The Birds were an English rhythm and blues band, formed in 1964 in London. They recorded fewer than a dozen songs and released only four singles.

Starting out with a hard R&B sound, they later began infusing it with Motown-style vocal harmonies. The best known former member of the Birds is Ronnie Wood playing lead guitar, who went on to join the Jeff Beck Group, the Creation, Faces and later the Rolling Stones.

Career

Several members of the Birds grew up in the same neighbourhood in Yiewsley, Middlesex, and began playing together in 1964, while still in their teens. and an excerpt from their recording of "How Can It Be" was featured in the 1966 British horror film The Psychopath. By 1967 the group had disbanded. Shindig! have described "How Can It Be" as "[condensing the band's] savage amped-up R&B into three minutes of ultra-compressed mod bravado." Both Gardner and Wood went on to join the Creation, with Gardner then joining Ashton, Gardner and Dyke.

In 2010, Ali McKenzie started to play gigs with the members of Small Fakers (a Small Faces tribute band), under the name the Birds. McKenzie died on 30 April 2021.

Band members

  • Ali McKenzie – Vocals, harmonica
  • Ronnie Wood – Lead guitar, vocals
  • Tony Munroe – Rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Kim Gardner – Bass, vocals
  • Bob Langham – Drums (1964)
  • Pete McDaniels – Drums (1964–1966)

Session musician:

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

Discography

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) – UK No. 45
  • "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)
  • "That's All That I Need You For" (Ronnie Wood, Tony Monroe, Ali MacKenzie) / "If I Were a Carpenter" (Tim Hardin) (February 2011, Birdsong Records ALI 001)

Other recorded songs

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

Compilations

  • The Collector's Guide to Rare British Birds – CD compilation album, released 20 June 2005, Deram Records

References

  • The Birds website