Jackdaw

Of all the entries in the All Music Guide, this could be the most unique. After all, it can be assumed that all the other entries are for human beings, at least technically. The jackdaw, however, is a bird. It is a member of the crow family, capable of making ghastly amounts of noise, more so than even some of its larger cousins. Like the noise of trucks backing up, trains passing, police sirens and phones ringing, the sounds made by these birds have managed to get onto tape at recording sessions, both intentionally and not. Johnny Winter recorded some tracks outside at his Texas ranch, for example, picking up the sound of jackdaws in the branches of nearby trees. Next thing you know, there was a credit for Jackdaw on one of his albums. Needless to say, these references to feathered noise fiends should not lead listeners to the band Jackdaw, which specializes in a mixture of Irish music and rock with nary a feather attached. Discographers may someday compile complete lists of recording credits that have been or should have been attributed to members of the animal kingdom, at which time the jackdaw will receive full credit for services rendered. Other important recording credits for birds include a parrot that was featured on an Instant Composer's Pool side that also included music by a human, jazz master Eric Dolphy. Several different types of birds show up in the background on the Captain Beefheart album Trout Mask Replica, but are not credited; more evidence that the good Captain was always trying to take credit for everything. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide