Cruisin’ in third lookin for bird
Cruisin’ in third lookin for bird
He’ll drive you up the wall or any oher place.
I heard it on the car radio while returning from our regular Monday morning jaunt to ‘Invy’ (Inverloch) when my harmonica antenna received strong vibrations. The announcer had an avian expert in the studio informing all and sundry on local ornithological conservation. He had an appropriate tune, Looking For Bird by Mental As Anything to offer, but little did he know (or did he?) that it had nothing to do with the topic at hand. It propelled this listener underground with bunnies rather than skywards with creatures of flight while learning the harmonica riffs on methamphetamines – the riffs not me!
The vinyl from which the tune appears is in my collection, but I was totally oblivious to Looking For Bird. In fact, I don’t think side two of the album ‘Cats And Dogs’ was even spun looking at the condition its condition was in. All three of their hit singles; If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?, Too Many Times and Berserk Warriors appear on side numero uno.
I’m certainly not the fastest harp in the south, but I felt there was something not quite right with Greedy’s harmonica on the speedy rockabilly beat of Looking For Bird. It was an uncharacteristic riff by Greedy and an uncharacteristic instrument he was blowing. He was on a ‘Ten Hole Tin Can’ (diatonic) rather than his accustom Chromatic Harmonica. The riff even had hints of Charlie McCoy. Steve Williams disclosed to HRR that he had met Greedy at a Pub after a TV show and Greedy stated he liked the Charlie style. I had a feeling (deep inside) these riffs may have had production manipulation – perhaps being recorded at half speed and then brought up to tempo.
I searched for footage of Greedy playing the licks live, but none were in existence. There was evidence of Looking For Bird being performed live on YouTube, from Ohio in 1982 and another from Birmingham in 1987. However the said instrument, the harmonica, is in absentia on both. There is a later version at the Basement (1:19:30 approx) in 2003 where he blows a very different and a more sedate riff. I fired off an email to living harmonica legend, Steve Williams for his expert opinion.
“Shep gotta be sped up….and if he could play that fast wouldn’t he have played it more often?….it’s tricky to play even slowed down, so either Greedy was hiding his light under a bushel or it’s an uncredited session player (a very fast player we’ve never heard of)…slowed down either way I reckon.”
Steve also pointed out that George Martin had recorded his Clavinet solo on The Beatles In My Life at half speed and I was aware of the same treatment for his Hammond Organ on Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite.
I only witnessed one Mental’s gig way back when I was only nineteen (God help me) with Denny (Deniliquin) cricket mate Tim Harper (who at the time was residing at Mannix house) on Friday 16th March, 1979 at Monash University. I have only fond memories of a fun time party gig.
Looking For Bird would have been an apt title in referencing Andrew (Greedy) Smith looking for a bucket of dirty bird. Greedy was noted for his appetite for chicken, hence his nickname which was derived after he had downed fifteen pieces of the Colonel kind while performing a show. Food and harmonica are not a good mix (jams the reeds), I’m not sure about playing the keys – might be a wee bit slippery.
I’m under the impression the title of the tune (from the chorus) was formulated by the co-authors taking a shot at drummer Wayne Delisle (birth name David Twohill), who had a reputation of being late. His nickname was Bird, apparently derived from Wayne’s demeanour, it was said to be similar to a seabird circling hot chips. Wayne penned the lyrics after Bruce Brown the producer had set him and the band homework to write a song each. This was no easy transaction for Wayne as he had never written one before. His lyrical inspiration was derived from a car incident in his home town Cooma where a Valiant Hemi Pacer had roared through the main street before becoming airborne and then having its momentum cancelled by a light pole half way up.
With the sudden tragic passing of Greedy in 2019, I could only locate two valid avenues for the truth to the recording of the riffs. Firstly I dispatched a message to Dog Trumpet, the O’Doherty brothers current band, however no reply has been forthcoming. Secondly an email was fired off to Stuart Lloyd, the author of Started Out Just Drinking Beer, the splendiferous official biography of Mental As Anything. He kindly responded thus;
“Hey Shep. Great to hear from you, and thanks for your query. And thanks for making me dive back into Cats & Dogs — still a brilliant album, playing in the background as I write this. I reckon there’s only one guy who would know the answer anymore, and that’s Bird himself. I’ve flicked him your email and let’s see what he can dredge up from his memory bank. Sadly Bruce Brown remembers very very little of those sessions now (it’s a long time ago!) Will let you know if I turn up anything that clarifies the harpiology. Cheers Stuart”
Sadly silence has been the only result. Still looking for Bird.
I eventually laid to rest my attempts at playing Greedy’s riff up to ‘record’ speed. Instead I headed to a Steve Williams solo on the tune Stolen Kisses – a Gary Young (Daddy Cool) song recorded by Jo Pearson & the Pearl River Ramblers. Steve had attached a few of Jo’s tunes with his initial reply to Looking For Bird, this solo and the associated riffs leapt out at me.
I’m nearly up to full speed even though it’s not a speedy as Greedy’s. I could always record it at three quarter speed then give it some juice. 😂 Only joking Joyce!
For those of you playing at home, and you’re keen to have a crack at either, you need a ‘D’ harp for Looking For Bird and an ‘F’ harp for Stolen Kisses. Good luck.😉
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Harmonica Riff Raff 
Wow! What an interesting read Ol’Shep Dawg. Amazing how ‘from little things big things grow’ – gotta love all those snippets of songs that are strewn within your writing. Well done. 👏👏
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Glad you enjoyed the read Anon. Take a letter Maria. S
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I read this the other day Shep. Due to the all important links I then went on a further YouTube hunt listening to the band afterwards. Then Frankie continued to be his intense ‘I’m here and need attention all the time I’m awake’ self and I didn’t have time come back and comment. Stuck in the garden with him on a 65 feet harness and leash. Leaping about. Me, not Frankie. Trying to untangle him from pots, plants and trees. Also. Went to a trade show with Angie too. Huge show with thousands of exhibitors. She was buying, not selling. So a bit lax in replying, sorry.
That speed up/down trick has been read about quite a lot recently. The Beatles doing this was the first explanatory one I listened to on YouTube. Once you look at a specific theme, other choices come up too. Stuff played backwards, recording techniques, etc. Different iconic instrumentations used for the first time was interesting. The Low album by Bowie came up. Hence re listening to it all again. Twice.
But not the Bird Watching track you are looking for. I got a lot of the Mental as Anything band now appearing in my recommendations too. But, looking again, still no link about speed enhancement. As you say, nothing to be found.
Talking of speeding things up…..When’s your third single coming out Shep? Joking of course. But seriously, is there anything brewing? Cheers and all the best.
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No need to be sorry…no obligation here….have you done a lion taming course?-all sounds like fun..we have our four legged friend to entertain us this weekend-already looking for a W’s..personally I’d prefer something you can perform live (without any tricks)..don’t know if you’ve checked out Berserk Warriors by Mentals https://tinyurl.com/54mz5f3t – a favourite of mine (I wonder what ABBA thought?)…my third single (a cover of an Aussie hit from ‘71) a fair way off (not sure if it will happen) – has given me a chance to work on a second solo and a look at the intricacies of the the little bass guitar and bass drum kick into and out of the chorus hook…always learning Gray..stay well mate Cheers & Frothies S.
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I understand and know of ‘no obligation’ Shep. But when I really enjoy posts from yourself and a handful of others, it’s good to reply, once read, in appreciation. I suppose my memory lets me down outside my half dozen fave WP community. The half dozen faves I love to exchange with, I always keep strict tabs on.
My dream of a perfect open mic stint would be acoustic and vocal stripped down. Drenched vocal from emotion and relaxed vibe and a ringing Guild acoustic guitar alongside. I’ll look at your Mental’s link after this.
Frankie is Fantastic. However. He’s got a lot to learn that I need my black muddy vicious coffee and breakfast before the day’s activity can start. Fed up sitting on my front door step drinking and munching on toast while he’s running about sniffing leaves or chewing gosh knows what’s. Self centred Kitten to ‘okay I understand now’ Cat can’t come soon enough.
Looking forward to your next excursion Shep. I just think going with the flow musically is the new Mantra. No point in unrealistic expectations. A simple bit of momentary magic within a song would be brilliant every time I set out to capture a tune or three. Basically, if I capture the equivalent of the ‘swish’ high hat contribution from Charlie Watts in the song Angie, then happy as happy. It can be a well placed tambourine part for myself and I’m happy as Larry. So…I am forever grateful to Charlie for that high hat bit. Bowie’s Angie it may well have been for the song’s inspiration. But I’m stealing that high hat swish from the whole caboodle for Angie my wife.
Frothies are substituted for JD on ice tonight Shep. Gently mellowed out currently. Cheers me Dears. All the best.
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The sum of the parts…it is a journey and an education…things you don’t identify with that are integral to the feel of the tune…I certainly listen differently these daze…I have a greater appreciation for the rhythm section than ever before….Charlie was one of a kind…as mellow as a cello, hey Gray?
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I tend to listen differently to other music since beginning my own recording journey last year too Shep. Not trying to analyse because that spoils the listen. But am aware that analysing has been creeping in more often and focus on ‘how’ is more regular than an overall ‘wow’. Gotta be careful with that situation.
Charlie and Ringo were both a class apart. After my last reply to you here a few hours ago, my JD induced mellow tipped into JD sleep and dreamland. I never do a full 8 hour sleep stint anymore though. Not for years now. They say as you get older the sleep patterns change. Cheers Shep.
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Forgot to say Shep. On first reading of your write up, the first two YouTube videos were ‘unavailable in my region’ when I accessed. On second reading day’s later, the ‘basement’ gig was accessible. The first one still not. So went over to YouTube to ‘save for later’ the hour plus gig as it was so long. Listened to the first song. Great vibe. Looking forward to catching the whole gig soon. Cheers.
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That’s interesting 🧐, but not very funny 🤣….here’s a link from a streaming service that we don’t promote for Looking For Bird https://tinyurl.com/yvthbcf2
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The first states ‘this video is not available’ Shep. The second ‘basement’ takes a while to load in my rural neck of the woods from your link. But, as said, I saved it on YouTube which is quicker access. I’ll follow your tinyurl link. If it’s Spotify 😉 I haven’t got the app. But I’ll sort it. I did watch various YouTube uploads of the song though. Cheers Shep.
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Still looking for Bird! Very poetic 👌
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Inspired by your recent travel diary. ⚓️
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