Aye Side
1. The Paupers: Free As A Bird – 1965 *
2. Al Cherny: Early Bird Of Spring – 1974 *
3. Eric Bogle: Birds Of A Feather – 1988
4. Ben Caplan: Bird With Broken Wings – 2014 (Live on air) *
5. Three’s A Crowd: Bird Without Wings – 1968 *
6. Ron McMunn and Country Cousins: Great Speckled Bird – 1964 *
7. Hank Snow: Snow Bird – 1974 *
8. George Jones: The Bird – 1987
9. Gene Parsons: Melodies of a Bird in Flyght – 1979
10. Steel Rail: The Blue Bird Café – 1995 *
11. It’s A Beautiful Day: White Bird – 1969
12. Robyn Hitchcock: Acid Bird – 1981
13. Chubby Checker: Birdland – 1963
14. Bonny Raitt: Bluebird – 1971
15. Catherine MacLellan: Snowbird – 2017 *
The Bee Side
1. The Jam: And Your Bird Can Sing – 1980
2. Roy Forbes: Summer Birds Fly – 1982 *
3. Mary Ford and Les Paul: Humming Bird – 1955
4. The Four Aces: The Cuckoo Bird In The Pickle Tree – 1958
5. Slim Gaillard: Little Bird – 1968
6. The Plague: High Flyin’ Bird – 1967 *
7. Charlie & Inez Fox: Mockingbird – 1963
8. Hank Snow & Anita Carter: Mockin’ Bird Hill – 1962
9. Jewel Aikens: The Birds And The Bees – 1965
10. Wilf Carter: The Sunshine Bird – 1954 *
11. Strawberry Alarm Clock: Birdman of Alkatrash – 1967
12. Silver Apples: Whirly Bird – 1968
13. The Trashmen: Surfin’ Bird – 1963
14. The Trashmen: Bird Bath – 1965
15. The Trashmen: Bird Dance Beat – 1965
16. The Barbarians: Hey Little Birds – 1965
17. Jimmy Bowskill Band: Little Bird – 2012 *
18. Sarah McLaughlan: Blackbird – 2008 *
19. Beatles: Free As A Bird – 1995
20: Jeff Bird & Joel Hunt: Mamma’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe – 2002 *
*CanCon = 40%
And Now for The Particulars
Aye Side
1. The Paupers: Free As A Bird
(R Prokop / B Marion)
45 single: Roman Records - DR 1103
Toronto ON
Ronn 'Skip' Prokop: drums
Denny Gerrard: bass
Bill Misener: guitar, vocals
Chuck Beal: lead guitar
Produced by David Mostoway, 1965
Bill Marion aka Bill Misener
b. Hamilton ON April 18, 1949 / d. Toronto, June 26, 2014 (65)
This was the Paupers in their original formation with Bill Misener playing guitar and lead vocals. At first, in 1964, they were called The Sprats but changed their name in 1965. Their third ever gig as The Paupers was at Maple Leaf Gardens, opening for The Rolling Stones. Marion left the band in 1966 after Bernie Finkelstein took over as their manager and joined The Last Words who had a hit with Give Me Time. After that he got into songwriting and music production. His replacement in The Paupers was Scottish-born producer and songwriter Adam Mitchell.
2. Al Cherny: Early Bird of Spring
(Trad)
Golden Ukrainian Memories: TeeVee Records TA-1017
Medicine Hat AB
Al Cherny: violin
Produced 1974
Alexander Peter Chernywech aka Al Cherny
b Medicine Hat, AB, 1 Nov 1932 / d Missisauga, ON, 23 Aug 1989 (57)
In 1951 he joined Vic Siebert and his Sons of the Saddle. From 1952-59 he was a featured performer on the legendary weekly radio program 'CKNX Saturday Night Barn Dance'. He was a regular performer on CBC TV, first 1963-5 on 'Country Hoedown', and thereafter (until his death) on 'The Tommy Hunter Show'. He also played fiddle on various Stompin’ Tom albums. He was inducted, posthumously, into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
3. Eric Bogle: Birds of a Feather
(Eric Bogle)
When The Wind Blows: Stony Plain Records SPL 1075
Adelaide, Australia
Eric Bogle: vocals
Jim Munro: guitars, mandolin, vocals
Brent Miller: bass, vocals
Andy McGloin: drums
Phil Cuneen: synth
Trev Warner: fiddle
Bob McCarthy: banjo
Lynne Muir: bg vocal
Produced by Eric Bogle & John Munro, 1985
Recorded & Mixed by Peter Brook at Studio 202, Adelaide
Eric Bogle
b. 23 September 1944 Peebles, Scotland.
