Birdlegs and Pauline (and the Versatility Birds) – Spring/In so many ways

108 | 27 December 2023 | External Link Checked

Sidney “Birdlegs” Banks and his wife Pauline of Rockford, Illinois recorded these tracks with a small label called Cuca who offered cheap recording facilities. The single was first issued on the Cuca label and made no. 18 on the R&B chart. The tracks were then picked up for national distribution by the Vee Jay label shortly before it failed. Cuca had also recorded an album on the pair. Brothers Mack and Floyd Murphy provided the backing and were billed as The Versatility Birds. The Banks later divorced and Pauline Shivers made some more recordings for small Chicago labels, but Sidney Banks never recorded again.

The mystery is: who is the second lady portrayed in the photo? Can anyone help please?

“Spring”, Vee Jay 510, 1963. UK Sue WI 4014, June 1966.

Chart Position: Billboard No. 94, July 1963

See The Veejay History website.

Dr Bob Jones/45 Cat