The delightful Mrs. Freak hasn’t been home much this week. She’s been rehearsing for a reunion performance by her high school choir. So this week seems like a good time to celebrate a capella music.

The Bobs “Unchain My Heart” (Ray Charles)
This is such a rockin’ song and a joyous vocal rendition. I just love the bass line that Richard Bob lays down.

Petra Haden “Mary Ann With The Shaky Hand” (The Who)
Over the course of three years Petra Haden recreated the entire album The Who Sell Out using only her voice. That’s amazingly ambitious and the results are pretty fantastic as well.

Anonymous A Capella Group “Gangsta’s Paradise” (Coolio)
When I got this song it was tagged as being by Rockapella. As it turns out it’s not by Rockapella. In fact if you go to Rockapella’s web site there’s a frequently asked questions section where they specifically mention that they have never recorded Gansta’s Paradise. If anybody knows who is singing this please let me know.

The Persuasions “My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama” (Frank Zappa)
This is from a wonderful album called Frankly A Capella wherein the Persuasions cover Frank Zappa’s music. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite song from that album, but I really love a song about a guitar being performed with no guitars.

Xtension Chords “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (The Police)
I’m not a big fan of the Police or of this song in particular. But I really dig this lush vocal arrangement.