We recently heard of the death last month of David LaFlamme, co- founder with his then-wife Linda LaFlamme, of the San Francisco- based group It's A Beautiful Day. Though never achieving broad popularity, the band had its own distinct late-60's West Coast vibe, powered by the late Patti Santos' vocals and David's violin and vocals. Their signature song (one of our favorites), "White Bird," was written by David and Linda in 1967 (though the song wasn't released until the band's eponymous album in 1969). We're reprising that song again today. A little background first:
"White Bird" was written in December 1967, in Seattle, Washington. Manager Matthew Katz had moved the band there to polish their act at a Seattle venue before booking them into San Francisco nightclubs. Living in the attic of a Victorian house across the street from Volunteer Park, the band had inadequate food and no transportation during a rainy and cloudy Seattle winter. The song evolved from the depression of the band's circumstances and yearning to be free.The song's repeated chorus is, "White bird must fly or she will die."
To us, it evokes the era like few songs, with its lyricism and,
... David LaFlamme's entrancing plucked violin lines, which have a weeping and haunting quality, and provide some of the tune's principal hooks. The vocals, too, boast an almost hypnotic melancholy tune, with a graceful lilt evoking a bird in flight...
... not to mention Hal Wagenet's Spanish guitar licks.
Go ahead, light some sandalwood and enjoy one more time for David.
