Ben Folds, A Capella At Last

If you’ve been to a Ben Folds concert, you know that the piano-pumping singer-songwriter likes to get the crowd singing along. Specifically on 2001’s ” Not the Same,” during which he coaches the audience through some three-part harmonies, A Capella style.

If you’ve been to a Ben Folds concert, you know that the piano-pumping singer-songwriter likes to get the crowd singing along. Specifically on 2001’s ” Not the Same,” during which he coaches the audience through some three-part harmonies, A Capella style.

So it’s only fitting that Folds is releasing Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!, an album comprised of college vocal groups singing this collected works, naked, as it were.

The album is due April 28th, and Folds sees it as his official “Best Of,” but better.

“If this were Ben World, this would be my greatest hits album,” the singer says. “I’d rather this be my greatest hits record than someone collecting my masters and slapping on a photo of me leaning against a piano. This is a better way. I’m a songwriter, and these are my songs.”

In a lengthy blog post on his MySpace page, Folds elaborated on the project:

“For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ve put together a record of university a cappella groups performing my songs.

Our method of recording and the production concept was inspired by National Geographic field recordings and old seventies Nonesuch Records field recordings of native music of different cultures. Simple live recordings, documents of music being made in real time that capture the inimitable thumbprint of a culture as it is in motion. I love that shit.

…Some of the singers in these groups will sign deals and make records but most will not. That goes to show that music doesn’t require a license or radio promotion. Power to the fucking people!”

Here’s the tracklist:

“Not The Same” – The Spartones from Greensboro, NC.
“Jesusland” – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Loreleis
“Brick” – The Ohio University Leading Tones
“You Don’t Know Me” – The University Of Georgia’s With Someone Else’s Money
“Still Fighting It” – Washington University in St. Louis’s Mosaic Whispers
“Boxing” – Ben Folds
“Selfless, Cold, and Compose” – The Sacramento State Jazz Singers
“Magic” – The University of Chicago’s Voices In Your Head
“Landed” – The University of Colorado Buffoons
“Time” – The Princeton Nassoons
“Effington” – Ben Folds
“Evaporated” – The Newtones from Newton, MA
“Fred Jones Part 2” – The West Chester University of Pennsylvania Gracenotes
“Army” – The University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers
“Fair” – University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire’s Fifth Element
“The Luckiest” – The Washington University in St. Louis Amateurs