Yet Another Great Group You Don't Know: DaVinci's Notebook

"Who? Vadinchy's Notebook? Never heard of 'em," you might muse as you debate over whether to continue this article or find something useful to do, like arrange your ping-pong balls in order of specific gravity.

There actually is, or was, a group called DaVinci's Notebook, but my selection of three favorite albums is a little disingenuous. Three is all they ever put out.

Even so, each album is a keeper, unless you have parallel aversions to humor, weirdness and excellent music. Their first album was their best, I believe, but they didn't fall very short of the mark in the next two. I will go into specifics soon.

But first, let me explain this baker's half-dozen business. A baker's dozen is thirteen, is it not? That is correct, so the same half-dozen should come out to 6.5, and that, folks, is what I will bring to your attention, when I finally get done with all this introductory gum-flapping.

Before that happens, though, I should provide a little background on the band. The musicians who make up DaVinci's Notebook are Richard Hsu and Greg "Storm" DiCostanzo, who started the group in 1993. They would soon add Paul Sabourin and Bernie Muller-Thym. They began strictly as an a cappella group, but, in due time added some instrumentation, with Bernie Muller-Thym on guitar and Richard Hsu at the keyboard.

They disbanded in 2004, although Sabourin and DiCostanzo are still active as a duo. If you imagine three albums is a paltry output for eleven years' work, then you should bear in mind that, throughout their earlier years, DaVinci's Notebook was strictly a touring group that did a cappella renditions of oldies from the 50s and 60s. On the other hand, while there are a few of those songs on their albums, most of the content is original and fresh.

Now, then, let me get on to the pleasurable process of bringing their very best stuff to your attention. I will do so by album.

From Bendy's Law

As I said, this, their first album is, far and away, their best. When I first played this album, I enjoyed it from start to finish. Almost any album you hear by anyone contains a few clunkers. None to be found on this one. Let me introduce you to my favorite songs, again, keeping in mind, it's all quality stuff.

Liposuction

If you're going to do a song about a surgical procedure, liposuction is probably your best bet. I can hardly imagine getting much mileage out of a song called "Appendectomy," for example. Now, hear for yourself what DVN has done with Liposuction.

Fish Sticks

How can such a hip song come from such a boring food? Well, in spite of my views of processed fish, this song is a stitch. It is one of the group's jazziest songs in their entire collection, but-here's the rub-I can't find a link to it. I am a little baffled how an excellent song like this can be left off of YouTube, when so much junk makes it onto that site. I guess you'll have to get the album, but, if you do, you will be glad you did, for this song alone.

Window-Washing Cowboy

I have had occasion to mention this song earlier in an essay about My Top 25 Country Music Songs It came in at number 18. While DVN is not a country group, by any means, the wide variety of music they put out could and did include this excellent country music song, called Window-Washing Cowboy.

Shoehorn With Teeth

This is the only song on my baker's half-dozen list that is not a DNV composition. The song was originally put out by the excellent group They Might Be Giants. Even though I think DVN's version is better and funkier, I can't find a link to their version, so, instead, let me invite you to listen to Shoehorn With Teeth by the original artists.

By the way, because the song is so short, it is the one that counts for a half in my list of 6.5.

From The Life and Times of Mike Fanning

I like this album a lot, even if I do rate it behind Bendy's Law. In addition to the two I am listing here, the album contains such entertaining fare as "Secret Asian Man," "Jump in the Line," and a song I highlighted in an earlier article about TV Lawyers, Ally McBeal.

But, as good as those songs are, the two from this album to make my list are the two best songs I have ever heard in their respective genres, even if they are both lampoons.

Title of the Song

If you think this song bears some similarity to the best song from the Broadway musical, Spamalot, called "The Song that Goes Like This," you are right, but DVN had the idea first. For all that the two songs are different. The one from Spamalot lampoons the Broadway ballad, while Title of the Song, spoofs a common type of popular ballad.

Kingdom in the Sky

Yes, this song is and, at the same time, is not what you think it may be. However you may classify it, though, I think Kingdom in the Sky is the best song on the album.

From Brontosaurus

I only have one song listed from this album, which is not to say it is a piece of junk. There are a number of excellent cuts throughout, such as "Internet Porn," "Heather Graham," "Me Pants Fall Down" and "Hot Soup." There is another song, "I Wish I Were," that is excellent for its first two verses, then goes on for two more verses too many, but, I can forgive an occasional misstep in the midst of such artistry. And what was the one song that made the list?

Another Irish Drinking Song

Now that I think about it, I probably should have posted this article three weeks ago, in time for St. Paddy's. Nevertheless, Another Irish Drinking Song is one of the group's best. It maybe runs a verse longer that it should, but I would be hard-pressed trying to figure which one to cut.

If you want to add any or all of these albums to your collection, they are all available at Amazon.com. I checked the EBay purchase site, Half.com, and found only the first two are available at this time. There was no sign of Brontosaurus. For that matter, most of the Bendy's Law albums were selling at a considerable premium over the Amazon price. Maybe these things are turning into collectors' items. That's all well and good, but music this excellent is not meant to be hoarded and put away. It is meant to be heard in all its joyful energy.

Sources

Wikipedia

Amazon.com

Half.com

Own collection