Eric emigrated from Scotland to Australia 1969 and became a folk singer. No Man’s Land & The Band Played Waltzing Matilda have been covered by dozens of artists.
4. Ben Caplan: Bird With Broken Wings
(Ben Caplan)
Live on air at the 2014 North American Folk Alliance
Halifax NS
Ben Caplan: vocals, guitar
Produced by Steve Fruitman for CIUT-FM
Sound by db Hawkes at the conference Chelsea Hotel Toronto
Ben Caplan
b. Halifax September 4, 1986.
This was a very young Ben performing at the 2014 annual North American Folk Alliance. CIUT had set up a suite for live, on-air performances, mostly overseen by CIUT’s mad wizard, db hawkes.
5. Three’s A Crowd: Bird Without Wings
(Bruce Cockburn)
Christopher’s Movie Matinee: RCA Victor D-50030
Ottawa ON
Trevor Veitch: lead guitar
Brent Titcomb: guitar
David Wiffen: guitar
Ken Koblun: bass
Richard Patterson: drums
Donna Warner vocals
Produced by Mama Cass Elliot & Steve Barri, 1968
Recorded by Chuck Britz at Studio 3 at Western Recorders, Los Angeles, October 1967
Donna Warner
b. November 6, 1946 in Toronto / d. August 6, 2015, in Vancouver (68)
3's A Crowd was formed in August 1964 in Vancouver by folk musician and comedian Brent Titcomb and singer/comedian Donna Warner. January 1965, under the name The Bill Schwartz Quartet, the trio make their debut at Vancouver's Bunkhouse coffeehouse. By May 1965 the trio became 3's A Crowd as suggested by Titcomb's friend King Anderson. They made a demo tape and it was sent to Sid Dolgay, of The Travellers, who offered to manage them. This resulted in gigs in Toronto’s thriving Yorkville coffee house scene.
In 1967 they played at Expo ’67 in Montreal and were seen by Denny Doherty and Cass Elliott of The Mamas & The Papas. Elliot proposed to produce them and contacted ABC Dunhill who brought them to Los Angeles to record what would be their only album. By the summer of ’68 things started coming apart for various reasons and the band saw a revolving door of prominent musicians enter the fold, including Colleen Peterson and Bruce Cockburn. By 1969 they were history. Bass player Ken Koblun began his playing career in Winnipeg with Neil Young and The Squires.
6. Ron McMunn & The Country Cousins: The Great Speckled Bird
(Trad)
Blue Grass Cannonball: Banff Rodeo Records RBS 1197
Stittsville ON
Ron McMunn: guitar, vocals
Wally Jackson: fiddle
Garny Scheels: dobro
Don ONeil: mandolin
Lloyd Grant: banjo
Produced by Ken Ayoub, 1964
Recorded by Paul Mongeau
Ron McMunn (The Silver Fox)
b. 1932 Clayton, ON / d. April 16, 2006.
He left the family farm to join Charlie Finner and the Hay Shakers, where he learned the art of calling squares. In 1954, Ron formed the Country Cousins and was soon performing every Saturday over CJET radio in Smiths Falls. In the 70s, the Country Cousins performed on the Grand Ole Opry and the Wheeling, West Virginia Jamboree. The band also features the Ottawa Valley Melodiers Garney Scheel on dobro (from the Mac Beattie Band).
