Dissipated Eight
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The Dissipated Eight, also known as the Middlebury College Dissipated Eight or D8, is an all-male collegiate a cappella ensemble from Middlebury College in Vermont. The Dissipated Eight was formed in 1952 and still exists today, generally with more than eight members. The Dissipated Eight's repertoire consists of covers of popular music. They generally do not use any instruments in their recordings, carefully utilizing singers of different pitches to simulate the sound of all the instruments of the song they are covering, including rapid or high-pitched instruments such as the fiddle or drum set.
Several former members of the Dissipated Eight have gone on to gain national prominence, including international opera performer William Burden, television and film actor Jake Weber, and author/editor Peter Knobler.
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[edit] Formation and Naming
The group was founded at Middlebury in the Fall of 1951 by Pete Baldwin. By February, seven were practicing on a regular basis. WRMC announcer Bob Arel, noting the double quartet (which had no name at the time) was short by one, jokingly called the group "the dissipated eight." The Dissipated Eight made its debut at the Ides of March Dance on March 15, 1952.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
Dissipated Eight have released ten albums on Compact Disc.
- Super 8 (1990)
- A Moveable Fest (1993)
- Clapping Joes (1996)
- Eighps (1997)
- Altitude (1999)
- No Sleep For Dreaming (2000)
- Eight Balls (2002)
- Golden Jubilee: 50 Years Of Dissipation (2002) - two-disc compilation set
- Out Of The Ashes (2005)
- After Hours (2007)
[edit] Achievements
The Dissipated Eight has been featured three times on Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) compilations:
- 1997 - For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
- 1998 - Satellite (Dave Matthews Band)
- 2000 - Windmills (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
Two albums were designated "Male Collegiate Album of the Year" by The Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA):
- 1997 - Clapping Joes
- 1998 - Eighps
In the Meantime (from Eight Balls) was featured on the first Collegiate A Cappella Music Organization (CAMO) compilation "Top Shelf A Cappella"
Chris Molina's work on A Wink and a Smile (on the album Altitude) was named "Solo of the Year" by CASA in 2000.
Mike Olcott's work on Superstition (on the album Out Of The Ashes) was nominated for "Solo of the Year" by CASA in 2006.
