Jabberwocks

The Jabberwocks of Brown University
Background information
Origin	Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Genres	Collegiate a cappella
Years active	1949–present
Website	Official Site

The Jabberwocks is the oldest a cappella group at Brown University. It began in 1949 as an offshoot of the traditional Men's Glee Club when four members decided to start their own independent singing group. In 1956, Brown Music Department chair Arlan Coolidge, frustrated that the group was getting bookings that would otherwise have gone to the Glee Club, referred to the Jabberwocks as "a misguided small group of students whose product is a type of vaudeville."^[1] The original Jabberwocks, a double quartet, "wore grey flannel suits, white button-down oxford shirts, striped ties and white buck shoes, and travelled to out-of-town concerts in a 1928 Rolls Royce."^[2]

The group temporarily disappeared in 1975, was resurrected in 1980, and survived a brief period in the mid-1980s when some singers tried to take the group professional. Over the decades the group's repertoire has ranged from 1950s doo-wop, to Motown to contemporary pop.^[1]

Though originally conceived as an all-male ensemble (with a brief co-ed period in the 1970s), the Jabberwocks affirm that gender is socially constructed and encourage any tenor/bass singer to audition, regardless of gender identity or expression.

Awards

• 1993, Freedom '90 (song), Runner up, Best Male Collegiate Song^[3]
• 2006, International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella regional quarterfinals, second place^[4]
• 2010, International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella's Northeast semifinals, second place^[5]
• 2010, Breaking & Entering (album) nominated for the 2010 Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards in three categories.^[6]

Notable alumni

• Keith Barbour, American singer-songwriter
• Kid Beyond, a singer, beat boxer and live looper based in the San Francisco area
• Harrison Chad, American theater, film, and television actor.
• David Gockley, general director, San Francisco Opera
• James Naughton, American director, theater, film and television actor
• Roose, Kevin, author and news director for Fusion.
• Andy Suzuki, American singer-songwriter^[7]

Albums

The Jabberwocks of 1953^[8]

1. Old rockin' chair
2. How high the moon
3. Mood indigo
4. Hello, young lovers
5. Wade in the water
6. Aba daba honeymoon
7. Lindy Lou
8. Water boy
9. Never throw a lighted lamp at Mother
10. Soon one mornin'
11. Halls of ivy
12. Oh Joe

The Jabberwocks of 1956, Brown University^[9]

1. Be prepared
2. From this moment on
3. O Joe
4. Were you there?
5. Too good for the average man
6. On the chapel steps
7. Josephine
8. That old black magic
9. Steppin' around
10. Hello, young lovers
11. The farmer's daughter
12. Farewell song

Fascinatin' Rhythm (1958)^[10][11]

1. Fascinatin' rhythm
2. Autumn leaves
3. From this moment on
4. Too darn hot
5. Dancing on the ceiling
6. Coventry carol
7. Halls of ivy
8. My ideal
9. Wonderful Copenhagen
10. Tea for two
11. Swing low
12. Good news
13. Farewell song

A peace of ourselves (1969)^[12]

1. Enter the young (2:24)
2. My old desk (2:15)
3. Medley: The guys' song; The worst that could happen; Orange air (6:53)
4. Hey Jude (6:46)
5. Obladi, oblada (3:05)
6. Never my love (2:56)
7. Mrs. Robinson (3:23)
8. Getting better (2:15)
9. Medley: The fiddle and the drum; Requiem for the masses (5:34)

Streetnight (1984)^[13]

1. Tuxedo Junction
2. Lean on me
3. Every time we say goodbye
4. Take you back
5. Some people
6. I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter
7. Me and the boys
8. Come go with me
9. Streetnight
10. Bright college days
11. Old black magic
12. Crocodile rock
13. Rhythm of the rain
14. You won't see me
15. Farewell song : traditional Brown song

Hangin' Out (1988)

Stylin' By the Tum-tum Tree (1990)

The Sharpest Tools in the Shed (1992)

Liz's Slingback Boots (1993–1994)^[14]

1. Intro
2. Me and the Boys
3. 7
4. Just the Two of Us
5. Get into the Groove
6. The Sweetest Thing
7. Take Five
8. Never Tear Us Apart
9. Black Dog
10. Walking on the Moon
11. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
12. I Will Survive
13. Why Should I Cry for You
14. Don't Stop Believin'
15. Farewell Song

Woonsocket (1996) ^[15]

1. Don't You (Forget About Me) (04:30)
2. Sexual Healing (04:07)
3. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore (03:51)
4. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (04:11)
5. She's Leaving Home (05:22)
6. With A Little Help From My Friends (02:32)
7. Don't Dream It's Over (03:53)
8. Me And The Boys (04:21)
9. Superman (02:51)
10. Vogue (05:58)
11. Blue Skies (01:20)
12. Farewell Song (01:57)

Sermons and Soda Water (1997–1998)^[16]

