Without wading through all of the terrible puns, I don't think I can actually see any references to actual bird sounds/songs/calls on tracks. I can think of three off the top of my head and I'm sure there are more.
At the end of 'Senses Working Overtime' by XTC the sound of calling rooks is clearly heard.
On one of Jean Michel Jarre's albums that I own, as one track fades at the end of that side of the LP, what sound like house sparrows singing/calling can be heard.
Then of course there's 'Loving You' by Minnie Ripperton which has a 'canary' (DJ Mike Reid always called them chaffinches which they clearly aren't) or similar singing at various points.
Have just read this post in full and had a really good laugh at some of the earlier entries on here - but crikey don't some of you (in my best Jimmy Saville voice) "Guys and Gals" have appalling musical tastes!
I see "Blackbird by the Beatles has already been done... but what about "Blue Jay Way" and "Free As A Bird"? Also, Paul McCartney's "Jenny Wren"... and the 'spoof' version of the Beatles - "Goose Step Mama" by the Rutles.
"Seagull" and "The Turkey Song" - Captain Sensible
"Mother Goose" - Jethro Tull.
Finally- this classic -"I wish I could fly" - Keith Harris and Orville (the Green Puppet Duck)
Cpt. Beefheart's Magic Band became Mallard and made 2 not bad LPs but best bird-named band were Michael Gira's Swans - loudest band I've ever seen. Certainly not mute!
Not heard Guillemots but they exist.
On the pun side there was of course the Byrds LP 'Tern, Tern, Tern'
elbow's latest album - genius it is too - has a bird related opening track... starlings.
on a side note the seldom seen kid the albums title refers to, was an old mate of mine who i used to be in a band with many years ago. just thought i'd share that bit of pop trivia.
Agree Paul, my favourite album of the year so far. Don't think i'll ever watch a flock of Starlings again without having that track going round in my head
Paul stick with the photos far better than the music
See you have added another crow picture and its a good one. for those birders that enjoy gulls,waders or the fine details of warblers there are those of us who do like a good Corvid
If you have not done so i highly recommend Crow country by Mark Cocker.
elbow's latest album - genius it is too - has a bird related opening track... starlings.
on a side note the seldom seen kid the albums title refers to, was an old mate of mine who i used to be in a band with many years ago. just thought i'd share that bit of pop trivia.
Tony I must protest How can you say Albatross is boring
The legendary Peter Green is next to god IMHO and his work should be treasured just like the albadross (I mean albatross). I hope you don't think Fleetwood Mac's 'Song bird' is boring too.
Country music fans might suggest (apart from anything by Sheryl Crowe)
Tammy Wynette "Stand by your Mannikin"
and
Kenny Rogers "The Cowbird of the County"
More mainstream would be
Meatloaf "Bataleur out of Hell"
or anything by Lympkyn Park
(Perm any three of the above for my nominations for Bird of 2008)
There is also Chuck Berry's "Roller over Beethoven" a biographical piece celebrating the inspiration for that composers' 6th Symphony which contains (WARNING ANORAK ALERT) the calls of three birds including quail---allegedly
The lady in the white coat says that it's time for me to go back to the room with the quilted walls and wait quietly for the nice man to come and take me out again in his shiny taxi. So I'll just leave you with the thought that Simon & Garfunkle really did think that they'd
"rather be a sparrow than a snail" (El CONDOR passo)
Bit belated, but to continue the music theme how about Peter Gabriel,
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill..... (or could it be Holcombe Hill) I could see the city light...... Wind was blowing, time stood still..... Eagle flew out of the night....... He was something to observe.... (must be referring to the Western Isles Golden Eagles or the one im going to find this spring ont GM moors)
Seeing as things are starting to get a bit silly how about the following:- Frank Sinatra?? Egrets I've had a few,but then again to few to mention. Some french geezer:- Non,non Egrets,no we shall have non egrets(must have been referring to the Pennington Cattle Egret)
As proof or either 1. How sad I am , or 2. What wierd stuff goes through your mind while queuing in roadworks traffic , I offer up the following nuggets of little-known (i.e. totally made-up) birding/music trivia:
Kate Bush wrote "Running Up That Hill" while twitching a Dotterel near Rochdale
The Doors "Riders on the Storm" was written after Jim Morrison spent an afternoon watching Leach's Petrels passing Formby Point
Swedish band The Hives played Manchester Apollo in November 2007 (that bit is true). Between soundchecks they visited Pearson's Flash. They heard the Cetti's Warbler giving alarm calls, followed by an unseasonal blast from a wintering Bittern. This led to them writing their recent hit "Tick Tick Boom"
Morrissey wrote The Smith's song "Reel Around the Fountain", when a Grasshopper Warbler briefly held territory in his garden, just near his water feature. Good garden tick Mozzer!
Beach Boys frontman, Brian Wilson, was getting a little obsessed with finding a first for Britain. While doing the gull-roost at Audenshaw he was heard to mutter "I wish they all could be California Gulls"................
...........sorry I'll get my coat. It'll soon be spring and I'll be able to get out more
House Martins were from Hull, they once supported my mates band at Hull Uni.
However I do believe Paul Heaton (the one on this forum ?!) lives in South Manchester
tony they are easy to tell apart.
paul heaton, of the housemartins/beautiful south fame, is a washed-up, has-been masquerading these days as an RSPC inspector, where as the board's paul heaton, is a much revered and well respected gentleman birder.
There's The Byrds,a 60's American Band,and one my daughters liked when they were young,The Partridge Family(god they were c**p) ps I thought the House Martins were from Hull Pete.
Sitting here bored at work as backup while they move our servers, listening to various songs.
Currently got on the new British Sea Power album (Do you like Rock Music) which is very good.
Track 8 is an instrumental called Great Skua and there are also some Barn Owl calls on one of the earlier tracks, so one of them at least is a birder. However when I last saw them they had a stuffed Heron on stage !
Anyone come up with some other bird related titles (apart from the boring Albatross by Fleetwood Mac) ?