The Birds (band)

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Not to be confused with The Byrds.
The Birds
Also known as Birds Birds
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Blues-rock, Pop music
Years active 1963-1966
Label(s) Decca
Members
Ali McKenzie (lead singer)

Tony Munroe (guitar, vocals)
Ronnie Wood (guitar, vocals)
Kim Gardner (bass)
Bob Langham (drums)
Pete McDaniel (drums)
Notable instrument(s)
Fender Telecaster

The Birds were a popular rhythm and blues band in England during the mid-1960s, although they recorded fewer than a dozen songs and released only four singles during the two years they were active. Starting out with a hard R&B sound, they later began infusing it with Motown-style vocal harmonies.[1] The best-known former member of the Birds is Ronnie Wood, who went on to join The Faces and later The Rolling Stones.

Several members of the Birds grew up in the same neighbourhood in Yiewsley, West London, and began playing together in 1964, while still in their teens. At first calling themselves The Thunderbirds, they started out playing local clubs and a neighbourhood community centre, but they soon expanded to a larger club circuit. When they were hired to play on the same bill as Chris Farlowe, whose back-up band was also called The Thunderbirds, they shortened their name to The Birds – a decision which would have significant ramifications later.[1]

When the young band made their first television appearance, they caught the eye of Decca record company executives. The ensuing recording contract resulted in their first two singles, "You Don't Love Me" and "Leaving Here." The Birds seemed destined for stardom with their loud rhythm-and-blues-based music, receiving equal billing with The Who at some shows.

However, in the spring of 1965, the Los Angeles-based band The Byrds was dominating the British charts with "Mr. Tambourine Man," released by the newly-formed British CBS Records. When The Byrds arrived in England for their first British tour that summer, The Birds' manager, Leo de Clerck, took legal action to prevent them from using the name; the action failed, amid a flurry of national press and television coverage.[1] The Byrds' tour was very well received, leaving The Birds feeling that someone had stolen their thunder.[citation needed] The group parted ways with de Clerck soon afterward.[1]

The Birds recorded their last single for Decca in late 1965 and after which they moved to Reaction Records, whose director, Robert Stigwood, suggested they change their name to "The Birds Birds", to distinguish themselves from the American band. Their planned debut album was postponed due to a contract dispute, and ultimately abandoned.[citation needed] In 1966, the band did a cameo appearance in the horror film The Deadly Bees, performing their song "That's All I Need".[2], which would later be seen on Mystery Science Theater 3000. By 1967 the group had disbanded.[3] Lemmy, who was a great fan of The Birds, also recorded "Leaving Here" with his band Motörhead. He was inspired by their version of the song.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Artists

  • Ali McKenzie (lead vocalist)
  • Tony Munroe (guitar, vocals)
  • Ronnie Wood (guitar, harmonica, vocals)
  • Kim Gardner (bass)
  • Bob Langham (drums)
  • Pete Hocking, aka Pete McDaniel (drums)

Session musicians:

  • Clem Cattini (drums on "Granny Rides Again", recorded in December 1966)

[edit] Singles

  • "You're On My Mind" (Ronnie Wood) / "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)" (Ellas McDaniel) (November 1964, Decca F 12031) (Producer: Franklyn Boyd)
  • "Leaving Here" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) b/w "Next in Line" (Ronnie Wood) (April 1965, Decca F 12140) (Producer: Franklyn Boyd)
  • "No Good Without You Baby" (William Stevenson) / "How Can It Be?" (Ronnie Wood) (October 1965, Decca F 12257) (Producer: Franklyn Boyd)
  • "Say Those Magic Words" (Bob Feldman, Doc Pomus, Jerry Goldstein, Mort Shuman, Richard Gottehrer) b/w "Daddy Daddy" (Ronnie Wood/Tony Munroe) (as "Birds Birds", September 1966, Reaction 591 005)

[edit] Other recorded songs

  • "Good Times"
  • "Granny Rides Again"
  • "La Poupée Qui Fait Non" (Polnareff)
  • "Run Run Run" (Pete Townshend)
  • "That's All I Need" (Ronnie Wood/Tony Munroe)
  • "You Shouldn’t Do That" (Ronnie Wood)
  • "What Hit Me" (Ronnie Wood/Tony Munroe)
  • "NSU" (Jack Bruce)

[edit] Compilations

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Wells, David (March 2007), “Bird Song”, Record Collector: pg. 60 - 66 
  2. ^ Full Cast and Crew for The Deadly Bees. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  3. ^ Zentgraf, Nico. Woodworks 1957-1975. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.

[edit] External links