pbeat & j's: June 2010

I got a copy of “What We Lose In The Fire We”, the debut album by The Mynabirds this weekend. This Omaha-based group led by singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn has a really cool sound/vibe with an even more interesting conception. Burhenn said “she'd long imagined a band that sounded like Neil Young playing Motown.” Oddly enough, years later she would discover that Neil Young had made music with Rick James in 1960s Motown. The name of that band: The Mynah Birds. Although the band never released an album, it is famous as one of the earliest efforts of a number of musicians who went on to be hugely successful. Derived from the 1964 group called the Sailorboys, fronted by Jimmy Livingstone and also including guitarist Ian Goble, drummer Rick Cameron, organist John Goadsby and bass player Nick St. Nicholas, soon joined by Rick James. Over its short lifespan, the group featured a surprisingly large number of artists in its many different configurations. Its most memorable lineup included future funk star Rick James, Rickman Mason, John Taylor and future folk-rock music stars Neil Young and Bruce Palmer, both of whom went on to form Buffalo Springfield. Earlier members included Goldie McJohn, who like Nick St Nicholas was later in rock band Steppenwolf. As well, a late-running 1967 version of The Mynah Birds featured heavy rock Neil Merryweather. The Mynah Birds signed a seven-year deal with Motown Records in 1966. They recorded a number of tracks, and their first album was in the works when James was arrested, having deserted the United States Navy prior to forming the Sailorboys. Motown subsequently shelved their recordings.

Here is some audio of The Mynah Birds featuring Neil Young and Rick James, pretty damn good:

And another:

Back to the new “MynAbirds”, here are some of my favorite tracks off this record:

This is a really cool link to a set the band did (minus a bass player) in a tiny apartment. Great quality: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127915408