History

from the liner notes of In Formal:

In 1981, the University of Pennsylvania a cappella scene was a far cry away from what it is at present. Instead of the wide variety of vocal organizations that bedeck the campus nowadays, undergraduates were limited to a handful of groups: Pennsylvania 6-5000, Quaker Notes and the Glee Club. Dissatisfied with the choices available, Colleen Dempsey struck out on her own and founded Counterparts in late 1981 as a mixed alternative to the single-sex choices then available. Due to complaints from the other a cappella groups that a new group would draw on limited talent, Counterparts was forced to choose a specific type of musical specialty, and registered as a madrigal group.

Needless to say, the madrigal character of the group was not particularly long lasting. By 1985, Music Director Ed Schultheiss had give the group a jazz flavor with such hits as "Route 66" and "Satin Doll", while simultaneously bringing in perennial pop favorites like "Leave It." Topping this off was the crowd pleaser "Java Jive," which, according to legend, saved the group from oblivion. The group preserved these tracks on Vintage.

In 1988, Doug Jabara took over as music director, and along with Assistant Music Director Jon Coopersmith, ushered in a new era in Counterparts history. After Spring 1988's "On The Air," the group headed south to New Orleans, learning new songs and brushing up on old tunes. The trip gave Counterparts a new sense of purpose, and the group returned under Jon's leadership with a gusto that would propel them to the end of the decade.

Over the next few years, Jon built up Counterparts' repertoire with a balance of jazz standards and pop hits. The group's reputation swelled dramatically, with crowds packing into Dunlop Auditorium to hear Kate Grant and Angela Ai on "Time and Tide" and Lolita Jackson's renditions of "Hodja" and "No One Is To Blame." Under Jon's leadership, the group tackled songs other groups could not have begun to arrange, including "Goldmine" and all-time favorite "David and Goliath." By the time "X: A Decade of Glitz" came around in March 1991, Counterparts had come to be recognized for its intricate arrangements, subtle blending and powerful soloists.

We are proud to bring to you this limited edition compact disc print of Counterparts' recording, In Formal. Recorded between 1987 and 1990 under three different Music Directors, this album captures the sound and style that defined Counterparts throughout the 1990's.

-Seth W. Goren, CP'94