@Jen: Thank you! I think it's a fantastic track on multiple levels, and I can't wait until there's an album available for purchase...

Loved it. I was glad to finally hear some good jewish a capella. One thing to let you know about - the group "SHIRcago" - their name is, in fact, a pun. The hebrew word "shir" (pronounced 'shear') means song. Just wanted to let you know. Thanks for all your hard work!

There´s no doubt its from Talk Talk, a UK-Band from the early eigthies, the song was written their lead singer Mark Hollis and Tim Freese-Greene.

However, I was slightly disappointed that you didn't mention Jonathan Coulton's history as a Yale Whiffenpoof ... the a cappella train comes full circle.

Chad, I didn't know you won a CARA award in 2000!

Sorry, couldn't resist. Quite a good episode. It's always nice when creative takes on Christmas music bring back some of the holiday joy that I lost when I was working retail for so long.

I just discovered that The Richter Scales (who were featured in show 25) are behind one of the latest "viral videos" becoming popular on the Internet! It is called "Here Comes Another Bubble," and you can watch it here:

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1572353

I liked their song "I Hate A Cappella," and this one is a pretty amusing parody.

Bonus: I had actually already been looking for The Richter Scales and was having trouble finding a convenient way to purchase their music... well, they are now on iTunes!

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=205383632&s=143441

You can also buy DRM-free MP3s of their songs through CDBaby, although you have to buy the full album. More info: http://www.richterscales.com/

I promise I do not work for the Richter Scales and am not affiliated with them in any way (other than liking them).

The "In Your Eyes" and "Kiss from a Rose" covers were a bit weak, but those songs are *SO HARD* to do, because the vocals have become so ingrained into our collective head, so any missed note or inflection stands out a lot.

BTW, have you checked out the Cedar Lake 7? http://www.cl7.com/mp3s.shtml

I am not a singer, but A Cappella music has some of the best sounds to ever cross my ears.

Personally, it is these contemporary songs that I like most about A Cappella; while you avid singers may not enjoy them as much as your original music, it is the fact that I recognize music of today and hear the instrumentation of the human voice that make it most enjoyable.

Don't be so quick to assume "everyone" has heard these songs Mr. Bergeron. Some of us want to hear these pop hits done by excellent voices, and I hope you will continue to put at least one in every episode.

Just for the record, I did remember that Africa was already played on the show once - I just didn't think a list of overdone a cappella could possibly be complete without it.

I recently lost my job, but I'm seriously hoping/planning to make a donation to the show when things settle down again.

Semi-charmed life and any Simon and Garfunkle song.

"Africa" (originally by Toto, I think) - this one has been overdone to the point that even jokes about its overdone-ness are getting overdone.

"She Blinded Me With Science" - There are too many a cappella remakes of this Thomas Dolby tune, although I actually really like the ones by Toxic Audio and the Coats.

"Stand By Me" - Sing far away from me!

"Rosanna" - Meet you NONE of the way!

"My Girl" - No sarcastic quip here - PLEASE just shut up.

Still lovin' the acapodcast..
Leah

Just kidding. Here's the link: http://www.acapodcast.com/Episodes/Acapodcast36.mp3

Seriously though, why aren't you subscribed?

I had no idea that Jerry Lawson had left the group.

Shortly after listening to this episode I ordered (and received) the new Jerry Lawson / Talk of the Town CD and it's great.

Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

Richard in Boston

I don't think Utah counts as 'Midwest'... unless you think of 'everything between New York and California' as 'Midwest.'

Out here in the West, we all think that everything East of the Mizzipi is one big state. Added all together you're 'bout the size of one of us REAL states, anyway.

Any issues related to the content (or frequency of publication) of "the other a cappella podcast" are completely out of the control of acaTunes. We are merely the publishing medium for that podcast. In order to improve the frequency of episodes, acaTunes has even taken on the creation of one of the three episodes each month (I've done two so far).

You'll find that those issues are tied only to that podcast and not to our newest video-podcast (vodcast): Wes Carroll on Drums (instructional mouthdrumming vodcast).

Think of a paid-vodcast as being an interactive show. With Wes Carroll's vodcast, we now have a Forum online where you can post comments, questions, discussions about the vodcast topic. Wes is very ready to sculpt the episodes to meet the desires of the subscribers. You can send in video clips and he'll discuss them in an episode, etc. Like your own video-lesson. You're not going to get that on a radio show or free iTunes vodcast.

We love you all very much!
--> freddie

1. I imagine it's a bit better for you financially. In that I mean you're paying licensing fees now, and I suspect AcaTunes handles that nicely. There may be profit as well in it, but I doubt that's a primary concern of yours. Nothing wrong with making a buck, though.

2. After hearing a couple of other acappella podcasts [that eventually moved themselves], you're clearly the most professional, the one I don't cringe listening to. So if anyone can, I suppose you can.

3. I don't know if I'm a typical listener, but I doubt I'll be following you over if you're moving to pay. I might pay for albums, but I don't for podcasts. I enjoy the genre, but I'm not a current practitioner.

