Here's a great selection of classic Swingle Singers at an excellent price. Box set includes four otherwise out-of-print album releases including A Cappella Amadeus, Bach Hits Bach, 1812 and Around The World. A collection of top notch vocal jazz with those fabulous arrangements that define the 'Swingle Sound'.

The Swingles, the mixed-voice world-class, multiple Grammy-winning, legendary a cappella octet from London and one of our favorite Vocal Jazz groups of all time, originally broke into the Jazz scene of 1963 because of Ward Swingle's innovation. He handed his group of session singers charts for an instrumental, Bach's 'Well-Tempered Clavier,' which led to their double Grammy hit album 'Bach's Greatest Hits.' There is this kind of innovation and artistry on 'Ferris Wheels,' which comes from the Joni Mitchell hit 'Both Sides Now' ('Moons and Junes and Ferris Wheels, the dizzy, dancing way you feel'), the second of 12 wonderfully crafted songs on the album. The ethereal 'Unravel,' James Taylor's lazy-day, bluesy 'On the 4th of July,' the exquisite French adaption of the theme from 'Summer of '42,' 'L'Ete 42,' Nick Drake's stunning bluenote 'River Man,' Sting's powerful, waltzlike 'Until,' and a symphonic arrangement of Lennon/McCartney's 'Eleanor Rigby' by group member Kevin Fox (who also sings lead on it). David Freeman and Joseph Hughs' 'No More I Love Yous,' Stevie Wonder's 'Summer Soft,' Billy Joel's 'Goodnight My Angel' and Brian Wilson's 'God Only Knows' are all beautifully arranged and performed. 'Ferris Wheels' is a masterpiece by the Swingles that touches and satisfies on many levels. One of the best Jazz/Pop albums of the year and highly recommended!

Listen to Flying High/ Wake Me Up When September Ends in RealAudio.

While the Swingles first won acclaim for their arrangements of Bach fugues, they have been performing Beatles songs as part of their live concerts for many years. Though Ward is no longer part of the eight-voice mixed ensemble, he acts as musical advisor, and the group continues on, revitalized by fresh new talent. A record of all-Beatles material is surely a natural! The aural landscape designed by the Beatles, with George Martin at the helm, is ably reproduced here, entirely a cappella, of course. Some adaptations swear almost complete allegiance to the originals, but others, such as 'Norwegian Wood,' embellish with subtle, yet distinct tonal flavors. The tempo of 'Lady Madonna' is gently suppressed, with harmonic emphasis on the seventh. 'All My Loving' is a sweetly earnest ballad. 'Ticket To Ride' shows the Swingle Singers ready to meet the 21st century, with a winning mix of the old and the new.

Listen to Ticket to Ride in RealAudio.

A compilation recording featuring the best of Swingles' past and present. The Swingles are a top attraction at concert halls throughout the world, and their purely vocal arrangements of famous works from composers such as J.S. Bach, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi, Brahms, Beethoven and Satie are a Swingles trademark. They were a sensation when the group first popularized the concept in the 1960's. Half of the arrangements on this CD are by founder Ward Swingle, including 'Fugue In D Minor' and 'Clair De Lune,' with the remainder balanced between Ben Parry, Jonathan Rathbone, Mark Williams, Andrew Gray and current musical director, Joanna Forbes. The four male and four female voices that animate these hallmarks of European classical tradition have a modern grace and elegance, and the sound is spacious, open and fluid. These are new a cappella recorded versions of the classic repertoire.

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This CD is a real treat for Swingles fans, as well as those just getting turned on to them, the original French Swingle Singers, featuring Ward himself doing all the arrangements and singing with the group! For those who are new to the Swingles, these are classic Bach pieces performed incredibly, unbelievably by voices only, singing in a seamless 'scat-singing' style. Since their first record these 8 singers became, if possible, even more polished and refined in the years that separated the two volumes the Swingles were voted 'Best Vocal Group in the World' several times. These are some of their best-known works: from the Fugue in G Major for organ, to the Concerto in D minor for 2 violins, the Choral from the Cantata BMV 147 to the Prelude in C major. Don't be misled by the names, this is all a cappella, with the exception of almost imperceptible drums. In the liner notes we find fascinating little odds and ends about the 10 pieces and such details as an 'Ave Maria' being slipped into the score here or there. But know that this is marvelously original and inventive music and that the Swingles have remained true to the spirit that Bach instilled in his works, a profoundly human fervor and a joyously optimistic faith. As we know Johan Sebastian would, enjoy!

