Vocal Music: The ____________

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I'm getting more and more into the Swingle Singers and I often see records for the _________ singers, but all experiments have so far been dud. any recommendations of pop vocal music beyond vocal surf and doo wop?

― ddd, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

try henry mancini's vocal arrangements of johnny mercer songs.

nb: never heard of the swingle singers.

― jimmy the doom saint, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

The Tony McCarroll Singers.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

kalama's quartet - 1920's - 1930's hawaiian vocal / instrumental outfit with superb polynesian barbershop yodelling skills

― bob snoom, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The Staple Singers! Still kinda doo-wop but more gospel-y overtones. Oh my god their music is beautiful.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Er, that should be StapleS Singers.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Check out Tralaleri, a very powerfull vocal music style from Italy. It's not pop but definitely poppy.

― Roger T (Roger T), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Some people swear by Ray Coniff Singers, but the production puts me off. Too much gloopy echo.

Some people swear by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, but the arrangements put me off. I'd rather listen to Basie.

But, YMMV ddd. Those are some other names to check out.

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 19 February 2004 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

It actually is The Staple Singers.

― jody (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 19 February 2004 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

The Lamberts Hendricks & Rose album to get is a compilation entitled The Hottest New Group in Jazz.

For something else, try any of Bobby McFerrin's first three albums, as well as his more enigmatic Circlesongs.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has a nice vocal tradition also, even if it can be a bit tedious during extended listening.

― christoff (christoff), Thursday, 19 February 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

very difficult to recommend anything better than the Swingle Singers.

my favorite unreissued albums are rococo a go-go and songs for madrigals and madriguys. the best starting place is probably jazz sebastian bach.

I still haven't bought any of the recent CDs since the reformation. I don't know why. any recommendations?

― (Jon L), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.swinglesingers.com/history/index.html

whoarrg! Blossom Dearie and the Blue Stars -- four of the original Swingles were from that group, that makes sense.

and I'd never heard of the other pre-Swingle group, Quincy Jones and the Double-Six.

or knew that Christiane Legrand was Michel's sister.

lots of information about the commission to perform Berio's 'Sinfonia' but no mention of 'Laborintus II' which is just as great.

many other cool groups & influences named in the article: early Mills Brothers cited as influence.

― (Jon L), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.bigsean.com/images/rkpl3_th.gif
"business in the front, party in the back"

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Nels Cline Singers?

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

For the most part, The Free Design and Harpers Bizarre are both quite good. Ray Conniff and The Three Suns too, if you're into the kitschier side of things.

― maypang (maypang), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree if you like Swingle, full speed to a best-of Free Design CD. & vice versa.

speaking of which, Stereolab's approach to nonsensical scat harmony singing can be traced directly back to Swingle. Stereolab rip off everyone, even when their song titles are direct references most rock critics are still lost in the dark trying to keep up.

investigating the recent Swingle CD's on the web site: maybe a little scary. the original french lineup = the real Swingle Singers.

― (Jon L), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not sure that it qualifies as vocal pop, but a lot of 60s era Sergio Mendes would fit in nicely amongst some of this stuff too. Any Greatest Hits comps should cover most of the essential stuff, but look for Four Sider, in particular. It avoids a lot of the schmaltzy easy sounding stuff.

― maypang (maypang), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, I probably should have made clear that my earlier post was only a joke. The Nels Cline Singers do not actually feature any singers, as the title of their only album makes clear.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

if you like the swingles you may like the novi singers from poland. there's half a cd's worth on the jazzanova/compost GO RIGHT : JAZZ FROM POLAND 1963-75 comp.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Thursday, 19 February 2004 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks for so many sugestions!!! I spent years digging for any Free Design record only to buy the fancy recent re-issue which i think is a little too kitchy for me.

i'm looking less for acrobatics (i.e. rockapella, mcferrin) and more for pastoral type arragements.

Keep the good suggestions coming!

― ddd, Thursday, 19 February 2004 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I forget to mention The Dagar Brothers -- Drupad Chant is in the classical Middle Eastern/Indian tradition, but it is by far the most impacting vocal display i've yet encountered.

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 20 February 2004 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of pastoral vocal arrangements, I found an LP this week that probably fits this bill a little too well. The Medical Mission Sisters - Joy is Like the Rain. Singing nuns with a nice and sparse instrumental backing, in some cases just an acoustic guitar.

Some info on it here: http://mtwinter.hartsem.edu/joy.htm

― maypang (maypang), Friday, 20 February 2004 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the comedian harmonists

mp3's under 'further stuff' link. start with their version of the Barber of Seville overture, (especially good example of their impact on the Swingles.)

link with the best compilations highlighted here (though I haven't heard that 3 CD box, it looks great)

― (Jon L), Thursday, 26 February 2004 01:41 (twenty-two years ago)

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Vocal Music: The _____________ Singers