4. I could be wrong, because on the face of it AcaTunes looks really well run, but--it seems like if you're looking to increase the amount of acappella aficionados (and that does seem the goal of the founder of CASA, etc. based on an interview on one of Those Other Podcasts), you don't want to wall this music off behind a paid subscription.

5. If you want more audience, what's wrong with ITunes? I assume something is, or else there wouldn't be eMusic, etc. out there. Then what's wrong with them? Maybe there's a ton of genre-specific sites out there, and I'm wrong. It just seems that being insular doesn't spread the word.

Just as a note: one of my favorite podcasts is Coverville. I don't know what ASCAP licensing is for podcasters, but he's swinging it. Maybe he's taking a loss here, but what I'm getting at is that he's gotta pay them too and manages. If it went to paid, I doubt I'd continue there, either.

I suspect there's a really hard sell going on here. Either there's some arm-twisting going on (which is what I suspected for your, ah, counterparts since it's presumed they skipped the licensing thing based on what they were saying), or there's just an "offer you can't refuse" (in this case, access to tons more music, and less hassles on the licensing). With you I'm thinking it's more the latter. Not that a hard sell is bad, either--just that it's weird everyone's scrambling for the AcaTunes.

Anyway--and I really should have started with this--great show. I've enjoyed it, and was pleasantly surprised at how well it was produced. If this is it, thanks at least for the seven shows I grabbed a couple of weeks ago when I found the show.

I'm curious how much, if any, benefit the groups you featured have experienced as a result of the exposure. If there was any, clearly reducing your audience by going to the subscription model will affect that, but life is full of tradeoffs.

To a large degree, I agree with you. I know a number of people have been displeased with other subscription podcasts, and that's part of why I invited comments. You're not the only one to express this opinion, and it is one I take seriously.

If "the other podcast" were a larger operation, I sincerely think that "the other host" would be facing a class action lawsuit by now. Although I'm not saying Chad is necessarily the same way, I will not be subscribing to any paid podcasts unless they provide a very specific minimum publishing schedule, and a very specific refund policy if they don't keep up with the schedule. I guess that sounds pretty harsh, but if you want people to pay for something, you have to expect to be held to a much higher standard.

it is on the 5th page of the playlist: 2007 UCB ICHSA / ICCA Quarterfinals

Loved Hyannis Sound and Invisible Men. You get blue balls points for playing that song. Wow! "It's kink, but you don't ever tell her".

Thanks! And same to you! If you're ever in Philly, definitely let us know!

What's your myspace address? Ours are:

http://www.myspace.com/13243546576879
http://www.myspace.com/pennyloafersacappella

Best,
Dianna (theloafers@gmail.com)

Hey Penny Loafers - great work on semi-charmed life - we would love to host you guys any time you're in the DC area. We're on myspace if you're interested.

Thanks again, Chad

best,
Michael on behalf of the Saxatones

but hey---thanks, we're really flattered that you keep playing our music!

best,
the loafers

Thanks for including L-Squared's "Spam" in this episode. We appreciate it! And we have plenty more a cappella to come, I'm sure.

And now, for something somewhat different: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hpIPAdIOdY

Yeah Michelle's right, but hey it's all good. I really dug both Blue Jupiter tracks and look forward to picking up their live release over at Acatunes.com.

Incidentally, THANKS SO MUCH for playing our track on this month's 'cast! I hope everybody enjoys listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it.

Andy Blanco
The Moon-Rays

Thanks for playing a few tunes that I've been involved with on this episode! Just wanted to point out the misspelling of my last name...only one 'e' in Wrobel.

Also, I'm currently leaving Slapdash Graduate, but for a good reason...they're getting TOO BIG and I can no longer balance them with my other career. So to all the basses out there, audition for this group! They're really ambitious, and they're gonna be going places very soon.

I am still singing (and spitting) with Firedrill! who you've featured on the 'cast in the past! Watch out for our soon to be announced upcoming Boston shows!

Thanks again and keep up the great work!

-Matt Wrobel

http://www.firedrillband.com
http://www.slapdashgraduate.com

Fixed in ep. 12, still seems to be a problem in ep. 13. =(

I love the show! My one problem is with the volume differences between you talking and the music. I find myself having to push my speakers all the way to the top volume and strain to hear when you're speaking, and quickly bring the volume way down as soon as a song starts. Not sure what the issue is there, maybe you're just not sitting close enough to the mic or something. (is there a "normalize volume" function in the software or something?)

Other than that, I'm loving it! Keep it up! =)

(Also a quick plug - I direct the Dapper Dans of Harmony, in Montclair, NJ - if you live in the area & want some singing experiences, look us up!)

Frank

The Acapodcast is the 2nd podcast for me which is not on auto delete.

Absolutely love your show. Raised on doo wop (yeah, an OLDER listener here) and loving the college groups that you play that I'm sure I wouldn't hear anywhere else. Many thanks.

Thanks!!

I'm a sucker for great harmonies. Thank you for being the harmony dealer for this addict.

-Chad

Anyway, I just wanted to welcome you into the world of acapella podcasting. Should you want to listen to our podcast (www.trasa.se/podcast) bare in mind it's in Swedish

Maybe I should mention, I haven't actually listened to your podcast yet - but I have a feeling it's great.

/Anders