7. Hank Snow: Snowbird
(Hank Snow)
The Hank Snow Collection: Tee Vee Records TA-1018
Brooklyn NS
Hank Snow: vocal
Chet Atkins: guitar
Hank Garland: guitar
Jerry Byrd: fiddle
Others unknown
Produced 1974
Clarence Eugene Snow
b. May 9th, 1914, Brooklyn NS / d. December 20, 1999 Nashville (85)
Snow also covered Gene MacLellan’s song Snowbird song as well. It originally appeared on the LP Snow In All Seasons (1969)
8. George Jones: The Bird
(Dennis Knutson / A.L. Owens)
Too Wild Too Long: Epic Records FE 40781
Saratoga Texas
George Jones: vocal
Jerry Reed: guitar
Buddy Harman: drums
Others unknown
Produced by Billy Sherrill, 1987
Recorded at Eleven Studio, Nashville
George Glenn Jones
b. Saratoga TX Sept 12, 1931 / d. April 26, 2013 (81) Nashville
9. Gene Parsons: Melodies of a Bird in Flyght
(Gene Parsons / Camille Parsons)
Melodies: Sierra Briar Records - SRS-8703
Morongo Valley CA
Gene Parsons: vocal, string bender guitar, bass, drums
Rob Warford: lead guitar
Greg Harris: acoustic guitar
Produced by Gene Parsons, 1978
Recorded by Steve Zaretsky at Music Grinder Studio, Hollywood CA
Mixed by Gary Skardina, John Kovarek, Steve Zaretsky, Gene Parsons, John Delgatto
Gene Victor Parsons
September 4, 1944 Morongo Valley California
An American drummer, banjo player, guitarist, singer-songwriter, best known for his work with The Byrds from 1968 to 1972. Interestingly enough, before joining The Byrds, Parsons was in a duo with Fiddle player Gib Guilbeau who would later go on to re-found the Flying Burrito Brothers. They were later joined by future Byrd, Clarence White, former guitarist with the Kentucky Colonels, and bassist Wayne Moore to form the band Nashville West. After the dissolution of Nashville West, Parsons was brought into the Byrds by White and was featured drumming on the albums Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde, Ballad of Easy Rider, (Untitled),
Byrdmaniax and Farther Along over a 4 yr stint. Then, of course, he went solo.
The “StringbenderTM” heard on this twangy, live version of the song was invented by ex-Byrds Gene Parsons and Clarence White and was first used by Roger McGuinn. It’s also been used by Albert Lee, Pete Townsend, Randy Bachman, Jimmy Page, Randy Scruggs, Dave Gilmore etc. The resulting tone sounds much like a pedal steel guitar. This song pays homage to Clarence White.
10. Steel Rail: The Blue Bird Café
(Lucinda Chodan / Dave Clarke)
A Thousand Miles of Snow: Crossties Music CD 1001
Montreal
Tod Gorr: lead vocals, guitar
Ellen Shizgal: vocals, bass
Dave Clarke: vocals, guitar
With
Thom Gossage: bowed bass
Don Reed: violin
Al Bragg: pedal steel
Produced by Bill Garrett, 1995
Recorded by Ken Friesen and Rod Barr at Lakeside Studios, Clayton ON (Almonte)
Mixed by Bill Garrett, Ken Friesen and Dave Clarke
11. It’s A Beautiful Day: White Bird
(Linda Laflamme / David Laflamme)
It’s A Beautiful Day: Columbia Records CS 9768
San Francisco CA
David Laflamme: violin, vocals
Hal Wagenet: guitar
Mitchell Hollman: bass
Linda Laflamme: keys, vocals
Pattie Santos: percussion
Produced by Matthew Katz & David Laflamme 1969
Recorded by Brian Ross-Myring
Gary Poise aka David LaFlamme
b. May 4, 1941, in New Britain, CT / d. August 6, 2023 Santa Rosa, California (82)
Active years: 1967-1974
Gary Poise changed his stage name David LaFlamme to protect his reputation as a classical music world of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Orchestras at the time didn’t think much of Rock music. In 1967 the band were living in Seattle, Washington, practicing in an attic. David LaFlamme explains the origins of their hit song White Bird:
“Where the 'White Bird' thing came from ... We were like caged birds in that attic. We had no money, no transportation, the weather was miserable. We were just barely getting by on a very small food allowance provided to us. It was quite an experience, but it was very creative in a way.” The track has been praised for its lyrical depth and musical complexity. In later years, LaFlamme suffered from Parkinson's disease which eventually killed him.
