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Subject: A-Cappella Music FAQ, Part 5/6
Date: 10 Sep 1995 22:54:38 GMT
Summary: Information About A Cappella (unaccompianed vocal music)
URL: http://www.best.com/~casa/FAQ1.html
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The rec.music.a-cappella & alt.music.a-cappella Frequently Asked Questions
Part Five: Specific A Cappella Groups and Albums
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Questions answered in part 5:

Q. Are there any compilation-type albums of modern a cappella music?

Q. What's the story with...
          Acappella, AVB, etc.
          Acoustix
          The Blenders
          The Bobs
          Chanticleer
          The Flying Pickets
          Flirtations
          The House Jacks
          King's Singers
          Ladysmith Black Mambazo
          Mint Juleps
          The Nylons
          The Persuasions
          Rockapella
          Sweet Honey in the Rock
          Take 6
          The Trenchcoats
          Zap Mama
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Q. Are there any compilation-type albums of modern a cappella music?

     *Modern A Cappella*
     Put out by Rhino records, This is probably the best a cappella album
available for the first time listener. It's available from the Primarily A
Cappella catalog: call (415) 455-8602 or email harmonys@netcom.com, or
from Rhino Records: (800) 432-0020.

    Tracks, in order:
        National Anthem                 En Vogue
        I Feel Good                     Bobby McFerrin
        Only You                        The Flying Pickets
        Zombie Jamboree                 Rockapella
        Higher and Higher               The Mint Juleps
        Caravan of Love                 The Housemartins
        Spread Love                     Take 6
        Unomathemba                     Ladysmith Black Mambazo
        Heaven                          Longhouse
        Silhouettes                     The Nylons
        My Husband Was A Weatherman     The Bobs
        Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow                The Persuasions
        Mighty Love                     Todd Rundgren
        Leave It                        Yes
        Walk Like An Egyptian           The Bangles
        The Hallelujah Chorus           The Roches

     *Spike & Co. Do It A Cappella*
     Also available from Primarily A Cappella, this is the soundtrack
album from the now legendary PBS special that helped bring a cappella back
into the limelight (Elektra ELE60953).

    Tracks, in order:
        I Need You                      True Image
        Don't Let Your Heart            The Mint Juleps
        Zombie Jamboree                 Rockapella
        Looking for an Echo             The Persuasions
        "Down in the Mines"             Ladysmith Black Mambazo
        I Want to Live Easy             The Mint Juleps
        Under the Boardwalk             Rockapella & True Image
        Up on the Roof                  The Persuasions
        Higher and Higher               The Mint Juleps
        Get Away Jordan                 Take 6
        "God Bless Africa"              Ladysmith Black Mambazo
        Pass on the Love                The Persuasions
        The Lion Sleeps Tonight         Ladysmith Black Mambazo &
                                         The Mint Juleps

     A 90-minute video cassette is available for $19.95 + about $3.50
postage and handling, within the US (Call 1-800-336-1917), or for only
$10.90 if you telnet to <cdnow.com> and search for a title with the "do
it" string.

     Gerard Brown mentioned at the CASA Summit in 1993 that he had started
work on Do It A Cappella II, but would not give any more information.
Don't worry, when something happens, you'll hear it first on
rec.music.a-cappella...

     * Harmony Sweepstakes *
     Both the 1993 & 1994 Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals have been
immortalized on Disc, and are available from Primarily A Cappella: (415)
455-8602, email: harmonys@netcom.com. Both discs contain a wide variety of
a cappella from a number of different groups. The series will continue
annually, and each year's recording is available a couple of months after
the competition.

     * Best Of College A Cappella *
     Volume 1 of the Best of College A Cappella includes 19 tracks by 19
different college groups:

Everything She Wants        The Wesleyan Spirits
Soul To Squeeze             The U. Penn Off The Beat
This Woman's Work           The Tufts Jackson Jills
In Your Eyes                The Brown Derbies
Crazy                       The Conn. College Co Co Beaux
Breathe                     The Harvard Radcliffe Opportunes
Boogie Down                 The Princeton Footnotes
Hey You                     The Tufts Beelzebubs
Nick Of Time                The Duke Out Of The Blue
I've Got A Right            The U. Penn Counterparts
Grandma's Hands             The Stanford Everyday People
Ship Of Fools               The Virginia Gentlemen
Eli-s Comin'                The Yale Whiffenpoofs
Englishman In New York      The Michigan Amazin' Blue
The Weakness In Me          The Colgate Swinging Gates
7                           The Brown Jabberwocks
Galileo                     The Yale Whim 'N Rhythm
Save The Best For Last      The U of North Carolina Loreleis
Ave Maria                   The Stanford Fleet Street Singers

     There's information in the liner notes of the album that will tell
you how to get in touch with each group and purchase their full-length
recording. To order, contact Primarily A Cappella at (415) 455-8602, or
email harmonys@netcom.com. For more info, contact CASA: call (415)
563-5224 or email casa@casa.org. Volume 2 is currently in the planning
stages.

