Birdwatchers

Though they achieved some regional popularity and issued almost 20 singles on several different labels in the 1960s, Florida group the Birdwatchers never broke out nationally, and aren't even well represented on anthologies of regional/obscure '60s garage rock. While they weren't too original, they did cut some pleasing pop/rock singles with garage and blue-eyed soul tinges. The best of these was "I'm Gonna Love You Anyway," which, like several of their best songs, drew from the poppier face of the British Invasion as its primary influence. The failure of the Birdwatchers' material to achieve CD reissue (though a now hard to find LP of some of their stuff appeared in 1980) is odd, as the group was considerably better than many other such '60s outfits with limited exposure who have been honored by compact disc packages. ~ Richie Unterberger