12. Robyn Hitchcock: Acid Bird
(R Hitchcock)
Black Snake Diamond Role: An Armageddon Record ARM 4
London UK
Robyn Hitchcock: piano, lead guitar, vocal
Gary Barnacle: sax
Matthew Seligman: bass
Vince Ely: drums
Kimberley Rew: guitar
Produced by Pat Collier and Matthew Seligman, 1981
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock
b. March 3, 1953 London
Influenced by such diverse artists as Syd Barrett, John Lennon and Roger McGuinn, Hitchcock moved from London to Cambridge to busk. He joined several bands before going it alone. BB Blackberry & The Swelterettes, The worst Fears, Maureen & The Meatpackers, Dennis & The Experts and most successfully, The Soft Boys before going solo. This song is from his first solo shot.
13. Chubby Checker: Birdland
(Mann / Smith)
45 rpm single: Parkway Records - P-873X
Spring Gulley, SC, USA
Chubby Checker: vocal
The Dovells: back up vocals
Produced by Mike Manieri, 1963
Mastered at Audio Matrix by Stan Ricker
Ernest Evans
b. Spring Gully SC Oct 3, 1941 / still active since 1958
As a teen, he worked at a produce market and would sing and tell jokes. It was his boss there who started calling him Chubby. It was American Bandstand host Dick Clark, who’s wife thought Chubby Checker would be a better name. He would imitate other singers: Frankie Avalon, Ricky Nelson, Elvis and even The Chipmunks. That was his shtick before The Twist became the new rage around 1960.
14. Bonnie Raitt: Bluebird
(Steve Stills)
Bonnie Raitt: Warner Bros Records – WS1953
Burbank CA
Bonnie Raitt: vocals, slide guitar, acoustic guitar
A C Reed: tenor sax
Peter Bell: electric guitar
Freebo: fretless bass
Steve Bradley: drums
Eugene Hoffman: cowbell
Willie Murphy: piano
Produced by Willie Murphy, 1971
Recorded by Dave and Sylvia Ray at Sweet Jane Studios, Minneapolis
Mixed by Kendall Pacios
Bonnie Lynn Raitt
b. November 8, 1949 Burbank CA
This is a great rendition of Stephen Stills’ Bluebird, originally recorded by Buffalo Springfield. In March 2000, Raitt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
15. Catherine MacLellan: Snowbird
(Gene MacLellan)
Snowbird: The Songs of Gene MacLellan: True North Records TND 676
Rural PEI
Catherine MacLellan: guitar, vocal
Chris Gauthier: electric guitar, bg vocal
Produced by Karl Falkenham, 2017
Recorded at Zion Presbyterian Church, Charlottetown PEI 2013
Recorded by Pat Martin, Rod Sneddon and Kenny MacDonald
House Sound: House Front Productions
Catherine MacLellan
b. Halifax NS February 27, 1969
Catherine was raised in Summerside, PEI, the daughter of a famous singer-songwriter who died of suicide. It took her a long time to reconcile her father’s life, but she did it in a big way, producing a stage play musical about her father’s life.
This was recorded back in 2013 but only released in 2017 and features various artists covering Gene MacLellan’s songs, including Lenny Gallant, John Connoly, Dennis Ellsworth and Ron Hynes doing versions of Gene’s songs. Catherine has just completed a summer-long show of her father’s life and songs. Considering Anne Murray’s definitive version of Snowbird, listening to Catherine’s interpretation is awe inspiring.
The Bee Side
1. The Jam: And Your Bird Can Sing
(Lennon / McCartney)
Sound Affects: Polydor – 5330678
London UK
Paul Weller – guitar, vocals, keyboards, sitar
Bruce Foxton – bass guitar, vocals
Rick Buckler – drums, percussion
Produced by Peter Wilson and The Jam, 1980
Paul Weller cited Sound Affects as his favourite Jam album.
2. Roy Forbes: Summer Birds Fly
(R Forbes)
Anything You Want: CBC / Stony Plain: SPL 1044
North Vancouver, BC
Roy Forbes: vocal, guitar, harmonica
Produced by Claire Lawrence, 1982
Recorded live at The Vancouver East Cultural Centre
Recorded by Susan Englebert, Don Hardisty, John Henderson & Claire Lawrence, Sept 1981
Roy Charles Forbes aka Bim
b. February 13, 1953 Dawson Creek, BC
He began his career as Bim, opening for Santana and Supertramp in the early 70s. Signed to A&M Records, he put out 5 LPs under that name before becoming Roy Forbes again. Songs written by Forbes have been recorded by Sylvia Tyson, Garnet Rogers, Valdy, and Susan Jacks. He also hosts a CKUA radio program called Roy's Record Room. He’s always had a strong love for old time Canadian records.