Q. What's the story with...

     * Acappella, AVB, etc. *
     Acappella and AVB are contemporary Christian a cappella groups that
are part of the A Cappella Company. Founder Keith Lancaster is also
responsible for his own solo recordings, the prolific "A Cappella The
Series" albums, and many other recordings: over 40 in total.

          The A Cappella Company
          Keith Lancaster
          PO Box 15
          Paris, TN  38242
          (800) 233-2031

     * Acoustix *
     One of the biggest names in barbershop, this quartet has a couple of
exceptional recordings: "The New Science of Sound" and "Stars and Stripes"
(Patriotic Songs). To order, contact:

          Todd Wilson
          10455 N Central Expressway, #109-128
          Dallas, TX  75231
          (214) 265-7849

     * The Blenders *
     A four part, Nylons-esque group with tight harmonies and great style.
They frequently tour the college circuit (schedule available from the
Princeton FTP site). They have two albums - "Totally Whipped" and "From
The Mouth," two of the highest quality and best selling self released
contemporary a cappella albums ever made.

          The Blenders
          PO. Box 26037
          Minneapolis, MN 55426
          (701) 239-8000

     * The Bobs *
     One of the biggest a cappella groups of the last 20 years, this
quartet (quintet for the brief period after Joe Finetti joined and before
Gunnar Madsen left) can do anything from Jimi Hendrix to They Might Be
Giants. Their discography includes:

     "The Bobs" (1983)
     "My, I'm Large" (1987)
     "Songs for Tomorrow Morning" (1988)
     "Sing the Songs Of..." (1991)
     "Shut Up And Sing" (1993)
     "Cover The Songs Of..." (1994)

     The older albums are now available from Rhino Records, and their
newer releases are on Rounder. Contact the group at:
     
          The Bobs
          PO Box 5645
          Berkeley, CA  94705
          (510) 649-9097

     * Chanticleer *
     This sensational male ensemble is known for its critically acclaimed
recordings of renaissance and 20th century choral works. They've also been
known to dabble in vocal jazz and gospel. You should be able to find them
in the classical section of your local record store. If not, contact
Primarily A Cappella or DJ Records.

     * The Flying Pickets *
     The original members of the group were: Rick Lloyd, Ken Gregson,
Kareth Williams, David Brett, Brian Hibbard, and Red Stripe (no joke -
that's his name). The group was formed in 1980, and their first single,
'Only You', was Number 1 in the UK for six weeks in 1983. After a few
years Brian and Stripe returned to acting, after which the group
disbanded, then reformed with mostly new members, and finally the original
group got back together. They have made a number of albums, many of which
are difficult to track down. There are a few different "best of" albums
floating around out there, however.
     
     Discography (sort of):

     "The Best of The Flying Pickets", Virgin Records VVIPD 111
          [Apparently only available in the UK ]
     "Flying Pickets Live", recorded 1984-5
     "Waiting for Trains"
      "Lost Boys", Moving Target MTD 021
           [ The only album directly available in the US ]
      "Blue Money", 1992. From PMF records, 90 637-2
          [ This the "mostly different Flying Pickets" ]
      "The Warning", 1993.
     "The Original Flying Pickets Volume 1", 1994
          [The original group reformed]

     If you can't get the albums from a local import shop, try writing to
the following CD mail order company in London:

          HMV UK Limited
          Mail Order Department
          150 Oxford Street
          London, W1N 0DJ
          England

     * Flirtations *
     This is the gay male quintet that can bee seen in the movie
Philadelphia. Sadly, founding member Michael Callen (also an AIDS
activist) passed away since then, and the group has yet to replace him -
they currently perform as a quartet. They have two wonderful albums: "The
Flirtations" and "Out On The Road"

