Bird & Animal Names In Rock & Roll History

Part XI

As we continue our series about “bird” and “animal” groups and artists in rock and roll, let us again focus on bird names.

A clean-cut vocal group from Brooklyn, New York called “Jay & the Americans” scored several Billboard Top 40 hits throughout the sixties.  Interestingly, neither lead singers’ John Traynor nor David Blatt was named Jay, but their names were changed to fit the band billing.

The group scored a Top 40 hit in 1962 called “She Cried,” with John “Jay” Traynor as the lead vocalist.  Produced by the team of Leiber and Stroller, the song was full of booming percussion and lush string arrangements and peaked at number five on the Billboard Top 40 charts.  Traynor left the group shortly thereafter, and he was replaced by David Blatt, who would be known as “Jay” Black.

In 1963, a song called “Only In America” (Jay Black’s first with his new group) hit the charts, peaking at number twenty-five on the Billboard Top 40.  Interestingly, the song was originally recorded by the Drifters, but when their record label decided not to release the song, their vocals were erased and Jay and the American’s vocals were added to it.

With the upper-register vocals of Jay Black, the group had their biggest hit in 1964 with a song called “Just A Little Bit Closer.”  In 1965, the vocal group peaked at number four on the charts with the Mexican-flavored “Cara Mia,” with Jay Black’s impeccable and legendary high vocals shining with authority.

The group went on to score several more Billboard Top 40 hits including “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Sunday And Me” (a 1965 song that was Neil Diamond’s first hit as a song writer) and “Crying” (1966).  After a long break from the Top 40, Jay & the Americans hit pay dirt again with a million-selling cover of the Drifters’ 1960 hit single called “This Magic Moment.”  Their last hit was a remake of the Ronette’s tune called “Walkin’ In The Rain.” 

Mired in a contractual dispute with United Artists over publishing rights stopped the group from recording for several years.  But Jay Black kept the name alive by touring on the “oldie’s circuit” well into the 90's.  The legendary group reunited in the 90’s for special performances and in 2001, Jay was featured in the PBS doo wop series as “Jay Black & the Americans.”  They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.  ( Did you know that future founding members of “Steely Dan,” Donald Fagen and Walter Becker played in the back up band for Jay & the American’s for a time in the early 1970's?)

A relentless touring band hailing from Austin, Texas called the “Fabulous Thunderbirds” helped popularize “roadhouse Texas-blues” and released several critically acclaimed albums in the 1980's.  During the group’s heyday in the early 80's, the Fabulous Thunderbirds were star attractions on the blues bar circuit, playing compelling blues-rock blended with smart rhythms and genre defining guitars.

Formed in 1974 by guitarist Jimmy Vaughan (older brother of the legendary blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan), bassist Keith Ferguson (who had declined an invitation to join up with the stalwart rockers ZZ Top), drummer Mike Buck and singer/harmonica player Kim Wilson, the band built up a strong fan base and gained notoriety as the house band at Antone’s (a popular Austin nightclub/bar).  They soon attracted the attention of a local record label named Takoma Records.  After their self-titled album was released in 1979, they gained overseas exposure and a new fan base by opening for the new-wave rocker’s Rockpile (member Nick Lowe would go on and produce the group’s forth album).  The release proved popular enough to attract attention from major record labels and the group signed on with Chrysalis Records in 1980.

The band’s debut release on their new label called “What’s The Word” was filled with powerful, zesty guitar rock.  They followed this album with two more, 1981's “Butt Rockin’” and 1982's    album called “T Bird Rhythm” (with Fran Christina now on drums).  Although the albums were very well-received by the critics, they did not sell very well.  But, the group gained the respect and admiration of fellow musicians, even opening for the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.  However, with sluggish album sales, Chrysalis dropped the band and they were without a recording contract until they were signed by Epic Records in 1985.

With Dave Edmunds (band mate of Nick Lowe) producing the band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds cut their breakthrough fifth album, entitled “Tuff Enuff.”  The album became a crossover success and the title track was released as a single, and buoyed by repetitive MTV air play, the song broke into the Billboard Top 40, peaking at number ten.  The subsequent success of the single propelled the album to number thirteen on the album charts, eventually going platinum.  The group also relied on covers of soul music, with cuts like “Wrap It Up,” which is a cover of an old Sam and Dave song and it was released as the second single.

But, success was fleeting, the next album “Hot Number” (1987), did very well at first, even producing the Top Ten Album Rock hit “Stand Back,” but the album quickly fell off the charts.  The commercialism and radio-ready sound alienated long time fans.  A single called “Powerful Stuff” was included in the soundtrack for the Tom Cruise movie “Cocktail” and it is also included on the disappointing album release of the same name (1989).  This particular release spent only seven weeks on the charts.

