Part 2
So, when we last left this chapter of the Birdie Chronicles, we had just received
a telegram from Cousin Brucie announcing the fact that we'd just been accepted into
the finals of The Big Break.
One of the rules of the contest was that the finalists would have a certain amount
of time to perform (10 minutes, if I remember correctly). At some point during that
period of time, each group (or combo, as this article from The Daily News
describes us) would have to perform an original tune. This left us in a bit of a
dilemma, since none of the Birdies wrote songs. Jack Carone to the rescue. Jack
was a friend of ours from Montclair State who was a real musician. He wrote his
own stuff, played great guitar, and did some session work in New York City. He had
a whole notebook filled with original stuff, and offered us a song called
Extrasensibility. It was perfect for us. Here's the chorus:
Extrasensibility that's me;
I'm as good as good as good as I can be.
I am perfect that's no lie,
there is no one good as I,
I am full of extrasensibility.
You get the picture...anyway, we spent the next few weeks turning this novelty
rock and roll song into a jug band song. And in addition, we had to decide on what
else we were going to do. And of course, what to wear. After all, this was the 60's,
and bands were long past dressing in matching sweaters. It was also the time of a
very unfortunate fashion fad...the Nehru jacket. Yes friends, the Big Break would be
the first (and last) opportunity for the world to see at least some of the Birdies
under the influence of the Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi, in outfits we made ourselves.
After that momentous decision had been made, we then went back to the music. We
found that we could do our first choice, Blues My Naughty Sweetie and
Extrasensibility in much less than 10 minutes, so we decided to add
Little Sweethearts of The Ozarks to the set. And as an extra visual treat,
we decided to strew the audience with flower petals during the finale. (If you know
the song, it all makes sense, and after all, we're talking Flower Power here,
right?). All this music, theater and vaudeville added up to a power-packed 10 minutes
of show business.
Next, we were informed that the date of the momentous concert would be Saturday, January
13, 1968. Here's one of the tickets for the event. As you can see from the ticket, it
was only a buck to get in...definitely the entertainment deal of 1968!
After what seemed like months of rehearsing the 10-minute set, the day finally arrived.
We went big deal that day, and accepted an offer from a student named Morry, who had
offered to photograph us that day. Somewhere, we have a pile of those photos, and in
the next installment of The Big Break, I hope to have them posted for you.
 In
the meantime, here's the cover of the official Big Break program.
See you next time!
...to be continued. (hey...this is entertainment,
just like the tube. We don't want to give you the whole story at once, now do we?) The
next part of The Big Break story reveals, among other things, who
really shot JR! And there'll be more pictures and memorabilia! So don't miss
it in the next update of The DIRDY BIRDIES Jug Band Web Site!
To see previous chapters of The Big Break, click the green Big Break
Archives button over on the left navigation bar.
Yes...finally! After almost a year in production,
Guano Records and
The DIRDY BIRDIES Jug Band
are proud to announce the release of
For ordering information, a run-down of what's included on the newest
offering from The Jug Band for The Millennium,
look here.
Of course, since our first CD, Endangered Species, was a million seller (I gotta million in my cellar),
we stall have a bunch left. If you're one of the few laggards left in the world
look here for ordering info...
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