Online Buyers' Club (OBC) Specials

Six Appeal : Plan A - ON SALE

Review: The 2012 Harmony Sweepstakes National Champions are one of the most exciting groups to have won the event in several years. Dynamic performances, creative arrangements and powerful vocals combine to make them one of the a cappella groups most likely to break into the mainstream. A full review will be coming shortly.

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Rockapella : Motown and More - ON SALE

Review: How does an a cappella legend sound? Judging by Rockapella's 'Motown & More,' more sweet, tight, soulful and rockin' than ever! Having grown up 50 miles from the Motor City, this reviewer was weaned on the Motown sound, which dominated the top 40 airwaves with wonderful artists like the Temptations, the Supremes, the Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder. So here come the hits on 'Motown & More,' and they are to the original tunes like little Michael Jackson was to himself on 'Thriller.' Tight Vocal Percussion replaces drum sets, of course, but Scott Leonard's arrangements of standards like 'Brick House,' 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone,' '(Stop) The Love You Save,' 'My Cherie Amour,' 'Dancing In The Street,' 'Use Ta Be My Girl,' 'My Girl,' 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' and 'Just My Imagination' (which segues smoothly into a sample of John Lennon's 'Imagine'), is the '& More' here! Let's be frank, Scott, Jeff, George, John & Steven could sing rings around most of the early Motown vocalists, and we're hearing exactly how amazing so-called 'covers' can be, when re-invented by one of our favorite, and still one of the premier a cappella bands in the world, Rockapella. We loved this album from start to finish, especially because we have loved Motown ever since we were big enough to reach the faux-chrome radio knob on our '64 Comet. Great stuff!

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Cat's Pajamas Vocal Band : Meow Mix - ON SALE

Review: Pride of Branson, MO, 5-man a cappella band Cat's Pajamas has been sharpening their live show since 2005, and it shows bigtime! These 13 songs are pure entertainment, from soul hits like James Brown's "I Feel Good," pop hits like Del Shannon's "Run Around Sue," "Love Potion Number 9" and "Earth Angel;" Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and the Drifters' "Up On The Roof;" Doo-Wop classics like "Stand By Me" and "Blue Moon;" and even a sweet reggae medley of "Kiss the Girl" and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl"-these are great covers and fun stuff. Enjoy!

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Fermata Town : Hold That Thought - ON SALE

Review: Winners of the 2013 Boston Harmony Sweepstakes this group is the latest addition to the Contemporary A cappella league. Inspired by the wealth of new talent in the a cappella world, they have worked hard to find their voice and put a unique stamp on the Boston a cappella scene. They pride themselves in creating many original arrangements. Full review to come shortly.

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New York Voices : Live with the WDR Big Band Cologne - ON SALE

Review: The Grammy Award-winning vocal group New York Voices celebrates its 25th anniversary presenting their first full live album with New York Voices Live offering a collection of past favorites and brand new arrangements. A live recording from a concert at the Kolner Philharmonie in Cologne, Germany with the world famous WDR Big Band Cologne, this long-awaited release opens the group's 2013 celebratory year with a bang. New to their repertoire are a jazz rendition of the Annie Lennox pop tune 'Cold,' Darmon Meader's cappella vocal arrangement of the classic Lerner & Lowe standard 'Almost Like Being In Love,' and a swinging take of the Broadway staple 'Love Me or Leave Me.'

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Breath of Soul : 4 The Record - ON SALE

Review: Breath of Soul, David, Jesse, Tony and Jake, is an all-male a cappella contemporary quartet who bill themselves as 'Nashville's Premier Vocal Band.' '4 the record' is their 3rd album, following 2009's 'Blue Christmas' and 2010's 'Breath of Soul,' to which we gave rave reviews on the Primarily A Cappella website, commenting, 'to be this good early in their careers promises great things for BOS.' '4' is the poised, finely-crafted album of a mature group who have paid their dues and are ready to join a handful of cappella's elite groups. Some of our favorites among the 10 cuts are beautifully arranged covers of Foster the People's 'Pumped Up Kicks,' Lady GaGa's 'Bad Romance,' a fine pair of originals by tenor & vocal percussionist Jake, 'Bee' and 'Give Yourself;' The Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun,' excellent takes on a pair by Cory Hosler, 'Fix You, Fix Me' and 'My Last Season;' an impressive, sweetly-segueing medley of 'Michael Jackson vs. Queen,' Adele's 'Rollin' in the Deep,' and a soulful, harmonic take on Jason Mraz's romantic anthem 'I Won't Give Up.' Don't miss this one--Breath of Soul is smokin' hot and '4' took our breath away!

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Four Voices : III - ON SALE

Review: Four sweet-harmonizing young Christian men - Brandon Guyton, his brother Chad, Lester Rector and Jayson VanHook, otherwise known as Four Voices, have put their hometown of Cleveland, TN on the Barbershop map. First singing together in Lee University's acclaimed Voices of Lee, the newly-formed quartet turned quite a few heads by winning SPEBSQSA's 1996 Collegiate and 1999 Dixie District Championships and singing well at the Nationals, their first step into the International top ten was winning the Gold at the 2002 convention in Portland! Since then the popular group has toured extensively, taking their distinctive, smoothly blended sound, passionate delivery and exciting arrangements to delighted audiences in concert halls, corporate venues and churches across the globe. 'III' follows 'Four Voices' and 'Four Voices II' not just in order, but in feeling, quality and pure musicality. Favorites among these 12 tunes could easily include them all, but we'll arbitrarily pick the soulful 'I Believe,' poignant 'Nearer My God to Thee,' triumphant 'How Great Thou Art,' Lennon/McCartney's 'Oh Darlin',' a light-hearted 'Sesame Street' and, in further tribute to their 16-member Collegiate group, 'For God So Loved the World,' sung with Voices of Lee (lightly guitar accompanied). 'III' is simply a beautiful, inspirational album - don't miss this one!

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Petra Haden : Petra Goes To The Movies - ON SALE

Review: Stunning a cappella renditions of classic movie themes from Psycho to Taxi Driver to The Social Network. A one of a kind opportunity to experience some cinematic soundtracks in an extraordinary new way. Epic and evocative scores have been ingeniously recreated utilizing layers of remarkably inventive vocals. Far from a mere novelty, these interpretations retain every bit of emotional resonance and inspirational might as the originals.

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Sweet Honey In The Rock : Tribute: Live! Jazz at Lincoln Center - ON SALE

Review: On this new album, Sweet Honey In The Rock's distinctive swirl of a cappella vocals, encompassing waves of imaginative five-part harmonies and occasional solo showcases, is heard unaccompanied, aside from the quintet's hand percussion, on about half of the songs. Adorned with new arrangements by Sweet Honey's members, there are jazz standards, gospel/civil rights anthems, Afro-centric songs, show tunes, blues, and a salsa-flavored original. Interwoven throughout the presentation are the understated instrumental contributions of the trio nicknamed "the Honey Men" - Stacey Wade (musical director/piano/keyboards), Parker McAllister (upright acoustic & electric bass), Jovol Bell (drums, percussion) - who augment Sweet Honey's exhilarating, soulful voices and confident, genre-crossing dexterity.

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Vocal Point : Lead Now Me On: Hymns and Inspiration - ON SALE

Review: Referred to by some as 'an optical illusion for your ears,' BYU Vocal Point's inventive style, innovative arrangements, and incredible vocal percussion continue to wow audiences worldwide. They have performed before millions on national television (on NBC's The Sing-Off) and in concerts across the country. While Vocal Point mostly showcases popular songs from yesterday and today in their concerts, the group always includes hymns and inspirational songs as part of their shows. Now for the first time, the music Vocal Point uses to give praise and express their faith is featured exclusively on its own CD.

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Elektra Women's Choir : Pure Elektra - ON SALE

Review: Pure Elektra marks the Silver Anniversary of Elektra Women's Choir with a collection of highlights from several recent seasons of Elektra programming. All but four of the composers and arrangers are alive and well today, most of them Canadians, and all are worthy of being appreciated far and wide. This recording has two intended audiences: one of listeners who are attracted to exhilarating and moving sounds of fine choral music, and another of choral conductors who are looking to discover new repertoire for their own ensembles. Close your eyes, open your ears, and take a deep breath of Pure Elektra!

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Mirinesse : Hope Sings Eternal - ON SALE

Review: Co-Conductors Beth Ann Bonnecroy and Rebecca Rottsolk specialize in healthy singing and development of singers' personal vocal technique, and this contributes to the free, beautiful sound their choirs achieve. Seattle's Mirinesse Women's Choir, founded in 2006, has thrilled audiences in and around northwest Washington with the lovely sound of healthy, classically-trained women's voices, singing a challenging and diverse repertoire of historic and contemporary tunes from around the world. 'Hope Sings Eternal' is the fourth excellent CD by Mirinesse, an auditioned group of women, ages 21 to 70, who were honored to perform at ACDA Conventions in Oklahoma City and Seattle, and at the 2012 Elektra Women's Tapestry Festival in 2012. There is a generous collection of 16 cuts here, some favorites are Eleanor Daly's 'A Hymn for St. Cecilia,' the traditional 'Peace Like a River,' Jaakko Mantyjarvi's lively 'Pseudo-Yoik Lite,' Nicola Porpora's 'Lauda Jerusalem,' 'Chant for Great Compassion' by Abbie Betinis, Antonio Sacchini's sweet, violin-accompanied 'Te Dum Laudamus, mvt 3,' Eric Whitacre's violin-accompanied 'She Weeps Over Rahoon,' Joan Szymko's 'The Peace of Wild Things,' David Sasso's flute and piano-accompanied 'Night' and a live cut, the clarinet and piano-accompanied Yiddish Folksong 'Ale Brider.' Most of the songs are lightly accompanied by piano and/or other instruments. 'Hope Sings Eternal' is a feel-good, soaring collection of perfectly sung tunes, and like us, we think you'll love Mirinesse!

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Barbershop Harmony Society : Top Choruses 2012 - ON SALE

Review: Many men sang very well! Must of been that Pacific Northwest rain loosening up the vocal chords. Ambassadors of Harmony won top honors, Great Northern Union took silver and Kentucky Vocal Union claimed bronze.

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Barbershop Harmony Society : Top Quartets 2012 - ON SALE

Review: Other year, another great contest! Showing how this wonderful musical form is spreading across the world this year both the gold winners (Ringmasters - Germany) and silver Musical Island Boys (New Zealand) were from overseas. Bronze went to A Mighty Wind.

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Barbershop Harmony Society : Top Choruses 2012 - ON SALE

Review: Many men sang very well! Must of been that Pacific Northwest rain loosening up the vocal chords. Ambassadors of Harmony won top honors, Great Northern Union took silver and Kentucky Vocal Union claimed bronze.

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Barbershop Harmony Society : Top Quartets 2012 - ON SALE

Review: Other year, another great contest! Showing how this wonderful musical form is spreading across the world this year both the gold winners (Ringmasters - Germany) and silver Musical Island Boys (New Zealand) were from overseas. Bronze went to A Mighty Wind.

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