John Rutter : Choral Works for TTBB choirs

Review: This collection of nine of John Rutter's most popular choral works, arranged by the composer for tenors and basses, has been carefully compiled to reflect a wide variety of texts and styles. For TTBB and piano or organ, or unaccompanied

Songlist:

Various Artists : A Voices Only Christmas

Review: Our own compilation, featuring a diverse line-up of artists. It's an original gift idea, particularly for those ears not yet familiar with a cappella. The track list includes the most popular, such as the contemporary Christian group Glad ("O Come All Ye Faithful"), the legendary doo-wop group the Persuasions ("Christmas Means Love") and The Swingle Singers ("Carol Medley"), whose vocal jazz technique is flawless. Several of the new and exciting vocal groups, such as Naturally Seven, m-pact, Go Fish and the Edlos are represented. All a cappella fans will appreciate Acoustix' "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (from their new "Cool Yule" CD), Just For Kick's "A Child is Born" and ReGeneration "Do You Hear What I Hear?". The Blenders "Christmas Song," from Nog (one of the greatest holiday CD's ever), Chanticleer's "In Dulci Jubilo," (Chanticleer's holiday concerts are a highlight of every season) and the Accidentals' signature "Rudiana" are also included. 17 tracks in all.

Songlist: Carol Medley, Do You Hear What I Hear, O Come, O Come Emanuel, The Christmas Song, Bless This House, Caroling, Caroling, Sim Shalom, I'm In The Mood For Joy, Rudiana, Your'e a Mean One Mr. Grinch, A Child Is Born, Charlie Brown Christmas, Away In a Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, Stilla Natt (Silent Night), In Dulci Jubilo, Christmas Means Love

Voicing: christmas/contemporary-a-cappella/

Various Arrangers : Beatles Songs for Women's Voices Vol 2

Review: Another great collection of arrangements from song of the best in the business. Everybody but everybody ebjoys an Beatles song! "Penny Lane" - Using vocals only to create the musical tapestry from the rhythmic and harmonic background to the iconic piccolo trumpet line, this #1 Beatles hit from 1967 will really wow your audience and be a blast to rehearse and perform! "Here Comes The Sun" - Perfect for a spring concert, this bright Beatles classic in an appealing a cappella setting features rich harmonies and light arpeggiated textures resulting in a warm sound without being too complex. "When I'm Sixty-Four" - Playful, sweet, melodic... this arrangement brings out all of the best elements of this Beatles ditty, with the melody bouncing between the various voices. When your singers are sixty-four, they'll still be humming along to this timeless classic! "Imagine" - This simple, sweet setting of John Lennon's song of hope features a soprano soloist. Perfect for a group looking for a good first a cappella song, or a more advanced group interested in focusing on nuance and sincerity."Let it Be" is one of the landmark songs of the 20th century and certainly at the apex of the Beatles catalog, this #1 pop hit from 1970 in this a cappella setting will be an inspirational choice for choral concerts of all types.

Songlist: Penny Lane, Here Comes The Sun, When I'm Sixty-Four, Let It Be

Voicing: sheet-music/beatles/

Greg Jasperse : Voices Dances Vol 1 - 5

Review: Voice Dance, a wordless vocal dance celebrating the human voice and the joy of singing together is perfect for any occasion. Written for nationally-known jazz educator, arranger, and vocalist Jennifer Shelton for her marriage to well-known drummer Steve Barnes, this composition will teach your ensemble blend, alternative time signature as well as the freedom found in singing together. A musical challenge your students will love. Voice Dance II, continuing the wordless vocal dance celebrating the human voice and the joy of singing together. Bright with bounce and musical joy, this piece is perfect for any occasion. VoiceDance III. Greg has created a wordless vocal dance that has an African feel full of rhythmic, percussive and forward-moving vocal expression. Use of repetitive lines allows this work to be learned rather easily. Outstanding for festivals, concerts and even multicultural events! VoiceDance IV Soft consonants fill the jazz syllables while the energetic music of rhythm and vocal textures paint an incomparable picture of vocal sound. The piece is made up of repetitive phrases and sections, so learning is easier than imagined when first hearing this extraordinary choral.