3. Mary Ford & Les Paul: Humming Bird
(Don Robertson)
Today’s Top Hits Vol 13: Capitol Records T9127
Waukesha WI / El Monte CA
Les Paul: electric guitar
Mary Ford: vocals, guitar
Produced by Les Paul, 1955
Recorded July 9, 1955 by Les Paul in his garage
Iris Colleen Summers aka Mary Ford
b El Monte CA July 7, 1924 / d. Sept 30, 1977 Arcadia CA (53)
Lester William Polsfuss aka Les Paul
b. Waukesha Wisconsin June 9, 1915 / d. Aug 12, 2009 White Plains NY (94)
So many great sounds that Les Paul concocted out of his Gibson, using multi-tracking, which he invented, to do so. These were sounds never heard on disk before. Paul and Ford were a husband and wife duo who sold more than 6 million records in 1951. They were introduced to each other by none-other than Gene Autry! They had 16 top-ten recordings between 51 and 54, including their version of the Tennessee Waltz. They recorded most of their songs in a make-shift recording studio that Paul built in his garage. He also designed the body of the Gibson Les Paul, in case you were wondering.
4. The Four Aces: The Cuckoo Bird in the Pickle Tree
(Al Alberts / Ted Murray / Raymond Leveen)
The Four Aces Sing Featuring Al Alberts: Vocalion VL 3604
Chester PA
Al Alberts
Dave Mahoney
Lou Silvestri
Rosario "Sod" Vaccaro
Produced 1958
Got together in 1957: lead vocalist Al Alberts left a year later, after recording this song, to go solo. In the 1960s he became a TV personality in the Philadelphia region with his show, Al Alberts Showcase. Voted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame 2001
5. Slim Gaillard: Little Bird
(T Wolf / D Grove / P Jolly)
45 single bw Blowin’ In The Wind: Epic Records 5-10336
Detroit MI
Slim Gaillard: guitar, vocal
Others not listed
Produced by Jackie Mills, 1968
Bulee Gaillard
b. January 9, 1911 Detroit Michigan / d. February 26, 1991 (80) London
Known mostly as a guitarist, Slim Gaillard was an American jazz singer and songwriter who also played piano, vibraphone, and tenor sax. Gaillard first rose to prominence in the late 1930s as part of Slim & Slam, a jazz novelty act he formed with bassist Slam Stewart. Gaillard's appeal was similar to Cab Calloway's and Louis Jordan's in that he presented a hip style with broad appeal but unlike them, he was a master improviser whose stream of consciousness vocals ranged far from the original lyrics.
He spoke 5 languages and wrote his own dictionary.
6. The Plague: High Flying Bird
(Bill Ed Wheeler)
45 single bw Love and Obey: Reo Records 8981X
Thunder Bay ON
Don Brown: guitar, vocals
Tom Horricks: sax, lead vocals
Lyn McEachern: drums, lead vocal
Joey Stapansky: keys, vocals
George Stevenson: bass, vocals
Produced by Don Grashey, 1967
The band started as 'Donny B and the Bonnvilles became 'The Plague', then 'The Lexington Avenue' and 'The Jarvis Street Revue'. It was as The Plague that they made some of their most memorable recordings. One of the band’s earlier recordings was a 45 credited only to Lyn McEachern called “World of Dreams”. They were good friends with Neil Young and the Squires and remember Neil showing them a song that would eventually be known as Helpless. The band traveled on the road for over 22 years.
7. Charlie & Inez Foxx: Mockingbird
(Charlie and Inez Foxx)
45 single bw Jaybirds: Sue Records S-919
Greensboro, NC
Inez Foxx: vocals
Charlie Foxx: vocals, guitar
Bert Keyes: music director
Produced by Henry 'Juggy' Murray, 1963
Inez Foxx
b. Greensboro, NC September 9, 1942/ d. Aug 26, 2022 Monroe, North Carolina (81)
Charlie Foxx
b. October 23, 1939 / d. September 18, 1998 (59)
A brother and sister act, they started off singing in gospel groups before travelling to New York in 1960 to make their first record under the name Inez Johnson. That record flopped. In early 1963, the pair introduced themselves to Henry 'Juggy' Murray, the owner of Sue Records, and sang him their arrangement of the traditional lullaby called "Hush, Little Baby". They re-titled the song "Mockingbird", and released it in 1963. It was their most successful record, selling over a million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. It was later covered Aretha Franklin, James Taylor and Carly Simon, Dusty Springfield, Etta James with Taj Mahal and Toby Keith.
