Braun%PCO@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA (04/01/85)
Anyone who appreciates acapella should check out The Persuasions, 4 guys
who have been together since day 1 (use to be five of them). They have 2
relatively current LPs ("No Frills" being one) on Rounder or Alligator
(dont remember which offhand). Some of my favorites tunes of theirs are
"60 Minute Man", "Women and Drinkin'", "It's All in the Game" and "Gypsy
Woman".
I got a chance to see them in concert several times this year. They are
great! They gear their show to the crowd and surroundings. I saw 2
similar but different shows, one outdoors in fair type atmosphere, the
other inside with a more sedate crowd. Very down-to-earth unpretentious
guys. On the aside, Ken Nordine (Mr. Word Jazz) opened for them. He was
interesting too (and obviously enjoying the Persuasions later in the
audience).wed@drutx.UUCP (DeibertWE) (04/08/85)
> Anyone who appreciates acapella should check out The Persuasions, 4 guys > who have been together since day 1 (use to be five of them)..... Agreed! Their live performances are incredible. We had a chance to catch two of their shows about a month ago at The Blue Note in Boulder. The fifth Persuasion (Joe Russell) was there also. In talking to him between shows he indicated that he may be back for good. Something about a divorce....... They are very unpretentious guys who have no hangups about mingling with the crowd. They are generally regarded (in this day and age) to be the kings of acapella, and probably rightfully so in view of their popularity and versatility of different styles and arrangements. There are some other great acapella groups still around though, "Charm", "The Five Jades", and "The Ribitones" come to mind, just to mention a few. William D. keeping the "sound" alive
resnik@h-sc1.UUCP (philip resnik) (04/15/85)
> > > Anyone who appreciates acapella should check out The Persuasions, 4 guys > > who have been together since day 1 (use to be five of them)..... > > They are very unpretentious guys who have no hangups about mingling with > the crowd. They are generally regarded (in this day and age) to be the > kings of acapella, and probably rightfully so in view of their popularity > and versatility of different styles and arrangements. There are some > other great acapella groups still around though, "Charm", "The Five Jades", > and "The Ribitones" come to mind, just to mention a few. > Just a note from another fan of a capella music, along a slightly different line... Have you ever heard the King Singers? I heard them this fall at Boston Symphony Hall and was completely amazed -- the overtone (an acoustic phenomenon that occurs when voices are in a state of near-perfect blend and pitch; it sounds like another tone higher than the rest) was present almost nonstop through the whole concert. As for entertainment value live, they were a joy to watch. You should also try collegiate a capella groups sometime -- they're often very entertaining! (Forgive the advertisement; I sing in one.) -- psr
dave@rocksvax.UUCP (04/19/85)
Try the Roches. They are three sisters that have wonderful voices. Good
sample is on their album "Keep on Doing", where they sing a great version
of Handel's Alleluhia(sp?) chorus acepella. They were so good that it
it will bring tears to your eyes and you have to keep telling yourself that
this is only 3 people singing this. They do some teriffic harmonies.
If you get a chance to see them live, do..you won't be disappointed.
Dave
arpa: Sewhuk.HENR@Xerox.ARPA
uucp: {allegra,rochester,amd,sunybcs}!rocksvax!davecuccia@ucbvax.ARPA (Nick "Coosh" Cuccia) (04/21/85)
> > > > > Anyone who appreciates acapella should check out The Persuasions, 4 guys > > other great acapella groups still around though, "Charm", "The Five Jades", > > and "The Ribitones" come to mind, just to mention a few. > > > > Just a note from another fan of a capella music, along a slightly different > line... > > Have you ever heard the King Singers? Haven't had the pleasure, but I enjoy their recordings. Another good a capella group is The Bobs, a group of three men and one woman operating out of Berkeley. They have an album out on Kaliedescope records called, appropriately enough, _The Bobs._ Warning to the squemish: it is not what can be called doo-wop by any meaning of the word. It's closer to avante-garde new wave than to 50s doo-wop. Their rendition of The Beatles' _Helter Skelter_ is awesome. Everything elseon the album is original material. Another good local group that will soon have an album out is called _The Baltimores_. They are four males whose music is much closer to traditional acapella. They have a single of their song, _Cadillac Love_, which has received airplay on the Dr. Demento show and various college stations. > You should also try collegiate a capella groups sometime -- they're > often very entertaining! (Forgive the advertisement; I sing in one.) > > -- psr I echo the sentiment. If you're visiting the bay area, check out the UC Mens' Octet, the California Golden Overtones (both from Berkeley), Stanford's Fleet Street Singers, or, in a more upbeat style, the Cal Jazz Choir or the DeAnza College Jazz Choir. That should about cover it. --Nick Cuccia --{...}!ucbvax!cuccia
doo@mhuxi.UUCP (viscomi) (04/22/85)
> > > > > > > Anyone who appreciates acapella should check out The Persuasions, 4 guys > > > other great acapella groups still around though, "Charm", "The Five Jades", > > > and "The Ribitones" come to mind, just to mention a few. > > > > > > > Just a note from another fan of a capella music, along a slightly different > > line... > > > > Have you ever heard the King Singers? > > Haven't had the pleasure, but I enjoy their recordings. Another > good a capella group is The Bobs, a group of three men and one > woman operating out of Berkeley. They have an album out on > Kaliedescope records called, appropriately enough, _The Bobs._ > Warning to the squemish: it is not what can be called doo-wop > by any meaning of the word. It's closer to avante-garde new wave > than to 50s doo-wop. Their rendition of The Beatles' _Helter > Skelter_ is awesome. Everything elseon the album is original > material. > > Another good local group that will soon have an album out is > called _The Baltimores_. They are four males whose music is > much closer to traditional acapella. They have a single of > their song, _Cadillac Love_, which has received airplay on > the Dr. Demento show and various college stations. > > > You should also try collegiate a capella groups sometime -- they're > > often very entertaining! (Forgive the advertisement; I sing in one.) > > > > -- psr > > I echo the sentiment. If you're visiting the bay area, check out the > UC Mens' Octet, the California Golden Overtones (both from Berkeley), > Stanford's Fleet Street Singers, or, in a more upbeat style, the > Cal Jazz Choir or the DeAnza College Jazz Choir. > > That should about cover it. > > --Nick Cuccia > --{...}!ucbvax!cuccia A group called Singers Unlimited has a few acapella albums out. They perform mostly pop and jazz standards and are led by Gene Shelton formerly with the early fifties group the Hi-Lo's.
Wenner.es@XEROX.ARPA (04/25/85)
Re: A Capella groups.. An excellent contemporary female a capella group is Sweet Honey in the Rock. If someone out in net-land is more familiar with them, I for one would appreciate some more details. They performed in the Bay area a few weeks ago, and though I missed them, several friends gave some rave reviews of the show: predominantly R&B, doo-wop style in the traditional sense, but with a modern sound. Ah, the power of the unadorned human voice, can't be improved on! Jim Wenner Xerox Microelectronics Center, El Segundo, CA 213-536-9582