          The Flirtations
          Jon Arterton
          Box 655
          Provincetown, MA 02657
          Phone: (508) 487-0677 (fax also)

     * The House Jacks *
     Comprised of former collegiate a cappella singers (Tufts Beelzebubs,
Brown Jabberwocks, Dartmouth Aires, and UNC Clef Hangers - all class of
1991), this group was put together by CASA president Deke Sharon. They
have recently signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers' Tommy Boy
Records, and have a self-released album ("Naked Noise") that they'll no
longer be able to sell once their Tommy Boy record is released (some time
in the Summer of '95). For more info on the group, or to get a copy of
their recording:

          The House Jacks
          c/o Prince S/F Productions
          1135 Francisco St. #7
          San Francisco, CA 94109
          Phone: (800) 757-4331
          housejack@aol.com

     If you'd like to find out more about the group, see some press
photos, and sample the tracks on "Naked Noise," check out their Web page:

     http://www.art.net/Music/HouseJacks

     * King's Singers *
     A group started by ex-students at King's College, Cambridge over 25
years ago, now one of the most respected a cappella groups in history.
They sing mostly madrigal and classical style music, including a cappella
arrangements of famous classical pieces, and have recently branched out
into the contemporary scene, making several successful pop albums as well.
They have recorded over 30 albums, many of which move in and out of print.
Contact DJ records or Primarily A Cappella for a list of their currently
available releases.

     For information or subscription to the King's Singers Newsletter, contact:

          Erica Zaffarano
          The King's Singers Newsletter
          17005 11th Avenue N
          Plymouth, MN 55447.  

     An annual subscription is $5.00 and that the newsletter comes out
  quarterly.

     * Ladysmith Black Mambazo *
     This is the charming South African "Mbube" group that can be heard on
Paul Simon's "Graceland" album. Although many of their recordings aren't
in English, their rich sonorous music still speaks deeply.

     Music Archives, "ftp.uwp.edu (131.210.1.4)", discography:

     /pub/music/artists/l/ladysmith.black.mambazo/discog

          Ladysmith Black Mambazo Fan Club
          Roger Dean, President
          104 Worral Drive
          Newark, Delaware
          19711 U.S.A.


     * Mint Juleps *
     This is the female sextet seen in the "Do It A Cappella" special.
They have made a few recordings, but only a couple are available. 

     A live album was recorded in Germany in 1990 at the Women In
(e)Motion festival, and four tracks in a London studio. Klaus Birken tells
us this album's number is T&M 104, and may (or may not) be available from:

               Tradition & Moderne
               Musikproduktion
               Fehrfeld 28
               28203 Bremen
               Germany

     Recently they released an album that's easy to obtain in the US. It's
called "One Time," and it can be obtained from Primarily A Cappella. To
contact the group:

               Rita Ray at Flash Choice Management
               46 Broomwood Rd.
               London, SW11 6HT
               England
               Phone: +44 71 228-1161

     * The Nylons *
     A Canadian male quartet that sings contemporary covers and some
originals. They have been around for years and have been an inspiration
for many of today's a cappella singers. The members for most of their
recordings were Paul Cooper, Marc Connors, Arnold Robinson and Claude
Morrison, and hit songs for this group included Up the Ladder to the Roof,
Happy Together, Kiss Him Goodbye and The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Micah Barnes
and Billy Newton-Davis replaced Paul and Marc, and took the group in a
more synthesized, hip-hop direction. They were replaced by Garth and
Gavin, and although their most recording only has one a cappella song on
it, their live show reflects the group's early days of finger-snapping a
cappella.

     They have a number of albums, all of which should be available from
your local record store. They are:

     "The Nylons" (Attic Records ACD 1125), 1982
     "One Size Fits All" (Open Air OD-0301), 1982
     "Seamless" (Open Air Records OD-0304), 1986
     "Happy Together" (Open Air OD-0306), 1987
     "Rockapella" (Windham Hill WD 1085), 1989
     "Four On The Floor" (Scotti Bros. 72392 75224-2), 1991
     "Live To Love" (Scotti Bros. 72392 75255-2), 1992 [hip-hop]
     "Best Of The Nylons" (Windham Hill  01934 10308-2), 1993
          [consists of tracks from their second through fifth album]
     "Because" (Scotti Bros. 72392-75435-2), 1994 [not a cappella]

     * The Persuasions *
     The Godfathers of a cappella. Over 30 years, and they "still ain't
got no band." This legendary quintet became a quartet after the loss of
baritone "Toubo" Rhodes in 1988. The group still tours constantly, and
shows no signs of letting up. They've recorded countless albums, many of
which are hard to find, and some of which have been re-released on CD,
only to be discontinued again. Contact Primarily A Cappella for a list of
albums currently available.

