prior to mid-1966 seem to fall under some kind of public domain, resulting in numerous compilations by any number of record companies.

Here are recommendations for your listening pleasure based on what's in my collection:

The Yardbirds:
* "Jeff Beck: The Yardbird Years" - classics from 1965-66, including some rarities that haven't turned up on other compilations
* "Roger the Engineer" - the band cut its first LP in 1966, which was called "The Yardbirds" in the U.K. and "Over Under Sideways Down" over here
* "Little Games Sessions & More" - this two-disc collection features Jimmy Page on lead guitar and also includes the output of Together, Keith Relf's and Jim McCarty's brief post-Yardbirds folk band
* "The Yardbirds Live with Jimmy Page" - this apparently has been released legimately on CD, but is very hard to find
* "BBC Sessions" - the Warner Bros. Archives series gathered these recordings featuring Beck and/or page in a collection that would play a lot better if not for the inane chattering of the BBC disc jockeys
* "Cumular Limit" - a recent compilation gathers various live recordings, outtakes, alternate versions and previously unreleased material of the Page-era band; of note is the live "Dazed and Confused" recorded in France
* "Birdland" - the 2003 comeback featuring McCarty, Chris Dreja and a slew of talented guest guitarists

Eric Clapton:
* "Crossroads" - the first nine tracks of the essential four-disc anthology features Clapton's studio work with the Yardbirds

Jeff Beck:
* "Beckology" - much of the first disc of the three-CD set is dedicated to Beck's work with the Yardbirds; also of interest are three songs by his pre-Yardbirds band, the Tridents
* "Truth" - Beck's solo debut features Rod Stewart singing a hard-rock version of "Shapes of Things"; also, the instrumental track "Beck's Bolero" is performed by the Yardbirds

Renaissance:
"Renaissance" - the 1969 release is the only full album by the original band, which included Relf and McCarty

Led Zeppelin:
"Led Zeppelin" - the debut of Page's band includes the best-known version of "Dazed and Confused"
"BBC Sessions" - includes a medley featuring "White Summer," which Page originally performed with the Yardbirds, as well as a longer "Dazed and Confused"

Box of Frogs:
"Box of Frogs" and "Strange Land" represent the output of the mid-'80s studio band that featured many former members of the Yardbirds