1. Me and the Boys (The Nylons)
2. Send Me On My Way (Rusted Root)
3. Change the World (Babyface, Eric Clapton)
4. Volare (Gipsy Kings)
5. Ribbon in the Sky (Stevie Wonder)
6. It's Still Rock and Roll to Me (Billy Joel)
7. Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen)
8. Ebony & Ivory (Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney)
9. When We Dance (Sting)
10. Tempted (Squeeze)
11. Love Will Come to You (Indigo Girls)
12. All Night Long (Lionel Richie)
13. You're All I Need to Get By (Marvin Gaye)
14. Farewell Song (Brown Traditional)

The Jabberwocks: Fiftieth Anniversary Anthology (1949–1999)^[17]

1. Halls of Ivy (00:29)
2. Never Throw A Lighted Lamp at Mother (01:52)
3. Mood Indigo (01:58)
4. How High The Moon (01:31)
5. O Joe (01:44)
6. Fascinatin' Rhythm (01:51)
7. Old Black Magic (02:33)
8. Civil War (02:27)
9. Never My Love (02:52)
10. Come Go With Me (02:30)
11. Maine Girl (03:10)
12. Rock-N-Roll Lullaby (04:53)
13. Me and the Boys (03:57)
14. Freedom '90 (05:33)
15. 7 (03:56)
16. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? (03:51)
17. Send Me On My Way (04:01)
18. Farewell Song (02:03)

Listening Session (2007)^[18]

1. Sympathy For the Devil (2:56)
2. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (4:00)
3. The Seed 3.0 (4:19)
4. Fix You (4:51)
5. Ben Folds (4:05)
6. The Last Time (2:54)
7. Feeling Good (3:31)
8. Tonight, Tonight (4:25)
9. Get By (5:16)
10. Farewell (1:48)
11. Blackbird (2:45)

Breaking & Entering (2009)^[19]

1. You Know My Name (4:14)
2. Ain't No Sunshine (3:36)
3. The World's Greatest (3:54)
4. Viva La Vida (3:47)
5. Apologize 3.0 (3:25)
6. Gone (3:17)
7. Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing (3:45)
8. 3-Pain (4:26)
9. Higher Ground (3:55)
10. Bright Lights (3:56)
11. Dance With My Father (4:06)
12. I'd Do Anything for Love (5:58)
13. Farewell Song (1:42)

Jabbertalk (2013)^[20]

1. All of the Lights / Power' (2:37)
2. Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight (2:50)
3. Retrograde (3:54)
4. This Woman's Work (3:44)
5. 'Use Somebody" (4:13)
6. Ragged Wood (3:05)
7. Sweet Disposition (4:08)
8. Someone Like You / Set Fire to the Rain (5:53)
9. Mirrors (4:46)
10. With a Little Help From My Friends (4:08)
11. Farewell (1:44)

See also

• The Chattertocks, a female a cappella group begun as a parody of the Jabberwocks in 1952

Notes

References

1. "Blue Blazers in a Paisley World". Brown Alumni Magazing. November–December 1999. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
2. Martha Mitchell (1993). "Encyclopedia Brunoniana". Retrieved July 9, 2012.
3. "1993 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Winners". CASA The Contemporary A Cappella Society. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
4. "Wocks take second at a cappella competition". The Brown Daily Herald. March 5, 2006.
5. "Jabberwocks, Higher Keys compete at MIT". The Brown Daily Herald. March 21, 2010.
6. "2010 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Nominees". CASA The Contemporary A Cappella Society. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
7. "Ne-Yo - Sexy Love (The Brown University Jabberwocks w/ Andy Suzuki A Cappella Cover)". Retrieved 18 February 2013.
8. "The Jabberwocks of 1953" (1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo. ; 12 in.). Retrieved July 9, 2012.
9. "The Jabberwocks of 1953, Brown University" (1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 10 in.). Retrieved July 9, 2012.
10. "Fascinatin' Rhythm" (lp vinyl). Retrieved July 10, 2012.
11. "The Jabberwocks of Brown University" (1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in.). Retrieved July 9, 2012.
12. "A peace of ourselves" (1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in.). Retrieved July 9, 2012.
13. "Streetnight" (1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in.). Retrieved July 9, 2012.
14. "Liz's Slingback Boots". RARB Review. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
15. "Jabberwocks: Woonsocket CD Track Listing". Retrieved July 10, 2012.
16. "Sermons and Soda Water". RARB Review. March 30, 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
17. "The Jabberwocks: Fiftieth Anniversary Anthology (1949-1999)". 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
18. "Listening Session". April 13, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
19. "The Jabberwocks Breaking & Entering". May 1, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
20. "The Jabberwocks Jabbertalk". September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2015.

External links

• The Jabberwocks of Brown University
• The Jabberwocks of Brown University on Facebook
• The Jabberwocks on YouTube
• @jabberwocks on Twitter