          The Persuasions
          Headline Talent
          1650 Broadway Suite 508
          NY, NY  10019

     * Rockapella *
     These guys can be seen in the "Do It A Cappella" special, and also
every weekday on the Kids quiz show "Where in the World is Carmen
Sandiego?" Originally a quartet, the group is now  a quintet (they added a
vocal percussionist). They have a number of excellent recordings available
in Japan which can only be obtained by import from Sound City 2000 at
(503) 654-2196 for more than $40. They Are:

     "Rockapella One: To NY"
     "Rockapella Two: From NY"
     "Rockapella Three: Bash!"
     "Rockapella Four: Vocobeat"
     "Rockapella Five: Out Cold"

     Most People recommend getting #2 (if you prefer a cappella cover
songs, and a more "classic" a cappella sound, and #4 if you prefer
original tunes and vocal percussion). The Third and Fifth are Christmas
albums.

     The soundtrack to the children's' game show "Where in the World is
Carmen Sandiego?" features a few tunes by Rockapella, and one by
Rockapella and the Persuasions. It can be found in most record stores, or
be ordered from Primarily A Cappella.

     Keep your eyes on the newsgroup for the periodically posted Rockapella FAQ.

     * Sweet Honey in the Rock *
     With over 20 years under their belts as a cappella performers, this
female sextet (5 singers and one sign language interpreter) offers its
vision of world peace with a beautiful blend of styles: including elements
of gospel, folk, and world music. Their music is motivational, and their
spirits uplifting. They have several CD's available:

     "Sweet Honey in the Rock" (Flying Fish FF 70022), 1976
     "Feel Something Drawing Me On" (Flying Fish FF 70375), 1985
     "The Other Side" (Flying Fish FF 70366), 1985
     "Breaths" (Flying Fish FF 70105), 1988
     "Live ate Carnegie Hall" (Flying Fish FF 70106), 1988
     "All For Freedom" (Music For Little People), 1992
     "In This Land" (Earthbeat 9 42522-2), 1992
     "Still On The Journey" (Earthbeat 9 42536-2), 1993
     "I Got Shoes" (Music for Little People 9 42534-2), 1994

     * Take 6 *
     A six-voice male a cappella "Contemporary Christian" (gospel) group,
with jazz and R&B influences. They started in the late eighties at school
in Hunstville, Alabama and have gone on to receive critical acclaim,
including several awards from the Gospel Music Association (Doves) and
several Grammies.

     They have four albums out (all easily obtainable): "Take 6," "So Much
To Say," "He Is Christmas," and "Join The Band." If you're interested in
seeing a complete discography, and checking out the upcoming Take 6 FAQ,
keep an eye on the newsgroup, or send an email to David Das:
ddas@jove.acs.unt.edu

     * The Trenchcoats *
     Reigning Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions (1994), this
high-energy quartet has two albums available: "It Turns Me On" and "Your
Joy." Contact them at:

          The Trenchcoats
          Doug Wisness
          PO Box 1444
          Tacoma, WA  98401-1444
          (206) 925-1856

     * Zap Mama *
     This amazing female quintet is based in Brussels, but their musical
influences span around the globe. They have two albums: "Adventures in
Afropea 1" and "Sabsylma" which have won Best Album from the Contemporary
A Cappella Society for the last two years. 

          Zap Mama
          Teddy Hillaert
          Rue Stacquet 41
          B 1030 Brussels
          BELGIUM
          Phone: 3276-600-406, 3222-418-376 fax

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End of FAQ part 5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     _/_/_/    _/_/      _/_/_/    _/_/  THE CONTEMPORARY A CAPPELLA
  _/        _/    _/  _/        _/    _/      SOCIETY OF AMERICA    
 _/        _/_/_/_/    _/_/    _/_/_/_/      email: casa@casa.org  
_/        _/    _/        _/  _/    _/      phone:  (415) 563-5224  
 _/_/_/  _/    _/  _/_/_/    _/    _/      web: http://www.casa.org 
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