Edwin Birdsong -

Edwin Birdsong (Aug. 22, 1941 — Jan. 21, 2019) was an American R&B-funk keyboardist from Los Angeles who released two albums and five singles on Polydor between 1971 and 1973, followed by a one-off on Bam-Boo Records in 1975. A deal with Philadelphia International Records yielded three 1978 singles and an eponymous fourth album in 1979, followed by a final album on Salsoul Records in 1981. Further singles appeared on Singh Records during the mid-1980s.

Background

Edwin L. Birdsong was born on August 22, 1941, in Los Angeles. His father served as a minister and sang with a church quartet, while Birdsong received classical piano lessons as a child and played organ in church. He joined the Los Angeles Community Choir, where he met Merry Clayton and Billy Preston. Birdsong later played Hammond organ in a junior-high ensemble.

Army service took Birdsong to Germany, where he formed Birdsong and the Sounds and worked local clubs. His final six months of service brought him to Baltimore and Pennsylvania Avenue engagements before a late-1960s move to New York City. Birdsong attended Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard as a composition student. He led a small jazz-blues group and joined Harlem jam sessions that included George Benson.

Michelle Birdsong introduced her husband to music publisher Wes Farrell. Birdsong performed at Pee Wee’s in the East Village for Farrell and Polydor president Jerry Schoenbaum, whose visit produced a label contract and the sessions for his debut album.

What It Is

Edwin Birdsong released his debut album, What It Is, in July 1971 on Polydor.

The album combines Birdsong compositions with material co-written by Michelle Birdsong, while Roy Ayers shares authorship of “Pretty Brown Skin.” Social commentary and church-derived texts define the eleven-song program.

“The Spirit of Do…Do” unfurls through exploratory organ turns and restless harmonic bends. “My Father Preaches That God Is the Father” testifies with church-rooted fervor and direct devotional phrasing. “Pretty Brown Skin” saunters through eccentric dance rhythms and psychedelic ensemble turns. “It’s Hard to Move When It’s Your Move” strides from a sharply defined opening break into wiry ensemble accents.

A1. “The Uncle Tom Game” (2:47)
A2. “The Spirit of Do…Do” (3:18)
A3. “My Father Preaches That God Is the Father” (3:39)
A4. “It Ain’t No Fun Being a Welfare Recipient” (3:51)
A5. “When a Newborn Baby Is Born, the World Gets One More Chance” (4:12)

B1. “Mr. Money Man” (3:44)
B2. “Moongoose” (4:10)
B3. “The Old Messiah” (3:54)
B4. “Pretty Brown Skin” (2:28)
B5. “It’s Hard to Move When It’s Your Move” (2:48)
B6. “God’s Home” (3:55)

Birdsong and Ted Cooper produced the album at FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Jerry Masters engineered the sessions with Bob Morgan and Brian Condliffe, while Eddie Kramer handled the mix. Masters also engineered Candi Staton’s 1971 album Stand by Your Man at FAME.

David Krieger directed the sleeve, which Paula Bisacca designed around Joel Brodsky’s front-cover portrait. Bisacca also designed Herbie Mann’s 1971 album Push Push, while Brodsky photographed Isaac Hayes for the same-year package Black Moses.

Polydor issued “The Uncle Tom Game” in 1971 (b/w “It Ain’t No Fun Being a Welfare Recipient”). Later in 1971, Polydor paired “Old Messiah” with the non-album “Use What You Got.”

Super Natural

Edwin Birdsong released his second album, Super Natural, in September 1973 on Polydor.

Birdsong works with guitarist Ronnie Drayton and bassist John “Shine” Solomon. Drummer Kenee Wilson completes the smaller principal group. The album shifts toward rock-based ensemble arrangements while retaining Birdsong’s keyboard-led construction.

