Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Sun, 24 Jan 1993 14:49:02 -0500
From:         mjferzig@MIDWAY.UCHICAGO.EDU
Subject:      Re: A cappella, A cappella, A cappella, A cappella, A cappella

In response to Bob Tee's review of my compilations....

>OK, first off general impressions...Excellent! Really, I enjoyed all 4 sides
>of your tapes much more than I expected. I thought I'd get more of an idea
>about a cappella and hear a few good tunes, but what I got was quite a range
>in styles and a lot of GREAT tunes! A few bad ones too, but we'll get to
>that...I found overall that the live performances were some of the strongest.
>Maybe it was because some of them were by done by students having a blast
>singing in front of their peers or maybe it's the stage bringing a certain
>amount of power to one's voice...

It's definitely an enthusiasm thing. There's a real electricity to an a
cappella concert. You'd really have to see one to get an idea. The thing
is, since a cappella music isn't mainstream, you've gotta really want to be
there if you're going to manage to find a concert at all, even on college
campuses. The fans tend to be real die hards and it really fires up the
performances.

>
>I overall preferred the upbeat melodies that had the feet tapping away (I
>sure didn't think that a cappella would be top-tappin' music!), but there
>were a few that surprised me by how much just the sound of the voices
>together could get my attention.
>

People often wonder why I'm addicted - it's the voices together. And the
stuff can jam just as much as any other type of music - especially with a
good "human beatbox" or vocal percussionist....

>Let me take a stab at what I thought of some of the groups and then I'll go
>through some of the individual songs...
>
>The Nylons - kind of inconsistent overall. Had some great songs, some OK songs
>             and a few dull songs...Best if they don't force the singing as in
>             "Kiss Him Goodbye".
>
They're really quite good. Or were, before this new guy cam,e in. That's
one of the big problems with a cappella. Loss of one member can destroy a
group or change the sound so completely, that you really shouldn't keep the
same name...

>The Bobs - Great! At times quirky, but never dull. Probably the most original
>           of the groups here and one of the most fun.

Aren't they great! They perform live a lot - I'll post a calendar soon.
>
>Harpur Harpeggios - There's a real joy of singing that comes across from them.
>                    Not always the best voices, but they really know how to
>                    deliver a song.
>
>Binghamton Crosbys - Seems like there's some real talent here. Some real good
>                     arrangements of covers and great melding of voices.
>
Both these groups are from my undergrad college and contain many friends of
mine. SOme Crosby alums have done some professional stuff. The 'Pegs have,
sadly, gone downhill...

>Tufts Beelzebubs - They certainly don't chicken out when it comes to selecting
>                   cover material. Interesting attempts at Bowie's "Space
>                   Oddity" and Gabriel's "In Your Eyes". I think they reached
>                   a little too far on these, but it certainly was a valiant
>                   try!

One of the top ten college groups in the country, in many people's
opinions. They are very talented! The Contemporary A Cappella Society of
America was founded by Deke Sharon - 'Bubs '91 and one of their old musical
directors. They're quite good. They used to sponsor a neat invitational
every year....

>
>Manhattan Transfer - Yuck. I never liked them with music. I hate them without
>                     it. Dull arrangements, no joy, bland, etc.
>

Oh, well. You can't please everyone...

>
>OK some fave tunes...
>
>Hodja - Binghamton Crosbys : The first tune and I was already snapping along.
>                             Wonderful combination of voices...

The soloist was a friend of mine - and has an utterly amazing voice. He
passed away last year, and the chorus at the funeral was an incredible
triute. Over 100 members and alumni of a cappella groups on our campus.

>You Won't See Me - Harpur Harpeggios : Great. I always liked this song anyway
>                                       and their cover brings that joy of
>                                       singing to it...
>
Listen to the alto part - an excellent arranging job.

>Looking For An Echo - The Persuasions : Classic stuff. These guys knew the
>                                        real way to do a cappella. Love the
>                                        wonderful reminiscing of the lyrics.

If you ever get to see them live - do so! They do this with tears in their
eyes...
>
>Me And The Boys - The Nylons : Nice use of bongos here. One of their strongest
>                               songs on the tape.
>
One of my faves too. Almost every college group covers this.

>Zombie Jamboree - Rockappella : Yeah! Fun stuff! "Back to back, belly to
>                                belly..." I love their Carmen SanDiego song
>                                as well.

I'm still trying to get a hold of the two CD's they put out in Japan. They
are incredible live too! They did a show with the Persuasions last summer -
3.5 hours of a cappella - gee, do you think I was just a little bit
pleased?

>
>Homeless - Ladysmith Black Mambazo : I knew this already. So harmonious...Why
>                                     would you want to clutter this up with
>                                     instruments?
I don't know what you mean? There are no instruments on this!

