For about a week and a half there in the 90’s, “A Capella” was The Next Big Thing. Man, that was a long week and a half. (Yeah, I tried out for an a capella group… didn’t get in. The guys who did get into the group never rehearsed, never practiced, and only learned one song. “Zombie Jamboree”. They sang it so often that all of the guys who tried out for the group (but didn’t get it) had it memorized as well. Stupid a capella group.)
Where was I? Oh, anyway, one of the things I remember fondly from that era is Moxy Furvous (a group who did the a capella thing only accompanied… which, for some reason, really worked really well):
But I’ve also got a soft spot for a capella covers of songs that just kick butt in the first place.
So… what are you listening to?
singing Once I was the King of Spaaaaaain, now I eat humble pie/singing
Did you know that Toto had never been to Africa when they wrote this song? The things you learn on VH1 popup.
King of Spain (off of Bargainville) is what inspired me but I thought that their “You Will Go To The Moon” album was better all around.
this made me kind sad, as i like low
http://www.avclub.com/articles/low-covers-toto,53049/
I thought they did a good job. I mean, sure, they made it a minor key but they do that to everything.
Back in 80s there was also an attempt at getting people on board the a capella bandwagon. A couple of albums stuck out during the time I worked in the record (cough!) store. I’ll see if I can recall their names but given that they were also a flash in the pan at the time, don’t hold your breath.
The Nylons, The Persuasions… that’s all I’ve got off of the top of my head…
Yes the Nylons was one of them! Damn you’re good.
I may or may not have owned an album of theirs.
I may or may not still listen to my cassette tape of their greatest hits on a regular basis.
Billy Joel’s For the Longest time was the archtype (and maybe patient zero) for this trend.
technically, it wasn’t a capella, but most high school musical groups performed it that way.
The Swingle Singers? I’ve got a CD of them singing Bach a capella (not choral pieces: instrumental pieces) that’s space awesome.
Because it’s fun, U. of O a capella group On the Rocks, doing Lady Gaga.
The comment ate your link. I’m guessing you meant this version?
http://youtu.be/cTFh8LCBZeQ
That song, but the (intentionally) goofier video here
Hi Jaybird, If you know anyone who has an appreciation for the true ART of A Cappella, my husband is Jerry Lawson, ( lead singer, arranger and producer of The Persuasions) – He was recently featured on NBC TV’s The Sing Off and his newest CD id “Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town” – turned out to be the masterpiece of his 40 year and 22 album career – and there is no
A Cappella on the planet that can compare! 20 tracks, an hour of an amazing musical journey and a 20 page booklet of extensive liner notes. ( no bias, just fact! 🙂 )
In Harmony,
Julie Lawson
You know what? This is awesome. Thank you, Julie.
Please let your husband know that his version of Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow is the definitive one that still makes me laugh and smile even today. Please thank him for me!
Hey Jaybird,
Jerry said to thank you but wait until you hear his version of Shania Twain’s “Honey I’m Home” on the new CD.. Makes lots of people chuckle.
Here is something to get you started on some of his latest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuvSy7mwYTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKExe_aoclU
http://www.jerrylawsonandtalkofthetown.com
http://www.jerrylawson.biz
and you can email him personally at mail@jerrylawson.biz
and you can find him on 2 different facebook pages: Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town
and Jerry Lawson and The Persuasions.