Well, isn't this a treat! From the beginning of 'the French Swingles' 10 years was spent touring. Between tours they recorded 12 albums, moving chronologically from Bach and Handel to Telemann, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and some early 20th Century Spanish composers. In between, there was a Christmas album and one with the Modern Jazz Quartet. They were all done in that traditional jazz-classic mode: scatting to a light rhythmic background. What we have in our hands is a CD release of that Christmas album, 'Noels Sans Passeport' which was released in America as 'Christmastime' in 1968. This is an international work par excellence which features songs from America, France, Germany, Norway, Holland, Spain, Russia, Italy, and Denmark. As all of the Swingle's work in those early days, the tunes were scatted so no language lessons are required. There isn't much that hasn't been written already about the group, but if you are a Swingle's fan this is a must and if you've never been introduced, now is the time for they were, and are, one of the most important groups in the world of a cappella music. Joyeux Noel!

The Swingle Singers, Ann De Renais, soprano 1, Joanna Forbes, soprano 2, Sarah Simmonds, Alto 1, Wendy Nieper, alto 2, Andrew Gray, Tenor 1, Richard Eteson, Tenor 2, Jeremy Sadler, Bass 1 and Patrick Ardagh-Walter, Bass 2, and this is another of their very popular live albums. We can feel ourselves in the audience in December 2000, the elusive 'tingle factor' in the air, as the group takes 21 classic tunes and proceeds to nail them, as only the Swingles can, one by one: 'September Song,' 'Alabama Song,' 'Mack The Knife,' 'Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat,' 'Largo,' 'Badinerie,' 'Air on the G String,' 'Ticket to Ride,' Procul Harum's 'Whiter Shade Of Pale,' 'Ave Maria,' 'The Fool on the Hill,' Queen's amazing 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' 'Little Drummer Boy,' 'Away in a Manger,' 'Christmas Medley,' 'Amazing Grace,' 'White Christmas,' 'Intro to 1812 Overture,' '1812 Overture,' 'September Song,' 'Thank You' and 'Theme from Mission Impossible.' Great music, incomparable singing!

Listen to Bohemian Rhapsody in RealAudio.

The Swingles' discography boasts a stylistic diversity unmatched by any other a cappella group--from Mozart to madrigals, Bach to the Beatles, folk songs to fugues and film themes, but 'Mood' focuses on their forte: jazz. These eight gifted singers have a symbiotic relationship with some of the best arrangers in the world, Ward Swingle, Bertrand Groeger, Alexander L'Estrange, Jonathan Rathbone and others. 'Mood' begins with Miles Davis's 'So What,' which is followed by a brilliant selection of 1960s Latin jazz, 'Surfboard,' Jobim's 'Insensatez' and 'The Girl From Ipanema' (The best version we've heard), and 'Milonga del Angel.' Three moody jazz ballads, 'A Time For Love,' 'The Peacocks' and 'What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?' follow. Then three Richard Rodgers classics, 'Have You Met Miss Jones?,' 'My Funny Valentine' and 'The Lady Is A Tramp.' Then come four classic 30s and 40s standards: 'Just One of those Things,' 'My Foolish Heart,' 'All The Things You Are' and 'It Don't Mean A Thing,' finishing with Quincy Jones' 1966 hit, 'Soul Bossa Nova' (from Austin Powers). Our favorite is the stunning 60s Latin Jazz section, which we hope they devote a whole CD to, but every song is a finely-crafted jewel. 'Mood Swings' swings us into a jazz mood and never lets us go. Listen to the vocal trumpet solo on 'The Lady Is a Tramp'--it's almost unnecessary, because the soprano voices are already doing soaring jazz trumpet riffs throughout the song. This is breathtaking proof of our contention that the Swingles are the best at whatever style they choose to sing - simply perfect! Highly recommended.

Listen to The Girl from Ipanema in RealAudio.

Ward Swingle's Swingle Singers were formed in 1962, and stepped into the vocal jazz spotlight bigtime with the success of their first album, which was based entirely on Ward's groundbreaking vocal scat interpretations of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. On this their second album, seven of the 12 tunes are again by Johann - but to the Swingles, their homage could only be complete if they included by works of Johann's family and friends, composers who viewed Bach as their Master. Thus we are treated to the marvelous vocal gymnastics of the Swingles on pieces by Bach's two sons, Carl and Wilhelm, Handel (spelled 'Haendel' in the liner notes) and Vivaldi. We are immediately drawn into the surprising power of Bach's 'Badinerie' where the voices, accompanied by light, driving jazz snare drum, dance like frantic, harmonic dragonflies over the surface of a pond for a minute and 19 seconds and then are gone. Also fun and fast-moving are Bach's 'Praeambulum,' and 'Solfegietto in C Minor,' Handel's 'Allegro' and Vivaldi's 'Fugue.'Particularly sweet and melodic are Bach's 'Largo,' based on his harpsichord concerto, and Wilhelm F. Bach's 'Der Fruehling.' It's easy to see why the Swingles created such a sensation with their voices-as-orchestra, push-the-envelope style, which sounds as fresh and revolutionary today. We would like to imagine Bach and friends in a heavenly music room, putting on headphones and grooving on this hip homage to their music!

A hard-to-find classic and 1965 Grammy winner by the original Les Swingle Singers! Ward Swingle graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory, then studied the piano in France under Walter Gieseking from 1951-53. After working as an accompanist and conductor he became a member of the famed Double-Six. From there he became the founder, arranger and 1st tenor for the SwingleSingers, all the other singers being French. We have Jeanette Baucomont, soprano; Christiane LeGrand, soprano; Alice Herald, alto; Jean Cussac, bass; and three Germains, Anne, alto; her husband Claude, tenor; and his brother Jose, Bass. Included are: 'Zwolf Variationen fur Klavier 'Ah! Vous Dirais-Je Maman,'' 'Fuga,' 'Sonate fur Klavier Nr. 15 C-Dur,' three movements, 'Serenade Nr. 13 G-Dur, 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,'' four movements; and 'Allegro.' Lightly scatting over the familiar melodies (what we recognize as the kids' song 'A B C D E F G,' for instance) then matching the snare drum beat for beat in a dancing multi-harmonic nonsense-syllable musical race, here was a unique sound, as fresh and original as Wolfgang himself. It was a breakthrough sound that led to the group being awarded a Grammy. Unobtrusively accompanied by Guy Pedersen on Double Bass and Daniel Humair on Drums, 'Swinging' is astounding, a vocal jazz milestone!

Listen to Eine Klein Nachtmusik: Allegro in RealAudio.

This recording is a celebration of forty years of arguably the world's most famous and longest-running a cappella group. The current mixed-voice octet has gone back to its roots, teaming up with a world-class jazz rhythm section for this live CD to recreate both the look and sound of the original Swingles as it performs the greatest hits of the 60s and 70s, beginning and ending, of course with the composer on whose music the group was founded, J.S. Bach. The first part of the program includes 4 Bach gems, then 4 from Mozart's 'Ein Kleine Nachtmusik and 3 Spanish romantic pieces like J. Rodrigo's 'En Aranjuez con tu amor.' Marvelous arrangements of Cole Porter's 'Just One of Those Things' and Gershwin's 'Fascinating Rhythm' delight us and the crowd. We get a glimpse of the Swingle's future, 'Dejeuner sur l'herbe' by Parisian composer Pascal Zavaro, who is currently writing an opera with the group. As always, breathtaking, brilliant stuff from the Swingles! Highly recommended.

The Swingle Singers are comfortable in many musical genres, particularly jazz and salsa, and 'Unwrapped,' their second holiday album, showcases this versatility. The free-flowing, almost scattish jazz interpretation of classical music that first made them famous is evident on Corelli's 'Christmas Concerto,' while Darke's 'In the Bleak Midwinter' is more traditional a cappella. Different, but equally powerful interpretations are given to classic Christmas songs and carols: a sexy 'Santa Baby,' 'Let it Snow,' a slow, jazzy 'Away In A Manger' and John Lennon's 'Happy Christmas (War is Over).' Other beloved tunes, 'Christmas Song,' 'River,' 'Walking in the Air,' 'Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!' 'O Tannenbaum,' 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree,' 'Carol of the Drum,' 'Amazing Grace,' 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' 'Last Christmas,' and 'Hotaru no Hikari' are like reaching into our stocking and finding more and more cool presents. A gift to yourself or loved ones should be 'Unwrapped!'

Listen to Christmas Song in RealAudio.

'Telemann' is a re-release of the Swingles' fifth album, and it features the original energetic collage album cover, the funky 1960's curlicue lettering, and a great picture of the eight 1966 Swingles, in formal dress, sharing 4 stand-up microphone in front of Guy Pedersen on double bass, Daniel Humair on drums and seven fake Classic stage columns. Having 'swingled' Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart et al in their first four albums, the copy reads, next up is Georg Philipp Telemann, with single pieces by Francois Couperin, Georg Muffat, Louis-Claude Daquin, Benedetto Marcello and Johann Joachim Quantz. 15 pieces, our favorites are the 6 short movements of Telemann's 'Concerto A Six,' Muffat's 'Fugue in D Minor,' Telemann's lively 'Presto,' featuring lead soloist Christiane Legrand paired with Jeanette Baucomont. Daquin's bouncy 'Le Coucou,' Marcello's 'Presto' and Quantz' 'Sonata in C Minor.' In 1966 'swingling' was a word spontaneously coined by music critics upon hearing the group's recordings and concerts. Its meaning: extremely musical, baroque, modern, joyous and lively. Telemann might have added 'fun,' but close enough!

Ward Swingle's Grammy-winning, envelope-pushing mixed-voice octet is simply one of the best and most influential vocal groups of all time. 'Romantic' is a digitally-remastered reissue of recordings made in 1967, and the fresh, effortless sound on these 11 songs delights and amazes us again. The prolific Swingles have performed and recorded in many styles, Bach to the Beatles, folk songs to film themes, but they hit the big time as a vocal jazz group and it remains in our minds their forte. Beethoven's 'Scherzo' and 'Allegro,' Chopin's 'Allegro,' 'Etude op. 10,' 'Etude op. 25,' and 'Waltz' are particularly marvelous. Schumann's 'Short Fugue,' and two by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 'Spinning Song' and 'Andante,' are excellent, as are Mussorgsky's 'Limoges, The Market.' Rounding out the CD are two gems; 'Zortzinco' by Isaac Albeniz and Schubert's 'Andante.' There is occasional unobtrusive light percussion and double bass. Still performing, touring and recording extensively (most recently the excellent CDs 'Ticket to Ride,' 'Keyboard Classics,' 'Live in Japan' and 'Mood Swings' were released on our own PAC records), it is a real treat to hear some of the Swingles' work from 37 years ago, especially with the remastering. Perfect then, perfect now!

Since the release of Ticket to Ride, the Swingle Singers have received many requests from choirs and a cappella groups for their Beatles' arrangements. Finally, they have published a companion songbook to the popular album. The book contains the seventeen songs from the CD arranged for four to eight voices and features a bonus arrangement of 'Here, There and Everywhere' for AATTBB. These wonderful arrangements include the original scat syllables used on the recording as well as alternated endings for the songs that fade out. Another great addition to the Swingle publications, this book will have your group creating a new wave of Beatle mania at your next concert.

This is it! The original Les Swingle Singers, arranged and conducted by Ward Swingle. Half of this rerelease was from the l963 recording which won a Grammy for 'Best Performance by a Chorus.' The first Jazz Sebastian Bach was a 1968 album called Bach's Greatest Hits here in the US where Les Swingles won a Grammy in the category 'Best New Artist.' You'll find over sixty-five minutes of jazz/Bach sung with only the bass and drum (mostly snare) to accentuate rhythm. They became world renown because scat is an understandable language everywhere in it. None of Bach's work has been changed, not a note added or taken away! This is not improvisation (though two pieces were transposed to accommodate vocal range).

Simply put, the early success of Ward Swingle's Singers in the world of jazz is a result of their applying scat singing (a vocal technique using nonsense syllables started by Louis Armstrong in 1926 when his songsheet with the words fell on the floor while recording) to incongruous well-known music, such as the orchestral and organ music of J.S. Bach. In 'Around The World' the Swingles apply scat to folk songs from around the world with a result as fresh and surprising as their first hit, 'Bach Hits Back.' The instruments they scat in this generous, sumptious CD (over an hour, 20 songs) include flutes of the Andes on the lovely opening cut, 'Cachapaya,' the banjo in the American medley 'Country Dances' and the didgeridoo in a lilting 'Waltzing Matilda.' The combination of words and vocal 'instruments' create another winning, unique sound for the Swingles. Some other favorites: 'Star of the County Down' from Ireland, Scotland's 'Loch Lomond,' 'The Ash Grove' from Wales, 'Joshua fought the battle of Jericho,' England's haunting 'Bushes and Briars'É actually, there's not a weak track here!

Over thirty years ago Ward Swingle and Les Swingle Singers gained international acclaim for their first album Jazz Sebastian Bach on which they classically scatted their way into history. The repertoire at the time was mostly fugues and chorales. In musically returning to their roots the new Swingle singers not only sing the still popular fugues and chorales but explore many more aspects of Bach's writing as befits their expanded horizons after so many years of exploration. So you will find major choral works, a solo violin sonata and orchestral works in addition, not all sung in the original scat style.

This is the second CD which, along with Jazz Sebastian Bach, are the rereleases of the early Les Swingle Singers who were a world renown phenomena. Ward Swingle's original intent had been to sing exact vocal versions of big band classics. All of the original octet had been classically trained musicians, most with perfect pitch. They sang Bach merely for practice to improve their sight reading and musicianship.The idea of 'swinging it' (jazzing it up) came later after the bass and drums were added. This fortuitous evolution leaves us with a wonderful compilation of 'Swingleized' works by Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi and Bach, mostly Mozart's and Bach's work.

Pretty Ring Time is a repertoire chosen from many of the songs that the Swingle Singers knew and loved growing up. All the composers are English from the early 20th century with the exception of one song, 'Sally In Our Alley,' written by the group's director and second tenor, Jonathan Rathbone. Most of this music was meant to be performed by piano and voice but lends itself wonderfully well to the group's capacities. The composers are Peter Warlock, Ivor Gurney, George Butterworth, Gerald Finzi, Frank Bridge and John Ireland. The lyrics are from Shakespeare, Tennyson, Shelley, Masefield, A.E. Houseman, Thomas Hardy and other notables of English letters whom the composers had set to music.

Recorded at Harewood House in 1989, the Swingle Singers performance for Yorkshire Television includes Bach's 'Organ Fugue in G Minor,' Henry the VIII's 'Pastime In Good Company,' and the Swingles go-for-broke closer, '1812.' Since the octet's founding by Ward Swingle, originally in France, and then as a later, English version, the group has astounded audiences with their 'voice orchestra' renditions of classical works. Though Ward has since retired, Jonathan Rathbone, Ben Parry and their fellow singers carry the banner with aplomb and daredevil musicality.

In this reviewers opinion this is the recording which will leave anyone begging for more of the Swingle Singers. If you haven't yet been introduced to the new Swingles, but just have a vague memory of the early work (which was revolutionary in its day, don't forget!) you're in for a treat. 1812 presents a wonderful variety of studio work with several of the live pieces which are events. The 'Overture to William Tell' and the fabulous '1812 Overture' sandwich a song written by Henry VIII,complete with vocal crumhorn recorder and drum, a couple by the Beatles, Debussy's 'Trois Chansons,' Henry Mancini's 'Peter Gunn,' a Gershwin and a Sondheim. But 1812! The full orchestra, brass band, and cannons, and church bells are all performed live by eight singers!!!

Primarily A Cappella is proud to be re-releasing the ever-popular Swingle Singers recording of 'The Story Of Christmas'. Formerly out of print, the continued demand for this recording is extraordinary, and a tribute to thjis English group about which the Los Angeles Times extolled 'Everything about the Swingles is flawless'. They take a collection of traditional carols and hymns ('The Boar's Head Carol, And Is It True?') and mix it with some modern songs (Jester Hairston's 'Mary's Boy Child') to tell the story of Christmas. This is a well thought out arrangement of songs to tell the tale that we know so well with interesting and varied songs.

Listen to Carol Medley in RealAudio.

Originally conceived as warm-ups or to break up the routine of repertoire rehearsals, many loop songs are also suitable as concert songs. Divided into four levels of difficulty. Contains two and a half hours of music, including: Swing, Latin, Afro, Gospel, R&B, Funk, Pop, Rock and World music. CD includes performances by The Swingle Singers.

Although Mozart only lived for 35 years his output was extraordinary, not only in quantity but in quality. To many his music is perfect - not a note out of place - nothing over- or understated. This is a collection of some of Mozart's most cherished songs have been given the 'Swingle Sound' treatment by arrangers Ben Parry and Jonathan Rathbone who were long-serving members of the group. Famous for their all-vocal interpretations of classical material this recording is itself a classic and is a recording you will play for many years to come.

After 44 years of performing in concert and recording, the 2007 version of the Swingles are often asked how the group has changed. The answer is, slowly and naturally they have begun to add vocal percussion, which has made an exciting and indispensable impact on their live shows - and now on 'Beauty and the Beatbox,' the first Swingles disc where every track contains vocal percussion or human beatboxing. Shlomo, awe-inspiring beatboxer and a great friend of the group who was invited to join the group for an appearance at the London Jazz Festival in 2006, has a major and exciting presence on the album. Included in these 11 tracks are longtime Swingles favorites like 'A Fifth of Beethoven, which segues into disco samples (LaBelle's 'Lady Marmalade' and the BeeGees' 'Stayin' Alive'), 'Spain,' 'Adagio in G Minor,' 'Bolero,' 'Cielito Lindo,' a hot cover of 'Straighten Up and Fly Right' (which has some very fine faux horns), and 'Piano Concerto No. 21, 2nd mvt.' Besides adding a rich bass dimension to the sweet Swingles leads, Shlomo's beatboxing adds a fresh, irreverent, sassy note to this familiar material that we find very appealing-this is fun, sexy, jazzy, let-it-all-hang-out stuff. Listen to the Starsky & Hutch theme 'Gotcha,' Ward Swingle's arrangement of Lambert, Hendricks & Lewis's 'It's Sand, Man!', and the final cut, the dynamic 'Bachbeat,' to get a taste of the funky, tasty new Swingles.

Listen to A Fifth Of Beethoven in RealAudio.

This is a remastered reissue of the 1972 release of Les 4 Seasons 'Le Printemps' and is classic Swingle Singers.

This is an absolute classic Swingle Singers recording and a must for every collector. Ward and his singers collaborated with the The Modern Jazz Quartet on this fabulous recording and was a big hit when it was released in 1966.

A most intriguing 1967 release of the Concerto D'Aranjuez with the Swingle Singers performing their interpretations of classical Spanish music. The result is delightful especially with singer Christine LeGrand and a couple of solos by Ward himself. Another collector's gem.

Reissue of the classic 1969 release on Philips featuring the arrangements of Ward Swingle of classic American songs.

Eclectic, surprising composer Luciano Berio, born in 1925, wrote 'Sinfonia,' for eight voices and orchestra as a surreal, often dissonant interplay between voices and instruments in six parts, 'I-', 'II-O King,' 'III'-In ruhig fliessender Bewegung,' 'IV-', 'V-' (Regis Pasquier, violin solo, New Swingle Singers, conducted by Ward Swingle, and 'Eindrucke.' A strange and powerful collection by the eclectic Berio, beautifully performed by the interaction of choral and instrumental giants.

All Three charts are featured on The Swingle Singer's album 'Around The World Folk Songs.'

All Three charts are featured on The Swingle Singer's album 'Around The World Folk Songs.'

Charts from the Swingle Singers' stellar christmas album, 'The Story of Christmas. These four, eight part arrangements are fun for the singers and the listeners. Especially exciting is Ben Parry's arrangement of Jingle Bells!