Because, sometimes, we need a little harmony..

December 3, 2015 8:35 PM

Tough days require some peace and harmony, and there aren't many places more suited to finding that level of comfort than acapella, so I offer you the vocal crafting of The Persuasions. For a half a century The Persuasions have been softening the hard edges of the world... It felt like a good time to bring some smooth solace....

For your listening pleasure:

My favorite- "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother/You've Got a Friend"

The song list includes the Persuasions doing Dylan, 70's classics, and a recent full concert...

Enjoy, and let some of the weight wash off your shoulders...

posted by HuronBob (12 comments total)

Wow. I wasn't expecting much, but this is a true treat. Imperfect pitch, but great arrangements executed with enthusiasm.
posted by phenylphenol at 8:53 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]

My own favourite -- Buffalo Soldier.

First time I saw them, they were supporting Lou Reed in Liverpool and the obnoxious audience booed them off the stage. It was only Lou's insistance that he wouldn't play if the crowd didn't show some respect that they were able to finish their set.

I swear, I stopped listening to rock music that night and haven't willingly listened to it since.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 9:22 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]

Oh gosh. One of my ... no, my favorite vocal ensemble, if for no other reason that they recorded the wonderful "Frankly A Capella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa". The whole album is delightful, but my favorites are "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" and "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Momma". Oh, and "You Are What You Is". On second thought, just find it and listen to the whole thing. All of this worldly misery and stupidity will just melt away.
posted by vverse23 at 10:36 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]

These are the Persuasions that sang with Joni Mitchell here, right? Firmly among my top five favourite concerts.
posted by holist at 10:39 PM on December 3, 2015

I'm going to ride right past the line-up controversy and just link this oldies medley from New Jersey public television in the '70s.
posted by ob1quixote at 10:47 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]

Their album Chirpin' from 1977 is one of the greatest albums of all times, and one of a very small handful that I've bought in more than one format ove the years.
posted by ardgedee at 3:48 AM on December 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

@vverse23 Not to mention "Duodenum."
posted by NedKoppel at 7:54 AM on December 4, 2015

Here's a full discography, courtesy of lead singer Jerry Lawson. In the years since The Persuasions broke up, he assembled another great a cappella group, Talk of the Town, which recorded one album and participated in NBC's The Sing-Off. Most recently he released an album on his own, Just a Mortal Man, moving beyond a cappella to sing with a bunch of great instrumentalists.
posted by twsf at 8:50 AM on December 4, 2015

Oh Heavenly Salvation by Kurt Weill & Bert Brecht. A gospel song for reprobates.
posted by ovvl at 9:31 AM on December 4, 2015

Say, Huron Bob, did you ever listen to Stan and Evie, my favourite hiptobesquares, on WEMU?
They used to play the Persuasions "Looking For An Echo" once in a while, even though it was recorded decades later than most of their record collection.

The lyrics name-check Toubo Rhoad, whom the Persuasions had only lost in 1988. It's sad that by the time the Persuasions started to get better known by the general public, Toubo had already gone. They used to sing as a quintet but didn't replace him.
 
posted by Herodios at 10:06 AM on December 4, 2015

In a similar vein, vverse23, herewith a Persuasions contribution to the celebration that was Zappa's Universe.
posted by On the Corner at 12:37 AM on December 7, 2015

Herodios.... Once in a while, but I wasn't a regular listener...
posted by HuronBob at 5:10 AM on December 7, 2015