History: 1991-1996
1991-1992
Greg Martin and Molly McKenna faced major challenges in Autumn 1991. They had to recruit and train 14 new members in an effort to salvage a group perilously close to extinction. Luckily for Mixed Company, Greg and Molly found an amazingly talented and motivated new class of singers. The first few performances were rough, but Mixed Co soon regained its former glory, wowing the packed house in Roble Hall at the annual Love Sucks show for Valentine's Day. The big Spring Show at Kresge Auditorium was another great success, featuring the famous "God" radio call-in show intro starring Dan Goldman as God. Spring Show coincided with the release of Mixed Company's landmark album, "Unanimous," the first Mixed Co recording to be released on compact disc. "Unanimous," recorded under the tutelage of studio whiz Bill Hare, was the group's most ambitious and diverse effort to date, with tunes ranging from classic pop ("When I'm 64," "Mrs. Robinson") to daring rock covers (R.E.M.'s "Radio Song") to quirky, hilarious novelty songs ("Particle Man" and the spoken-word "The Sweater"). "Unanimous" won critical acclaim from the Contemporary A Cappella Society, including recognition for Amy Hunn's exquisite solo work on "All Blues" and Ken Johnson's fascinating arrangement of Sting's "Mad About You." Mixed Company had roared back to life, and members looked forward to even greater success in the coming years.
1992-1993
Fresh off its successful album year, Mixed Company and new musical director Ken Johnson recruited another great group at Autumn 1992 auditions. Ken's new arrangements, particularly "Africa" and "Life in a Northern Town," helped shape the group's increasingly complex, textured sound. For the Spring Break tour, Mixed Companions headed north on I-5 for shows in glamorous venues including the World Berry Museum in Woodburn, Oregon. The highlight, or lowlight, of the tour came on a horrible evening in a very unsavory Seattle neighborhood, where the group squeezed into two tiny, moldy, vermin-infested rooms of the Aloha Motel for an unforgettable night of police sirens and creepy guys harassing Mixed Company women. And I don't mean Dav. Needless to say, the group made it through their night at the Aloha and went on to wreck not one, not two, but three cars on the way back to Stanford. Even with all the drama, the tour was deemed a success, not least because many CD's were sold to the awed and amazed citizens of the Pacific Northwest. Mixed Co went on to perform a fabulous Spring Show titled "Co-Ed Slumber Party."
1993-1994
During the 1993-1994 year, the group began working on its fourth album, Dogs and Cats Living Together, recording most of the tracks over the winter quarter. The Co also enjoyed the honor of performing the National Anthem at an Oakland A's-Toronto Bluejays baseball game.
1994-1995
An East Coast tour served as the capstone of a fantastic 1994-1995 year. Moreover, internet wizard Aaron Hallmark created a new Mixed Company web page this year, bravely leading Mixed Company into the Digital Age.
1995-1996
Oh how time flies: Mixed Company celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, inviting scores of alumni back to perform during a ten-year reunion show! The group also recorded its sixth album Mean Say Love over the winter quarter.