8. Hank Snow & Anita Carter: Mockin’ Bird Hill
(Vaughan Horton, music / Carl Jularbo, lyrics)
Together Again: RCA Living Stereo LSP-2580
Nashville
Hank Snow: vocal
Anita Carter: vocal
Mother Maybelle, June & Helen Carter: bg vocals
Chet Atkins (guitar)
Hank Garland (guitar)
Jerry Byrd (steel guitar)
Others not known
Produced by Chet Atkins, 1962
Recorded by Bill Porter at RCA’s Nashville Sound Studio
Ina Anita Carter
b. Mar 31, 1933 Maces Spring, Virginia / d. July 29, 1999 (66) Hendersonville, TN
Mockin’ Bird Hill was first recorded by a duo called The Beaver Valley Sweethearts in 1950. A year later it was covered by Les Paul and Mary Ford who had the first hit with it. It has been recorded by Patti Page, Teresa Brewer, George Jones, Ray Stevens and Donna Fargo.
Anita Carter was one of the Carter Family. Her first significant solo work was the 1951 single ''Bluebird,'' a duet with Hank Snow that topped the country charts along with its B-side, ''Down the Trail of Achin' Hearts.''
This is a German version of the LP with one of those floppy covers.
9. Jewel Akens: The Birds and The Bees
(Barry Stuart)
45 Single: Era Records 3141
Houston TX
Jewel Akens: vocal
Billy Strange: guitar
Ervan Coleman: guitar
Bob West: bass
Arthur Wright: bass
Hal Blaine: drums
Leon Russell: piano
Produced by Herb Newman, 1964
Recorded at Gold Star Studios by Stan Ross
Jewel Eugene Akens
b. Houston TX Sept 12, 1933 / d. Inglewood CA March 1, 2013 (79)
Akens was in the Medallions and The Four Dots before forming a recording duo with Eddie Daniels in 1960. After the success of Birds And The Bees (a golden record selling more than a million copies) in 1965, he ran on its steam for several years, even touring with The Monkees. He died of complications from back surgery in 2013. The song was actually written by the 12 year old son of Era Records owner, Herb Newman but used the name Barry Stuart in the credits. Newman was also a composer, scoring a major hit for Gogi Grant called “The Wayward Wind” in 1956.
10. Wilf Carter: The Sunshine Bird
(Ruth Roberts / Bill Katz)
The Dynamite Trail: Decca Records DL 4092
Port Hilford NS
Wilf Carter: vocals
Chet Atkins: guitar
Jack Shook: guitar
Jerry Byrd: steel
Ernie Newton: bass
Farris Coursey: drums
Tommy Jackson: fiddle
Owen Bradley: piano
Produced by Paul Cohen, 1960
Recorded at Bradley Studio, Nashville TN November 23, 1954
First issued on Decca 29535
Wilfred Carter AKA Montana Slim
b. Port Hilford NS 1904 / d. December 5, 1996 (91) Scottsdale, Arizona
Performed and recorded in every decade, since 1932 through to the Eighties. Inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame 1971, Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame 1984; Canadian Music Hall of Fame 1985; Juno Awards Hall of Fame 1985; Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame 1997.
People have asked me over the years: what artist do you wish you could have seen perform live. I had a chance to see Wilf up in Barrie but didn’t go. He died soon after and it’s one of my regrets.
11. Strawberry Alarm Clock: Birdman of Alkatrash
(M Weitz)
45 single bw Incense And Peppermints: Uni Records 55018
Los Angeles CA
Lee Freeman: rhythm guitars, harmonica, vocals
Ed King: lead guitar, vocal
Gary Lovetro: bass
Gene Gunnels: drums, vocal
Mark Weitz: keys, lead vocal
George Bunnell: bass, guitars, vocal
Steve Bartek: guitar, flute
Produced by Frank Slay and Bill Holmes, 1967
Producer Frank Slay denied band songwriters Mark Weitz and Ed King any credits for the A side hit, Incense and Peppermints. Guitarist Ed King later played with Lynyrd Skynyrd. For a throw-away B-side, Birdman of Alkatrash is actually a really decent song.