>
>Good Old A Cappella - The Nylons : This is their best tune. They don't overdo
>                                   the vocals and make it a great bouncy ride.
>                                   The deep voice sounds fabulous live.
>
Arnold has been with the group since the beginning. If he ever left, they'd
probably have to fold. You should pick up their live album - It's called
_Four on the Floor_. Well worth it. They also just put out a greatest hits
album, now available on CD Connection. (So are all the Bobs albums)

>12 1/2 Days Of Christmas - Pennsylvania 6-5000 : I love it, I love it, I love
>                                                 it! Best song on both tapes!
>                                                 Cracked me up first time I
>                                                 heard it and now I really
>                                                 like the way they've weaved in
>                                                 all the other Christmas carols
>                                                 without missing a step.
>
You and everyone elase too. It cracked up my mom so bad she was crying!

>And So It Goes - Harpur Harpeggios : A very pretty, flowing song. I kinda just
>                                     drifted off with it.

Ive always thought this was one of the worst songs on the tape. I'm glad
you liked it though...
>
>Trickle Trickle - Binghamton Crosbys : Another great foot-tapper! I'm really
>                                       amazed at how much fun comes through in
>                                       their singing. Maybe it's only a "ditty"
>                                       but how come I can't help but hum along?
>
Manhattan Transfer does a great version of this too.

>Banana Love - The Bobs : WEEHOOO! Ranks with the tapes' best. Every vocal piece
>                         fits so well together no matter how strange they get.

I just posted the lyrics for Ilia. They are just so amusing!
>
>Perfect - U of R Vocal Point : Just a wonderful arrangement of vocals. Isn't
>                               this one of the songs you like to sing? I can
>                               see why...
>
Yes, it is! It's so much fun. I even used this for an audition last week!

>One More Minute - Binghamton Crosbys : Hysterical stuff! "Stranded alone in the
>                                       gas station of love, and I have to use
>                                       the self-service pumps..." Had me
>                                       laughing all the time I was caught up by
>                                       its infectiousness.

This is a cover of a Weird Al Yankovic song....I believe Weird Al wrote it.
A classic.
>
>Sittin' In Limbo - The Bobs : Great way to end it. These guys are consistently
>                              cool.
>
This will be on the compilation. Possibly my favorite a cappella song.

>
>OK, here's a few not so faves...
>
>A Nightingale Sang In Berkely - Manhattan Transfer : Like I said, yuck. They're
>                                                     only popular because they
>                                                     are bland...Nothing to it,
>                                                     hate the voices and it's
>                                                     way too long!

To each his own...No matter what I put on here,there's something for
everyone, and something each person will fast forward through....however,
it's never the same stuff, so I try to make the most representative tape I
can....
>
>Under The Boardwalk - The Nylons : I thought this was kind of an obvious cover.
>                                   Wasn't too thrilled with the arrangement or
>                                   the "pings".
>
You should see this done live! That's really all I can say - Some ofthese
songs, like this one, have emotional ties for me - and soem are just so
good or funny live that they are worth including!


>Naturally - Huey Lewis and The News : Not bad, but just kinda boring. I guess
>                                      that's why it fit in with the rest of
>                                      _Fore_.
I've always been impressed with it. Another one that every college group
covers.

>
>Kiss Him Goodbye - The Nylons : Maybe it's because I hear this at every
>                                sporting event I go to or because I think of
>                                Bananarama's version, but I just don't see the
>                                point of it. They do far too much screaming at
>                                the end.

I've never heard Bananarama's version. Is it a cappella?
>
>Walk Down That Lonesome Road - U of R Yellowjackets : Just nothing to grab
>                                                      a hold of here. Kinda
>                                                      dull.
>
Simply meant to be a pretty song....

>I Need You - True Image : I can barely remember this (even after just listening
>                          to it). Ambivalent.

This opens Spike Lee's album - True Image is another group that needs a
contract...

>
>Another Night In Tunisia - Manhattan Transfer & Bobby McFerrin : I like Bobby's
>                                                                 trunkful of
>                                                                 noises, but
>                                                                 loathe the
>                                                                 rest.

I agree - it's my least favorite on the tapes...but it's meant to be a
sampler...I'd hate not to include something like this and call the tapes
representative of the stuff considered to be "Modern a cappella". I know
there's stuff missing, but this would be a pretty odd category to leave
out...
>
>Eli's Coming - The Nylons : No structure to this one. Where are they going?
>                            Even a wee bit pretentious at the end...
>
See Ilia's post - I like this too.

>
>OK, I hope that covers the ground well enough. If I didn't mention the song,
>that's because I liked it, but just not as much as my faves. Thanks again
>chicklet...Let me know if you wanted other opinions on the rest of the tape.
>Looks like I should go find that A Cappella sampler you were talking about.
>
It's called "Modern A Cappella" and it's on Rhino. CD Connection has it -
well worth getting, if only for the Housemartins and Yes's a cappella
version of "Leave It"....

Thanks for the extensive review! Glad you liked it! I'll let you know when
a cappella 3 comes out!

Marsha


Marsha J. Ferziger
University of Chicago School of Law