Jimmy Vaughan left the band after the “Powerful Stuff” lp to team up with his now famous sibling and was replaced by Duke Robillard and Kid Bangham.  With a new line up, the band released the album “Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk” in the winter of 1991.  Though the band returns to their roots, playing straightforward blues rock; it was bland in comparison to the band’s sound when Jimmy Vaughan was playing with the band.  They were dropped by their record label, shortly after its release.

With the group in limbo in the nineties, Wilson released a couple of solo efforts (1993 and 1994) before reassembling the group in late 1994 for the album “Roll The Dice.”  It was certainly a much better album that its predecessor, and the group followed the release with the album “High Water” in 1997 and a “live” album in 2001, but the magic that was the Fabulous Thunderbirds was gone.

Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his ebook called "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."  Contact Robert at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com

Bird & Animal Names In Rock & Roll History

Part IX

As we continue our series of articles about “bird” and “animal” groups and artists in rock and roll history, let’s continue with our “bird” theme.

As all James Brown fans know, there was a man behind his music and we may have never heard of “The Godfather of Soul,” if not for a gentleman named Bobby Byrd.  You see, in the early 1950's, Byrd and his family sponsored Brown’s release from prison (Brown was incarcerated for armed robbery) and Byrd also gave Brown a job in his vocal group, The Flames.  The charismatic and enthusiastic Brown soon took over and the group became James Brown and the Famous Flames.

But like many close associates of Brown, Byrd got a chance to record his own music.  Byrd had modest success with the Brown produced songs “We’re In Love” (1965) and “I Need Help (I Can’t Do It Alone”(1970), each making the R & B Top 20.  But Byrd performed a valuable service at concerts to, not only Brown, but Soul music in general, as he often would warm up the crowds as a solo singer before retreating into the background on keyboards as a member of the Famous Flames.  He and Brown split up in 1973 and Byrd has recorded sporadically since then.

In 1958, a line up consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles formed a vocal ensemble called the Triumphs.  They recorded for King as the Mascots and made their recording debut with the song “Miracles,” under the Wayco Record label.  A Cleveland DJ named Eddie O’Jay loved the group and he decided to become the vocal group’s manager and as a gesture of appreciation the group renamed themselves the O’Jays.  They recorded for Imperial Records from 1963-67 with minor success (“Stand In For Love” number twelve on the R&B charts in 1966).

In 1966, Isles left the group and the quartet signed on with Bell Records and scored a number eight R&B hit called “I’ll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today”) in 1967.  After the members of the O’Jays contemplating quitting, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff signed the group to their Neptune label and the O’Jays had four hits including “One Night Affair” (number fifteen on the R&B 1969) and “Looky Looky (Look At Me Girl)” (number seventeen on the R&B charts in 1970).  But after Neptune Records folded, Massey quit the group and started producing records.

The trio of Levert, Williams and Powell attempted self-promotion, but soon signed on with Gamble and Huff’s new label, Philadelphia International.  Under their guidance, the O’Jays came into their own with an impressive set of gold and platinum records.  This includes eight number one R&B singles from 1972-1978 including the smash hit (and now featured in a beer commercial), “Love Train” (1973), “For The Love Of Money” (1974), “I Love Music (Part One) ”(1975) and “Use Ta Be My Girl” (number four in 1978).

But in 1975, Powell was stricken with cancer and could no longer tour (he died two years later) and he was replaced by little Anthony & The Imperials veteran Sammy Strain.  The group continued to produce quintessential Soul and R&B music with hits such as “Lovin’ You” (a number one on the R&B charts in 1987 from the lp, “Let Me Touch You”) and a number four R&B hit in 1989 called “Serious.”  The singles included “Have You Had Your Love Today” (number one on the R&B singles chart), “Out Of My Mind” (number eleven R&B charts) as well as “Serious Hold On Me,” which peaked at number nine on the R&B charts.  In 1991, the O’Jays released the lp (another gold record for the group) “Emotionally Yours,” which included the hit singles “Keep On Lovin’ Me” (number four on the R&B charts), “Don’t Let Me Down” (number two R&B charts) and the Bob Dylan-penned tune “Emotionally Yours” (number five on the R&B charts).

In 1993, Sammy Strain left the group to reform Little & the Imperials and was replaced by Nathan Best.  The O’Jays released the album “Heartbreaker” that same year and it was yet another Top Ten R&B classic.  Eric Grant replaced Best before the 1997 album called “Love You To Tears” (number fourteen on the R&B charts and number seventy-five on the Pop charts)

The group has certainly paid their dues, touring incessantly and they also have kept their sound alive by adapting to the musical changes in Pop, R&B and Soul music.  But one thing has remained constant, the O’Jays have created an R&B legacy that is unmatched and they are one of the signature Soul groups of all time.

Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his ebook called "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."  Contact Robert at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com

Bird & Animal Names In Rock & Roll History

Part X

As we continue our article series about “bird” and “animal” artists and groups in rock and roll, let’s revisit our “bird” theme and start with a little known band that was produced by Dave Edmunds.

Although never hugely popular, the London-based pub rockers “Ducks Deluxe” never let the mainstream rock and roll world get in their way.  Playing American-style blues and boogie, adroitly woven with unpretentious rock and roll, Ducks Deluxe members’ Sean Tyla (guitar/vocals), Martin Belmont (guitars), Nick Garvey (bass) and Andy McMaster (keyboards) released several passionate lps, starting in 1974.

But their best work just happened to be on their final studio album in 1975, an album called “All Too Much” (they added Mick Groom on bass and Tim Roper on the drums).  In an expanded version of their EP “Jumpin’” (1975), the group attacks the Bobby Fuller hit “I Fought The Law” with shear abandon and actually are able to capture the essence of the song.  Other notable cuts include a romantic rocker, blended with an extraordinary slide guitar on the song “Amsterdam Dog.” They also offer up two different versions of “Something’s Going On” and do an amazing cover of “Here Comes The Night.”  Other highlights include the anthem-like “Rock and Roll for Every Boy and Girl” and the funky rhythms of the song “Cannons of the Boogie Night.”

And although they never “hit the big time,” this seminal pub rock band member’s experiences in Ducks Deluxe would serve them well.  Ex-Ducks Deluxe members Nick Garvey and Andy McMaster formed the rock/pop band the Motors in 1977.  Duck’s guitarist Martin Belmont went on to join Graham Parker’s backing band called The Rumour.  Sean Tyla then formed the Tyla Gang.

Another “bird” group that never went on to be a household name was the Scottish-English soul band named “Stone The Crows” (from a Scottish curse meaning “the hell with it”).  Perhaps the band’s claim to fame may have been introducing a Janis Joplin-like blues singer named Maggie Bell, who was singing with Les Harvey (brother of Alex Harvey of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band) in a band called Power.  They caught the attention of Led Zeppelin manager, Peter Grant, who renamed the group “Stone The Crow.”  The first two album releases met with critical acclaim, but failed to sell.

Their 1971 album “Teenage Licks,” was full of blues-rockers and was met with rave reviews and it seemed that the band was on the verge of success.  In fact, Singer Maggie Bell won Britain’s Top Girl Singer Award for the first of many times.  But, tragedy struck when band member Les Harvey was electrocuted by a microphone wire during a show.  Guitarist Jimmy McCulloch came in to finish the predetermined gigs and also played on the band’s next release “Ontinuous,” but the band broke up shortly after its release. McCulloch would later join Paul McCartney and Wings and after a stint with them, he joined up with the reformed band Small Faces.  Maggie Bell released several solo albums and enjoyed moderate success as a session vocalist, including sitting in on Rod Stewart’s album called “Every Picture Tells A Story.”

One of the first true punk groups from “down under” was the influential punk band called “Radio Birdman,” who released several high-energy, guitar heavy lps in the late 70's (the origin of the band’s name comes from a lyric in the Blue Oyster Cult song “Dominance and Submission”).  In their first EP called, “Burn My Eye,” surfer-turned vocalist Rob Younger unleashes his distinctive boisterous rants, while guitarist Deniz Tek skillfully plays rapid-fire, feverish guitar.

On their first lp, the band engages in a thunderous cover of the Stooges’ “T.V. Eye,” conquer the world of urban desolation with the song “Murder City Nights” and fill the album with emotionally draining, yet genre defining punk rock.  But, after taking almost three years to record a follow up album, dozens of other Australian punk bands stole the spotlight and the group split up almost immediately after their second lp called “Living Eyes.”  But they paved the way for future generations of Aussie punk bands.

The alternative pop rock duo “Cardinal,” was a side project of singer/songwriter Richard Davies and composer Eric Matthews.  Releasing only one self-titled lp, Cardinal weaves lush orchestral arrangements with layered horns and cascading piano work that makes one recall the multidimensional sounds of late 60's pop music (including the Left Banke, Love and even the “Smile” era Beach Boys sound).  With Davies’ compelling songs and lyrics blended with Matthew’s penchant for creative arrangements, Cardinal shines in efforts such as “You’ve Lost Me There,”“If You Believe In Christmas Trees” and “Dream Figure,” to name a few.  While the album was met with critical acclaim and was filled with easily digestible pop-rock, creative tensions split up the duo and both went on to solo careers.

In our next article about “bird” and “animal” artists and bands in rock and roll, we will again explore famous “bird” names.

Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his ebook called "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."  Contact Robert at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com