Doin' the Bird - The Rivingtons

Those who think they know "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" from the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird" are kidding themselves, and also cheating themselves, because they haven't heard Carl White's stunning, soaring, magnificent lead (adjectives that hardly would seem appropriate to the song as the Trashmen did it). Doin' the Bird opens with the Rivingtons' classic original, and it gets better from there, with the soulful and suggestive "Love Pill," which is almost as good a showcase for Al Frazier's baritone and Matthew Nelson's bass as it is for White, and their a cappella rendition of "Long Tall Sally," which might be the best rendition this side of the original. "Unchain My Heart" is entertaining filler and "You Are My Sunshine" is an attempt to apply the "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" treatment to the old Gene Autry hit, with considerable success, while "Happy Jack" is a catchy group original with glorious ensemble singing and barely audible drum, piano, and guitar accompaniment. "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow" is more syllabic zaniness from this incomparable quartet, while "Kickapoo Joy Juice" carries the vocal acrobatics a step further, with trumpet flourish accompaniment, and "Slippin' and Slidin'" is an even more radical deconstruction of a Little Richard song on purely vocal terms than "Long Tall Sally" was. "Old Time Love" is almost tame by comparison, as a soaring R&B ballad, while "Have Mercy, Mercy Baby" is a quicker-tempo workout in a freer flowing vein. And "Standing in the Love Line" rounds out the album in the most conventional possible mode, a Motown-style ballad that might've been a good vehicle for the Four Tops and isn't bad here, either. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide