The Tone Rangers
This award-winning Washington D.C.-based vocal group delights audiences from coast to coast with its dynamic blend of tight harmonies, inventive arrangements and keen wit. In a few choreographed minutes, the Tone Rangers propel through 900 years of Western music--from Gregorian chant to classic rock to TV theme songs--in a fresh approach to contemporary a cappella music and comedy. National finalists in the 2002 Harmony Sweepstakes (the Superbowl of a cappella), the Tone Rangers are also three-time winners of Mid-Atlantic "Audience Favorite" and "Best Arrangement" awards.
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I Think I Love You Find the Cost of Freedom / Southern Cross I Feel Fine Ariel Brown-Eyed Girl Unchained Melody Sweet Talkin' Woman Rock the Boat Down by the Salley Gardens Helen Viva Las Vegas Wild Thing I Need You |
Pride of Washington, DC, the all male a cappella octet Tone Rangers put on a great performance at the 2002 Harmony Sweeps National Finals, and have been delighting audiences across the country ever since with their rich harmonies, fine arrangements and wonderful sense of humor ever since. Beginning with a brilliant send up of the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You," this album continues with a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Find the Cost of Freedom"/"Southern Cross" medley that’s sweet enough to bring tears to the eyes of us old time CSNY fans, and a breathtaking, silly tale of hippie love, "Ariel." Continuing this spirited collection of 13 songs are a "Brown-Eyed Girl" that Van probably didn't have in mind, a rendition of "Unchained Melody" that has a little too much moonshine before going horribly astray, a manic "Sweet Talkin' Woman," a reasonably straight cover of "Rock the Boat," and an incongruous, lovely take on the romantic British folk tune "Down by the Salley Gardens" that could descend into silliness at any moment but doesn't."Viva Las Vegas" begins with the cloying sound of slot machines and features a nice "Elvis" lead in front of decidedly "non-union" background singers. The live cut "Wild Thing" begins as a hilarious Gregorian chant, and "I Need You" somehow samples "Meet the Flintstones," and the "Jetsons' Theme." The Rangers are funny, talented, always surprising--you've just gotta love these guys. (We think!)
Listen to "I Feel Fine" in Real Audio.
| 2419 CD $14.95 |
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She One More Minute Surrender Loch Lomond My Tzatzkele Shenandoah Heart Precious Lord, Take My Hand I Need You Keep the Customer Satisfied In My Life Wild Thing Rubber Duckie |
The Tone Rangers sound as though a group of barbershop singers felt that restrictions and formality of the style was too confining and collectively expanded their horizons first to seven singers and then to a wider variety of popular styles. Their tight, close harmony lends credence to this supposition. Additional clues are the beautiful version of "Loch Lomond" (beautiful tenor lead) and "Shenandoah." Then they go wacky with Al Yankovic's "One More Minute," "My Tzatzkele" and the live gag tune, "Rubber Duckie." Gospel and doo-wop arrangements round out the play list of familiar popular songs.
| 2359 CD $14.95 |
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