d8: The White Album, Middlebury College Dissipated Eight, 1980 Recorded at Green Mountain Records, Northfield VT Albums is in Excellent condition sleeve has some wear VG condition. Ultra rare with  Beatles and Grateful Dead covers!

The Dissipated Eight

   Shortly after the class of 1955 arrived at Middlebury in the Fall of 1951, Pete Baldwin's interest in quartet singing led to some singing action in Painter and Hepburn Halls. By February seven were practicing on a regular basis. WRMC announcer Bob Arel noting the double quartet was short by one designated the name of the group the Dissipated Eight. This name has stuck! The D8 made it's debut at the Ides of March Dance, March 15, 1952. Photographs from the Spring of '52 show Pete Baldwin as first tenor, Ellis Baker and Les Streeter singing second tenor, Bob Johnson and Pete Gray carrying baritone, while John Ackerman and Ed Opler sang second bass.

    In the Fall of 1952 Mint Dole, John Hammond and Jack Harrington, all class of '56, and wanting to form a quartet joined forces with the D8. Mint joined Pete singing first tenor, Ellis continued singing second tenor with Les Streeter, John Hammond and Jack Harrington took over the baritone section, and Seward Highley, '55, joined John Ackerman singing second bass. Now we were eight! By the Fall of '53 with Ron Potier stepping in to Les Streeter's position, the roster was set for the '53, '54 and '55 seasons.

    The "D8" sang at various occasions on campus during '52 and '53 and then began to sing outside the college at civic organizations in the state. From time to time the "8" journeyed to Burlington to spend lively evenings singing with the men of the Burlington Chapter of SPEBSQUA (Society for the Promotion and Encouragement of Barber Shop Singing). In the Spring of '53 the group was invited to Smith College, its first college engagement outside of Vermont.

    During '53-'54, the "8" appeared at Greene Mountain College, St. Lawrence University Winter Carnival Ball, and the Syracuse University Spring Formal. The highlight of the year came when the D8 was invited to audition for the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout TV Program in New York. This provided a few exciting days in New York with the group singing everywhere from CBS to the German American Club.

    With four members graduating in the Spring of '55, Ron Potier was elected to succeed Pete Baldwin as leader. Auditions were held campus-wide to insure an on-going tradition. Also in the Spring of '55, the D8 cut its first album, which, according to the editorial of the Middlebury newspaper, "did not do justice to the group," and is remembered to this day by the toilet flushing in the background as the recording proceeded in a friend's apartment! Successive albums have been produced in professional studios much to the relief of those who have enjoyed the well-blended singing of the group.

    The '54-'55 season included a number of appearances including a return engagement to St. Lawrence, participating with the Saints and Sinners, Yale Whiffenpoofs, Princeton Nassoons, and groups from Williams, Amherst and Brown. With this concert, the Dissipated Eight was recognized abroad.

    Prior to their graduation, the class of '55 original members of the D8 welcomed Ted Smith to replace Pete Baldwin and Ed Hopkins to take over for Ellis Baker. Ron Aushlund and Jules Auger stepped into spots being left by Seward Highley and John Ackerman, and George Sims joined John Hammond and Jack Harrington in the baritone section thus making the D-8 nine in all. In due course George Sims replaced Ton Potier as leader, and Jules Auger succeeded David Bridges '55 as Business Manager.

 After a lull in recording during the turbulent 60's and 70's, where Vietnam and Watergate were the focus of most Midd students, the D8 went through a renaissance with the release of the White Album in 1980 (so as not to be confused with The Beatles "White Album," they made the cover all black!). This album reflected a move away from the pure barbershop foundation into more modern genres including arragements by The Grateful Dead and America.