mendel@CS.UIUC.EDU (Michael Mendelson) (03/22/90)
Has anyone out there ever heard of the Bobs? They are a brilliant avant-garde a capella group. I recently found a cd of theirs called My, I'm Large. Apparently there is also one called New Wave Music. But their first album, The Bobs, doesn't seem to be out on CD. Or is it? If you are at all into interesting a capella work and very witty lyrics, you should check these guys out. A friend of mine saw them live in Chicago last month, so apparently they are touring. I'm sure they'd be amazing live. They remind me of The Manhattan Transfer, except they are less jazzy and more, shall we say, weird (for lack of a better word). Does anyone know of other interesting a capella groups? . /\/\ / /\/\ / / /_/ / / / "Hurricane Bob is petering out and Charlotte's on the way She puts mascara on the eye of the storm"
kanarick@BBN.COM (Craig M. Kanarick") (03/22/90)
In article <9003211859.AA19397@m.cs.uiuc.edu> mendel@CS.UIUC.EDU (Michael Mendelson) writes: >Has anyone out there ever heard of the Bobs? They are a brilliant >avant-garde a capella group. I recently found a cd of theirs called >My, I'm Large. Apparently there is also one called New Wave Music. >But their first album, The Bobs, doesn't seem to be out on CD. Or is it? > (Liz, am I beating you to the punch?) Actaully, Michael, the first album is called "The Bobs". There is a fake sticker on the cover that says "Nu Wave Music", but I don't think that is the title. The album is out on CD, and includes a cover of "Whip It", if I remember correctly. If you thing "My, I'm Large" is good, you *love* their first one (much stronger, I think). I agree with you, they *are* fantastic, check them out live, you'll have a blast. -- Craig ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Craig M. Kanarick "Do I love you? Yes, I kanarick@bbn.com love you. All this talking, talking, is only bravado..." BBN Systems and Technologies Corporation - The Blue Nile ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
donley@MILTON.U.WASHINGTON.EDU (E. Donley Olson) (03/22/90)
In article <9003211859.AA19397@m.cs.uiuc.edu> mendel@CS.UIUC.EDU (Michael Mendelson) writes: >Has anyone out there ever heard of the Bobs? They are a brilliant >avant-garde a capella group. I recently found a cd of theirs called >My, I'm Large. Apparently there is also one called New Wave Music. >But their first album, The Bobs, doesn't seem to be out on CD. Or is it? Yes! The bobs are one of my favorites too! Here's an almost-complete discography of their work: Out of the Mouths of Bobs -- limited edition ep/single that's impossible to get The Bobs (1982) -- first album, available on CD (which includes a couple of bonus tracks, like their remake of "Psycho Killer") My I'm Large (1987) Songs For Tomorrow Morning (1988) They may have a new album out... I called their concert information line ( 415-THE-POOP ) in February and they said they were in the studio recording a new album... So, who knows. This is good stuff. Their lyrics are very inventive and much less wimpy than the Nylons or other a-capella groups that get classified as "do-wop" or what- ever. Also, if you like this, you might try to find something by the ex-group Uncle Bonsai (thanks, eek!), who also have very witty lyrics and arrangements, though they do use a guitar (gasp, shudder). - Eo (donley@milton.acs.washington.edu eo@max.acs.washington.edu)
ws1i+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (William Manchester Shubert) (03/22/90)
Just out of curiosity, are the Bobs affiliated with the Church of the
SubGenius? I know that most "doktormusic" from SubGenius bands isn't too
musical, but then I haven't heard the Bobs.
-Bill (wms@sam.cs.cmu.edu)jejones@mcrware.UUCP (James Jones) (03/22/90)
In article <9003211859.AA19397@m.cs.uiuc.edu> mendel@CS.UIUC.EDU (Michael Mendelson) writes: >But their first album, The Bobs, doesn't seem to be out on CD. Or is it? It is. "K-18, The Bobs Compact Disc, $14.98," says the blurb from Kaleidoscope Records, Post Office Box O, El Cerrito CA 94530. For that matter, they sell a Kate Wolf songbook. [Uh, Emily...these people are interested in Kate *Bush*.] Never mind. [Enter pedant mode] Single vs. double consonants are significant in Italian. "A cappella" means "chapel style;" "a capella" means "little goat style." The Bobs sing much better than that, I think... :-) [Exit pedant mode] James Jones
bvk%hhb@PRINCETON.EDU (Brett Kuehner) (03/23/90)
donley@MILTON.U.WASHINGTON.EDU (E. Donley Olson) writes: >In article <9003211859.AA19397@m.cs.uiuc.edu> mendel@CS.UIUC.EDU (Michael Mendelson) writes: >>Has anyone out there ever heard of the Bobs? They are a brilliant >>avant-garde a capella group. I recently found a cd of theirs called >>My, I'm Large. Apparently there is also one called New Wave Music. >>But their first album, The Bobs, doesn't seem to be out on CD. Or is it? >Yes! The bobs are one of my favorites too! Here's an almost-complete >discography of their work: >Out of the Mouths of Bobs --limited edition ep/single that's impossible to get >The Bobs (1982) -- first album, available on CD (which includes a couple of > bonus tracks, like their remake of "Psycho Killer") >My I'm Large (1987) >Songs For Tomorrow Morning (1988) >They may have a new album out... I called their concert information line >( 415-THE-POOP ) in February and they said they were in the studio recording >a new album... So, who knows. At a concert in November, they claimed that an album of covers (including "Ring of Fire") was released in Italy. I think they said it was called (through no fault of their own) "The Bobs Sing". But I've been unable to confirm that it exists, much less acquire a copy. They've appeared on The Tonight Show at least once (singing "Johnny's Room") and have a PBS special (The Lonesome Pines special?) with Iso, a dance troupe they tour with sometimes. I haven't seen the PBS special, though. If you ever get a chance to see a Bobs concert, go! Probably your only chance to hear "Purple Haze" or "Ina Gadda Da Vida" as a capella. Another interesting a capella group is "The Flying Pickets", who have several albums (not available on CD, as far as I know), including "Lost Boys" and "Live at the Albany Empire". The Pickets are Australian(?), and split between original (as far as I know) songs and covers, including "Summertime", "Remember This", and "Get Off of My Cloud". Worth trying to locate. Oops, they also did "Psycho Killer". Brett -- Brett Kuehner, Racal-Redac, Mahwah, NJ ...!princeton!hhb!bvk bvk%hhb@princeton.EDU