“Rising Sign (Funky)” stomps through distorted guitar figures and dense ensemble hits. “If I Ever” glides beneath faint background strings as Birdsong softens each phrase. “Any Color” coils around odd keyboard turns and angular harmonic bends. “Flow Thru My Heart” grinds through a coarse-edged riff and tightly spaced accents. “Last Exit Before the Toll” barrels through abrasive figures and terse rhythmic jolts.

A1. “Rising Sign (Funky)” (2:52)
A2. “Rising Sign (Climax)” (2:43)
A3. “If I Ever” (3:09)
A4. “Any Color” (3:50)
A5. “Flow Thru My Heart” (5:14)

B1. “Turn Around Hate (Communicate)” (3:01)
B2. “I Love You Michelle” (3:41)
B3. “Down on the Beat” (2:45)
B4. “Tune from Callicoon” (4:13)
B5. “Last Exit Before the Toll” (5:13)

Eddie Kramer produced and engineered the album at Electric Lady Studios in New York City with assistant David Wittman. Kramer also co-produced Jobriath’s 1973 debut at Electric Lady.

Tack Kojima photographed Birdsong beneath J. Aikens’s illustrated title treatment. Kats Abe directed and designed the sleeve, following his work on Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s 1972 album He’s Coming.

Polydor paired the two parts of “Rising Sign” for a 1973 single. “Turn Around Hate (Communicate)” followed (b/w “Down on the Beat”).

Birdsong formed Bam-Boo Records with WDAS broadcasters Sonny Hopson and Perry Johnson after his Polydor period. The independent label financed and issued his third album.

Dance of Survival

Edwin Birdsong released his third album, Dance of Survival, in June 1975 on Bam-Boo Records.

Returning drummer Kenee Wilson joins guitarist Vic Vaughn Smith. Bassists Brian Allsop and Garnell Brown complete the five-player group. Mellotron joined Birdsong’s keyboard setup after Kool & the Gang left the instrument at the session location.

“Possessed (Take the Evil Spirits Away)” swells through outsized MiniMoog lines and off-kilter phrases. “What’s Your Sign?” struts through prominent Clavinet figures. “Night of the Full Moon” hovers on minor-second harmonies as chordal strings crowd church-rooted replies. “Your Smile Gave Birth to My Idea” drifts beneath broad Mellotron chords and gospel-inflected replies.

A1. “Dance of Survival” (7:18)
A2. “Possessed (Take the Evil Spirits Away)” (4:03)
A3. “Something Ain’t Right (Gotta Go Home)” (4:49)

B1. “What’s Your Sign?” (5:40)
B2. “Night of the Full Moon” (4:25)
B3. “Your Smile Gave Birth to My Idea” (4:17)
B4. “Astral Walk (Instrumental)” (3:20)

Birdsong produced the album, while Bam-Boo left the engineering role unattributed. His next album-production work included Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s Vibrations.

Birdsong directed the metallic gatefold, which appeared in gold- and silver-foil variants without a credited photographer. The front prints the artist name and title across the reflective surface.

Bam-Boo issued “Dance of Survival” in 1975 (b/w “Your Smile Gave Birth to My Idea”) and prepared a 3:52 edit. Shout! reissued the album on CD in 2014 with the single edit and a reproduction of the copper-foil sleeve.

Roy Ayers and RAMP

Birdsong co-produced and co-arranged Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s 1976 album Vibrations. Their partnership continued on the 1977 album Lifeline, which includes the co-written single “Running Away.” Ayers and Birdsong also produced RAMP’s sole album, Come into Knowledge, for Blue Thumb Records.

Edwin Birdsong

Edwin Birdsong released his self-titled fourth album in March 1979 on Philadelphia International Records.

Birdsong completed the album before signing with Philadelphia International and retained production control. Ronnie Drayton and Kenee Wilson return in the five-player lineup. Guitarist Chuck Anthony and bassist Tony Bey complete the principal group.