12. Silver Apples: Whirly-Bird
(Dan Taylor / Simeon Coxe)
Silver Apples: Kapp Records KS 3562
New York City
Danny Taylor: drums, vocals
Simeon: the thing (the Simeon), vocals
Produced by Barry Bryant 1968
Recorded by Don Van Gorden, New York City
Simeon Oliver Coxe III
b. Knoxville TN June 4, 1938
Danny Taylor:
b. December 10, 1946 NYC / d. March 10, 2005 (75)
Both players were in (NYC) house band The Overland Stage Electric Band in 1967 and quit to form Silver Apples. Taylor was a drummer whose previous experience included playing with Jimi Hendrix. Their first gig as SA was before 30,000 fans in NY's Central Park Taylors drum-set included thirteen drums, five cymbals and other percussion instruments. They had their detractors: Blood, Sweat and Tears members stated publically after a gig with them: “We actually had to leave the dressing room, it was so awful.” But John Lennon said: “Watch out for a band called Silver Apples, they are the next thing.”
Danny Taylor died on March 10, 2005 Kingston, NY of heart attack. Simeon keeps doing Silver Apples gigs using the original drum tracks of Taylor.
Focus on The Trashmen: 1962 – 1967
13. The Trashmen: Surfin’ Bird
(Steve Wahrer)
45 Single bw King of the Surf: Apex Records 76894
Minneapolis MN
Tony Andreason: lead guitar
Dal Winslow: Guitar
Bob Reed: bass
Steve Wahrer: drums, lead vocals
Produced by George Garrett, 1963
Recorded at Kay Bank Studio, Minneapolis
14. The Trashmen: Bird Bath
(Dan Darnold / Norman Knowles / Trashmen)
Surfin Bird: Garrett Records ? LPGA-200,
Minneapolis MN
Tony Andreason, lead guitar
Dal Winslow, Guitar
Bob Reed, bass
Steve Wahrer, drums, lead vocals
Produced by George Garrett, 1965
15. The Trashmen: Bird Dance Beat
(George Garrett)
45 rpm single bw A-Bone: Apex Records (Canada) 76904
Minneapolis MN
Tony Anderson: lead guitar
Dal Winslow: guitar
Bob Reed: bass
Steve Wahrer: drums, lead vocals
Produced by George Garrett, 1964
Steve Wahrer
b. June 23, 1941 / d. January 21, 1989 (47) Minneapolis
The distinctive voice of the Bird
The Trashmen formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1962 as Jim Thaxter & the Travelers. The group's original lineup was Tony Anderson on lead guitar and vocals, Dal Winslow on guitar and vocals, Steve Wahrer (d. 1989 cancer age 47) on drums and lead vocals, and Bob Reed on bass guitar. After a trip to California 1962, the group started playing surf rock which blended well with their raw garage rock sound.
The Trashmen's biggest hit was 1963's "Surfin' Bird", which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the latter part of that year. The song was a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons, "The Bird's the Word" and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". The earliest pressings of the single credit the Trashmen as composers, but following a threat from The Rivingtons' legal counsel, that group was subsequently credited as composers. The Bird Dance Beat, credited to their producer, George Garrett, was the follow up hit that did pretty well in the charts. After that The Trashmen faded away.
16. The Barbarians: Hey Little Birds
(Tommy Kaye)
45 single bw You’ve Got To Understand: Joy Records 45K-290
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Jerry Causi: lead vocal
Victor Moulton: drums
Bruce Benson: bass
Geoffry Morris: guitar
Produced by Doug Morris, September 1964
Arranged by Al Ham
Active between 1964 and 1967, were known for drummer Victor "Moulty" Molton's prosthetic hook used in place of his missing left hand to hold his drumstick. They also wore pirate outfits to fit Molton’s image. They received their biggest break when featured on Pan USA The T.A.M.I. tour in 1965 alongside other artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Lesley Gore, Chuck Berry, James Brown & The Famous Flames, The Miracles, and Marvin Gaye. A later, minor hit, entitled "Moulty", was a humorous auto-biographical song about the drummer's life and losing his hand when he was 14. Moulton sang lead on the track, but instead of the original members, he was backed by a Toronto group, Levon & the Hawks, later to be known as The Band.
17. Jimmy Bowskill Band: Little Bird
(Jimmy Bowskill / Ian McKeown / Daniel Reiff)
Back Number: Ruf Records RUF 2008
Toronto ON
Jimmy Bowskill: guitar, piano, trumpet, vocals
Ian McKeown: bass, trombone, vocals
Dan Reiff: drums, vocals
Produced & mixed by Brian Moncarz and the Jimmy Bowskill Band, 2013
Recorded by Wayne Cochrane & Kevin Dietz at Metalworks Studios, Toronto & Rattlebox North
Mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe Lambert Mastering, Brooklyn NY
Jimmy Bowskill
b. Bailieboro ON Sept 16, 1990An amazing guitar prodigy, Bowskill was only around 11 when he started showing his guitar prowess. He was only 14 when he released his first 'self-titled' album. He would hang out at Bathurst and Queen St West in Toronto, in front of the Paddock Tavern where Jeff Healy ran a basement club and invited Bowskill up to play.
18. Sarah McLachlan: Blackbird
(Paul McCartney)
Rarities, B-Sides, And Other Stuff 2: Nettwerk – 0 6700 30796 2 4
Halifax NS
Vocals: Sarah McLachlan:
Acoustic Guitar – Sean Ashby
Bass Drum – Chris Potter
Keyboards – Pierre Marchand
Vocals, [Toy] Piano– Ashwin Sood
Produced and Mixed By Pierre Marchand, 2008
Recorded by Chris Potter
Sarah McLaughlan
b. Born: January 28, 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia
19. The Beatles: Free As A Bird
(Lennon / McCartney / Harrison / Starr)
The Beatles Anthology 1: EMI Music Canada – C4 7243 8 34445 4 0
UK
John Lennon: lead vocals, piano
Paul McCartney: lead and harmony vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, piano
George Harrison: lead and harmony vocals, slide guitar, acoustic guitar, ukulele
Ringo Starr: backing vocals, drums
Jeff Lynne: backing vocals, electric guitar
Produced by The Beatles & Jeff Lynne, 1995
Recorded in New York (John Lennon), 1977 and UK Studios, 1994
"Free as a Bird" is a song originally composed and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon. In 1995 a studio version of the recording, incorporating contributions from Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, was released as a single by the Beatles, 25 years after their break-up. The single was released as part of the promotion for The Beatles Anthology video documentary and the band's Anthology 1 compilation album. For the Anthology project, McCartney asked Lennon's widow Yoko Ono for unreleased material by Lennon to which the three remaining ex-Beatles could contribute
20: Jeff Bird & Joel Hunt: Mamma’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe
(Bird / Hunt)
Sixty Second Songs: DROG 100
Guelph
Jeff Bird: bass, harmonica, percussion, keys
Joel Hunt: fiddle, mandolin
Produced by Nik Tjelios, 2002 *
Recorded by Jeff Bird at Ty Tyrfu and Joel Hunt at Joel’s House
Various birds recorded by Patrick Sellar and Victor C. Lewis
Bird Song Adventure: Pye Records NPL 15050
Produced by Sellar and Lewis, 1965
Birds of the UK, Iceland and Greenland
Heard over:
CIUT FM 89.5 CHMR FM 93.5 FM
University of Toronto Radio Inc Memorial University, St. John's NL
Mondays 12 noon Tuesdays 10 pm NT
Radio Bell Island 93.9 FM Radio VGR
Wabana, Bell Island NL London/Thetford UK
Wednesdays 4 pm NT Tues 10 pm GMT; Sat 3:30 am
Bluewater Radio CFBW 91.3 FM VOBB The Voice of Bonne Bay
Walkerton ON Rocky Harbour 98.1 FM
Grey Co. ON Bonne Bay 95.9 FM
Sundays 6 pm ET Tuesdays 9 pm NT
BOIR Bay of Islands Radio Home Grown Community Radio
100.1 FM CHCR 102.9 FM
Corner Brook, NL Killaloe ON
Thursdays 2 pm NT Various Times
Community Radio CIOE
97.5 FM
Lower Sackville NS
Sun 8 pm AT