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Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella

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Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella
Written byGerard Brown
Directed by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers
  • Gerard Brown
  • Cherie Fortis
  • Spence Halperin
Cinematography
  • Robert Leacock
  • Anastas F. Michos
  • Alain Onesto
  • Mark Whitman
  • Crystal Griffith
  • Rebecca Kurtz
Running time85 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkPBS
ReleaseMay 10, 1990 (1990-05-10)

Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella is a 1990 PBS special directed by Spike Lee that aired as part of the Great Performances strand. It featured performances by The Mint Juleps, Take 6, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Rockapella and The Persuasions. The special also starred Lee and Debbie Allen, and featured cameo appearances by Samuel L. Jackson and several of Lee's musician friends.

A soundtrack was released on Elektra Records, but it excluded eight of the songs.[1]

Plot

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Lee films cameos of several of his musician friends expressing irritation that they cannot participate in his Great Performances episode, as he has decided to devote it entirely to a cappella music. Lee and Allen watch the show's opening in a cinema. Then, Lee takes Allen to a seemingly shady building in Brooklyn (actually the Brooklyn Masonic Temple), where they listen to Rockapella, True Image, The Mint Juleps, and The Persuasions.

Afterward, the two attend a concert with all the featured a cappella groups at the BAM Majestic Theater. In between songs, there are interviews with the groups as well as songs heard in backstage rehearsals. Finally, Allen, inspired by all the music that she has heard, suggests that she do her next album a cappella, to Lee's chagrin.

Cast

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Cameos

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Performers

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  1. "Zombie Jamboree" – Rockapella
  2. "I Need You" – True Image
  3. "Don't Let Your Heart" – The Mint Juleps
  4. "Looking for an Echo" – The Persuasions[a]
  5. "Get Away Jordan" – Take 6
  6. "Something Within Me" – Take 6 †
  7. "Flat Tire" – Rockapella †
  8. "Under the Boardwalk" – Rockapella and True Image
  9. "Higher and Higher" – The Mint Juleps
  10. "Phansi em Godini (Down in the Mines)" – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
  11. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" – Ladysmith Black Mambazo and The Mint Juleps[b]
  12. "I'm Going Home on the Morning Train" – The Persuasions †
  13. "Gold Mine" – Take 6 †
  14. "Trickle, Trickle" – True Image †
  15. "Yes We Can Can" – True Image[c] †
  16. "I Want to Live Easy" – The Mint Juleps
  17. "Set Me Free" – The Mint Juleps †
  18. "N'kosi Sikeleli Afrika (God Bless Africa)" – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
  19. "Pretty Woman" – Rockapella †
  20. "Up on the Roof" – The Persuasions
  21. "Pass On the Love" – The Persuasions

† indicates songs omitted from the soundtrack.

Soundtrack

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Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella soundtrack track listing
No.TitlePerformersLength
1."I Need You"True Image 
2."Don't Let Your Heart"The Mint Juleps 
3."Zombie Jamboree"Rockapella 
4."Looking for an Echo[a]"The Persuasions 
5."Phansi em Godini (Down in the Mines)"Ladysmith Black Mambazo 
6."I Want to Live Easy"The Mint Juleps 
7."Under the Boardwalk"Rockapella and True Image 
8."Up on the Roof"The Persuasions 
9."Higher and Higher"The Mint Juleps 
10."Get Away Jordan"Take 6 
11."N'kosi Sikeleli Afrika (God Bless Africa)"Ladysmith Black Mambazo 
12."Pass On the Love"The Persuasions 
13."The Lion Sleeps Tonight[b]"Ladysmith Black Mambazo and The Mint Juleps 

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "Looking for an Echo" includes uncredited interpolations of "For Sentimental Reasons".
  2. ^ a b "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is shown on screen as "Mbube"; it combines elements of both versions of the song.
  3. ^ "Trickle, Trickle" and "Yes We Can Can" are performed together as a medley.

References

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  1. ^ Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella at Discogs
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