“Cola Bottle Baby” lopes through quacking synthesizer figures, ringing cymbal accents, and twanging guitar. “Phiss-Phizz” struts through a thick electronic riff and sparse, club-directed phrases. “Kunta Dance” stomps across a nonstop dance pattern while Birdsong turns its plea toward ancestral reclamation.

“Goldmine” coils through propulsive electronic figures as Birdsong warns against altered awareness. “Freaky Deaky Sities” careens through brisk talkbox replies, bongos, and cowbells. “Autumn Eyes” glides beneath crystalline keyboard chimes and a burbling bass line. “Lollipop (Slow)” settles over acoustic piano and softly contoured phrases.

A1. “Cola Bottle Baby” (5:06)
A2. “Phiss-Phizz” (6:21)
A3. “Kunta Dance” (6:36)

B1. “Lollipop” (4:37)
B2. “Goldmine” (4:36)
B3. “Freaky Deaky Sities” (4:50)
B4. “Autumn Eyes” (4:09)
B5. “Lollipop (Slow)” (2:33)

Birdsong produced the album at Electric Lady Studios and Sigma Sound Studios in New York City. Sound Ideas hosted additional work. David Wittman and Jerry Solomon handled Electric Lady engineering, while Solomon brought experience from RAMP’s Come into Knowledge sessions.

Ed Lee directed the sleeve, and Ron G. Harris supplied photography. The same pair worked on Archie Bell & the Drells’ 1979 album Strategy.

Philadelphia International previewed the album with the 1978 single “Kunta Dance.” The 1979 campaign added “Phiss-Phizz” and “Cola Bottle Baby,” while the label paired “Lollipop” with “Freaky Deaky Sities.”

Sony Japan issued a 2010 mini-LP CD reissue.

Funtaztik

Edwin Birdsong released his fifth album, Funtaztik, in November 1981 on Salsoul Records.

Birdsong wrote and arranged all six tracks, then produced the sessions. The expanded session group includes bassist Marcus Miller alongside returning players John “Shine” Solomon and Kenee Wilson.

“Win Tonight” swivels through off-key phrases and a stubborn recurring figure. “Rapper Dapper Snapper” snakes across a mechanical, slinky break while Birdsong spills synthesizer and piano solos across repeated figures.

A1. “Win Tonight” (7:22)
A2. “You’re Too Late” (4:57)
A3. “Rapper Dapper Snapper” (6:20)

B1. “Funtaztik” (7:07)
B2. “Touch Me in the Morning” (6:04)
B3. “She’s Wrapped Too Tight (She’s a Button Buster)” (6:38)

Birdsong produced the album with Bob Blank among the recording engineers. Blank concurrently produced Dinosaur L’s 24→24 Music at Blank Tapes in New York City.

Don Davenport directed the sleeve, and Benno Friedman photographed Birdsong for the back cover. Friedman also supplied photography for Blue Angel’s 1980 self-titled album.

Salsoul previewed the album with “Rapper Dapper Snapper” in 1980 (b/w an instrumental version), which reached No. 65 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The title track followed as a 1981 single.

BMG issued a digital edition in 2014 with the extended instrumental version of “Rapper Dapper Snapper.”

Postlude

Birdsong followed his Salsoul period with the 1982 single “She’s Wrapped Too Tight (She’s a Button Buster),” which reached No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. Singh Records issued “Perfect Love’n” in 1984 and “Too Good to Go (When You Get It Right)” in 1985. Patrick Adams and Marley Marl co-produced the latter single. Further Singh singles included “Son of a Rapper Dapper Snapper” and “For My Self.” Singh completed the sequence with the 1987 single “Percolator.”

Daft Punk sampled “Cola Bottle Baby” for “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” on the 2001 album Discovery. Gang Starr used “Rapper Dapper Snapper” on “Skills” from the 2003 album The Ownerz. Birdsong died at age 77 on January 21, 2019, in Inglewood, California.

Discography: