Subject: FAQ: rec.music.a-cappella Frequently Asked Questions (Part 2 of 3)
Date: 22 Nov 1994 01:40:31 GMT
References: <acappella-faq.21Nov94.pt1@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au>
X-NNTP-Posting-User: bpqui1
Summary: This posting lists frequently asked questions, with answers, about a cappella music, its performers, and its fans. Please read this before posting to the rec.music.a-cappella newsgroup.

Version: 2.2

Part Two: A Cappella Groups & Recordings
****************************************

 o Are there any compilation-type albums of modern a cappella music? 
    o Modern A Cappella 
    o Spike & Co. Do It A Cappella 
 o Are the rumours true about an all a cappella musical in New York? 
 o Everything you Never Wanted to Know About... 
    o The Blenders 
    o Blind Man's Bluff 
    o The Bobs 
    o College A Cappella Groups 
    o The Edlos 
    o The Flirtations 
    o The Flying Pickets 
    o The House Jacks 
    o The Kings Singers 
    o Ladysmith Black Mambazo 
    o Mint Juleps 
    o Moxy Fruvous 
    o Nylons 
    o Rockapella 
    o Take 6 
    o The Trenchcoats 
    o Zap Mama 

A Cappella Groups & Recordings
==============================

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

 o "Modern A Cappella", out on Rhino records.

   Available from the Primarily A Cappella Catalog, or phone Rhino direct on
   1-800-432-0020.

   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

 o "Spike & Co. Do It A Cappella", Elektra ELE60953 

   Also avalibale from Primarily A Cappella.

   Tracks:

   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

   This was originally a documentary produced by Gerard Brown and Spike Lee
   for PBS in 1990. A 90-minute video cassette is available for $19.95 + about
   $3.50 postage and handling, within the US. Call 1-800-336-1917. The album
   is also available from the Primarily A Cappella Catalog.

Q. Whither Do It A Cappella II?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   Nancy McGrath, <nmcgrath@world.std.com> ran in to Gerard Brown at a
   Rockapella concert in Los Angeles in July, and he said he was working on a
   new Do It special for WNET-TV's "Great Performances" series.
  
   "Gerard has formulated a preliminary list of groups he would like to include
   (which I promised not to release). He is currently shopping around for a
   host... If anyone would like to speak out in favor of such a show, the
   person to write to is David Horn, series producer of "Great Performances."
   Mr. Horn's address is:

           Series Producer
           Great Performances
           WNET
           356 West 58th Street
           New York, NY  10019

   "Let's flood Mr. Horn with letters, and let him know that there's a built-in
   audience for a Do It A Cappella II".

Q. Are the rumours true about an all a cappella musical in New York?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   Don Gooding, <dgooding@accel.com>, told us of an all a cappella
   musical called "Avenue X" which played at the Anne G. Wilder Theatre off
   Broadway from January 28 to March 13 1994.

   "It has 25 a cappella songs! The plot (this is 3rd hand) centers around
   Italian and African-American doo-wop groups that hate each other, but must
   cooperate in order to enter a singing contest. Molly says the singers are
   great.  She went to a rehearsal in December, and heard 3 tunes."

Q. Everything you Never Wanted to Know About...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Discographies, contact addresses, and ordering information for some
professional a cappella groups around the world.

 o The Blenders 

   A four part, Nylons-esque group with tight harmonies and great style. They
   are currently touring the college circuit (schedule available from the 
   Princeton FTP site ), and their albums are "Totally Whipped", from '92, and
   "From The Mouth", from this year.

   Ordering information:

           "Totally Whipped"
           CD - $15.00
         Tape - $10.00
     T-shirts - $15.00
      Posters - $5.00

   Add $2.00 per ORDER for shipping/handling/postage/etc. 

   Mail orders to:

           The Blenders
           P.O. Box 26037
           Minneapolis, MN 55426
           (612) 476-6400

 o Blind Man's Bluff 

   Contact info, thanks to Seth Golub:

           1100 Church St.  #501
           Evanston, IL  60201
           U.S.A.

           (708) 864-0831

   The voicemail number lists upcoming gigs.

 o The Bobs 

   The Bobs are a California-based group who possess some rather wacky songs
   and a large fan base. They have a fan club called FOBS, Friends of the Bobs.
   They can be contacted at <fobs-request@netcom.com>. The FOBS FAQ can be
   obtained via FTP from netcom.com, directory pub/fobs/faq, or by sending a
   message to <fobs-request@netcom.com> with the subject "send faq".

   Their home page is at ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/fobs/index.html.

   They now have are part of the Internet Underground Music Archive at:

   WWW: http://sunsite.unc.edu/ianc/index.html
   FTP: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/electronic-publications/IUMA

   In the Real World, you can call their info line at 510-THE POOP (510-843
   7667) for the lowdown on the Bobs' itinerary.

 o College A Cappella Groups 

   Todd Biske <biske@cs.uiuc.edu> keeps a list of advertisements for
   collegiate albums posted on the net, which he posts periodically to the
   newsgroup and which is stored on the archive at Princeton. If you have
   anything to add to the list, please email him.

 o The Edlos 

   The Edlos are an unsigned professional group. They have a World Wide Web
   home page under the Internet Underground Music Archive, which stores a
   picture of them and a sample song. The URL is:

   http://sunsite.unc.edu/ianc/IUMA/build/bands/The_Edlos/index.html

 o The Flirtations 

   The Flirtations are a five-man a cappella group, mostly noted because they
   are all gay. Their founder and leader, Michael Callen, who had been a leader
   in the AIDS awareness movement, died in 1993.

   Another claim to fame of the Flirts is that they sing "Mr Sandman" on the
   recent movie release, Philadelphia.

 o 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. 

   Rex Solomon, of the CASA Texas chapter, has compiled a tape of 22
   different cover versions of 'Only You', mostly by college groups. So if
   you're thinking of covering it, think again to save our sanity.

   Deke found this address, current in 1990:

           The Flying Pickets c/o Judy Totten
           28 Alexander St.
           London W2 5NU, ENGLAND

   Apparently the group reformed with a couple of the original members, and
   since then has undergone changes after which none of the original members
   are still in the group. However they are putting out albums from a label in
   Austria, albeit with a somewhat different style to what we are used to.

   Discography (sort of):

   "Only You: 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
    US version: 10 Records Ltd.  DIXCD 4 610 161
   [ The only album directly available in the US ]

   [ This the "new Flying Pickets" ]
   "Blue Money", 1992. From PMF records, 90 637-2

   "The Warning", 1993.

   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

 o The House Jacks 

   Started by Deke Sharon, president of CASA and contributor to this
   newsgroup, the House Jacks are the next big thing in a cappella (according
   to Deke anyway :-)

   Their CD, "Naked Noise", came out in April '94. They have recently signed a
   recording contract with Warners, part of which was the clause that after their
   first Warners album comes out, Naked Noise can no longer be sold, so get in
   now if you want one.

   Here is the full merchandise list:

   Naked Noise CD                                  $15
   Naked Noise Cassette                            $12
   House Jacks "A Cappella In Your Face" T-Shirt   $12
   House Jacks "A Cappella On My Butt" Boxers      $12
   House Jacks Sweatshirt                          $25
   Photo Pack (4 different 8.5" x 11" glossies)    $10
   Sticker Pack (3 stickers with House Jacks logo) $5

   Shipping and handling charge is:

           1 to 4 items    $3
           5 to 9 items    $5
           10 or more      $9

   Mail orders to:

           The House Jacks
           c/o Prince/SF Productions
           1135 Francisco St.
           San Francisco CA 94109
           (415) 775-9627

   Make checks out to "The House Jacks".

 o King's Singers 

   A group started by ex-students at King's College, Cambridge 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 a successful album of Beatles covers and, last
   year, "Good Vibrations" which is full of contemporary tunes.

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

           Suzanne Zaffarano
           The King's Singers Newsletter
           3108 Ross Road 
           Ames IA  50010

           (515) 292-2834
           (515) 233-6960 (FAX)

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

   Anne Raugh <raugh@astro.umd.edu> posted a list of sources for
   King's Singers arrangements, which is available for FTP from princeton.edu
   (see Part Three).

 o Ladysmith Black Mambazo 

   Discography at "ftp.uwp.edu (131.210.1.4)", directory

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

   Apparently Headman Mbelele, one of their singers and brother of Joseph, the
   group's leader, was recently murdered.

   Fan Club info: 

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

 o Mint Juleps 

   They've made a few CDs, one only released in Japan:

   "One Time", StiffCD 15

   Nick Cuccia <cuccia@Talamasca.Berkeley.CA.US> tells us that
   the disc has been re-released under the above catalogue number. He picked up
   a copy at Mod Lang, a record store in Berkeley that specializes in imports,
   for about $14--far less than Sound City 2000. The new release's tracks are
   ([*] indicates bonus tracks not on the original recording):

   Don't Let Your Heart / Suddenly / Rhythm & Blues / Drip Drop / Mumblin
   Boy / Da Do Ron Ron / I'm So Sorry / Ain't He Got Never / One Bad Stud /
   Groovin' [*] / Move In Closer / I Don't Need Your Love / On Broadway [*] /
   Stand By Me / Shout / Only Love Can Break Your Heart [*] / Every Kinda
   People [*]

   A live album, Round Our Way, was recorded in Germany in 1990 at the
   Women In (e)Motion festival, and four tracks in a London studio this year.

   The tracks are:

   baby baby / round our way / i heard it through the grapevine / jesus gave me
   water / stay gone / i want to live easy / set me free / dont let your heart/
   higher and higher / shout / mumblin boy / who knows / the snake / loves me
   like a rock / aint he got nerve / hey girl

   The album is available from the Primarily A Cappella Catalog.

   Also, they have apparently just released another album in Germany. More
   info as it comes to hand.

   If you want to get in touch with the group, try contacting:

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

 o Moxy Fruvous 

   From Jessika Diamond <J_DIAMO@PAVO.CONCORDIA.CA>:

   Moxy Fruvous is four guys from Toronto - Mike Ford, Murray Foster, Jean
   Ghomeshi and David Matheson. Only some of the songs on their major-label
   release Bargainville are sung a cappella, but more are in co ncert.

   In 1990/1991, the group was hired by the Canadian Broadcasting
   Corporation's radio devision to write and perform satirical songs, including
   one of their best known, the Gulf War Song.

   Their first release was a self-title indie which sold over 50,000 copies
   across Canada and stayed at number 1 on Canada's Independent Album Chart for
   a year. All but one of the songs on the indie were re-recorded for
   Bargainville, because Ford says the group couldn't get the rights to
   re-record Green Eggs And Ham (a song whose performance makes enduring the
   200 screaming teeny-boppers at a MF concert worth it.)

   They have a line of socks, hats and (really funky) FruVests which vary in
   price from comfortable to downright costly, depending on the venue's cut.

   The group was signed in 1993 to a five-record deal, so there are four more
   on the way.

   For Fan club info and Fruvous gear, write: 

           Moxy Fruvous fan club
           1436 Queen Street West
           P.O. Box 90005
           Toronto, Ontario, Canada
           M6K 1M2

 o Nylons 

   A Canadian male quartet, singing 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.

   For the group's 1993 release Live to Love, the lineup changed to Micah
   Barnes, Claude Morrison, Billy Newton-Davis and Arnold Robinson, and the
   sound was less traditional, using extensive percussion and synthesized bass
   on some tracks.

   Now the group has changed yet again; Billy and Micah quit and were replaced
   by Garth Mosbaugh from Toronto and Gavin Hope, a 20-year-old from
   Alberta, respectively. Their new album, Because, has now been released. The
   only all-vocal song is the title track, a Beatles cover. A Bee Gees song,
   "Too Much Heaven" is vocals and percussion only, and all other tracks have
   keyboard backing. According to Andy Poe, it's a better album than Live to
   Love, but it isn't an a cappella album. :-(

 o Rockapella 

   Rockapella has, so far, recorded five albums on their own, "To N.Y.", "From
   N.Y.", "Bash!", "Vocobeat", and the newest, "Out Cold". These albums were
   released in Japan only, but you can get them on import (for a lot more than
   the average CD).

   One address which was posted to the group is:

           Beastone Records
           24-15-405
           Atsubetsu-chuo 4-2
           Sapporo 004 Japan

   They apparently want US$36 for each CD including shipping, and you must
   pay by cash or international money order.

   All albums can be obtained from Sound City 2000 at (503) 654-2196 for
   about US$40 each.

   The latest Japanese album, "Out Cold", was released on Friday November 18
   in Japan.

   The soundtrack to the childrens' game show "Where in the World is Carmen
   Sandiego?" features Rockapella and the Persuasions, and is available from the
   Primarily A Cappella Catalog.

   [ Much more detailed information is included in the Rockapella Mini-FAQ
   by Steven Coyle <STCoyle@aol.com>, posted irregularly to the
   newsgroup and stored at the Princeton archive site. 

   Also, Nancy McGrath <nmcgrath@world.std.com> keeps a full
   Rockapella discography, which she has posted to the newsgroup. ]

 o Take 6 

   A six-voice male a cappella "Contemporary Christian" (gospel) group, with
   strong jazz 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 and, for their first three
   albums, three Grammies in the Jazz category.

   The following address was posted to the newsgroup by a person named Quito
   from Chile, thanks Quito!

           Club TAKE 6
           c/o Holley ink
           P.O. box 78009
           Nashville,TN 37207

   The newest Take 6 album, "Join the Band", acts on its title by including
   mostly accompanied tracks. There are two a cappella cuts, and harmonies are
   still prevalent on much of the album, but it's not a cappella! :-(

   However the group have stated that they have no intention to leave a
   cappella music, but rather to try out other styles as well. But this album
   is doing well commercially, so we can only hope that we haven't lost them
   forever...

 o The Trenchcoats 

   The Trenchcoats are an all-male group from Seattle, who won the 1994 
   Harmony Sweepstakes a cappella competition.

   Their address is: 

           The Trenchcoats
           PO Box 1444
           Tacoma, WA  98401-1444
           Hot line: 206-925-1856

 o Zap Mama 

   An all-female, multi-cultural "world music" group that sings many styles
   from Pygmy chants to madrigals. Their fresh approach and interesting vocal
   percussion make the group very popular in many musical circles.

   Their second(?) album "Adventures in Afropea 1" was released in March '93
   on CD - Warner Brothers WAR45183.

   There is a new album out, "Sabsylma". Their label, Crammed Disks, can be
   contacted at: 

           341 Lafayette St,
           Suite 167,
           New York NY 10012

---------------------------------------------------------
Please send comments, corrections, info to Brendan Quinn, 
<svlad@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au> 
-- 
Brendan Quinn...| "Music is the expression of emotion,
svlad@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au.| and politics is merely the decoy of
Monash University, Australia.| perception." - Disposable Heroes
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