Songlist: Voicedance, Voicedance II, Voicedance III, Voicedance IV, Voicedance V

Voicing: a-cappella/arrangements/wordless/

Idea of North : A Cappella Arrangements

Review: Winners of the Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals the Australian quartet The Idea of North is one of the most highly regarded vocal jazz groups performing today. "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" is an old gospel song arranged in a swing, trad jazz style and features each performer with solo sections. It has quasi instrumental parts to sing including trumpet, trombone and even banjos! Originally inspired from the movie sound track, "White Men Can't Jump" this fun arrangement is sure to leave your audience wanting more. "Amazing Grace" and "Sweet Sweet Spirit" retain their gospel meaning and flavor while given the wonderful vocal jazz treatment from the talented arranger Andrew Piper. These arrangements are all highly recommended!

Songlist: Amazing Grace, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Voicing: sheet-music-world/South+Seas/Australia/

Review: Timing, that is the key. Often we understand the magnitude of an event only though the hindsight of history. In 1990 Spike Lee & Co. produced a television special totally a cappella. It featured some of the finest rock/popular/doo-wop groups in the world. Included in this sound track are Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Mint Juleps, The Persuasions, Rockapella, Take Six and True Image. In historical terms this event was a watershed event bringing the renaissance of a cappella of to the public consciousness. It still is a marvelous cd and a must for any enthusiast of the genre. What ever happened to True Image, anyway?

Songlist: I Need You, Don't Let Your Heart, Zombie Jamboree, Looking For An Echo, Phansi Em Godini Down In The Mines, I Want To Live Easy, Under The Boardwalk, Up On The Roof, Higher And Higher, Get Away Jordan, N'Kosi Sikeleli Afrika God Bless Africa, Pass On The Love, The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Review: Produced by CASA, these compilation CDs are a great introduction to different genres of a cappella, and are particularly recommended to the novice listener. Including groups such as Penn off the Beat ("Fall from Grace") Heebee-jeebees ("Angels We Have Heard on High") Da Vinci's Notebook ("Liposuction") and the King's Singers ("Abendlied"), the proceeds benefit CASA and allow the organization to continue in its efforts to promote a cappella singing. Other groups featured are The Fairfield Four, Vox One and Rockapella.

Songlist: Lift Up, Chameleon, Tic Tic Boom, Hush, Fall From Grace, Sham'a, Swingers, Help For The Needy(Today), A Song From The Fifties, 'Round Midnight, 'Cross The Mason-Dixon Line, Mabel, Angels We have Heard On High, Liposuction, El Paisanito, Abendlied, Tonight, Eternity Alone, Hymn To The Mother Of God

Voicing: a-cappella/contemporary/cds-mixed/

Review: These awards are given by CASA, the Contemporary A Cappella Society, a non-profit organization promoting a cappella music. As the liner notes note, a cappella means literally "in the chapel style," but the 18 cuts prove it is closer to "in any style." Some of our favorites: Spiralmouth's "Nothing Is Written," Naturally Seven's powerful "Bless This House," Harmony Sweeps champs Toxic Audio's "Loving You," Ocume's "Guantanamera," Da Vinci's Notebook's "Ally McBeal," The Kinsey Sicks' hilarious "Gay Sera Sera," and m-pact's vocal-percussion jazz-pop gem, "Caroling, Caroling." CARA 2000 is a good sampler of how CASA sees today's a cappella music.

Songlist:

Various Artists : A Cappella Christmas Party

Review: Compilation release featuring the top names in a cappella, including the Persuasions, Real Group, Nylons, Bobs and Rockapella. Every track on this sixteen song CD is strong, encompassing the traditional (Blenders' "First Noel") to the novel (The Bobs' "Christmas In L.A."). World jazz group SoVoSo contributes the soulful original "Snowflakes," while French-Canadians La Bande Magnetik take on Tchaikovsky's "Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy" in an unconventional interpretation. Beachfront Property's "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Vox One's "White Christmas" will thrill those who enjoy vocal jazz, as both are a virtual primer on the how-to's of the style. You will want to add this CD to your own holiday music collection, and it also makes a wonderful stocking stuffer or hostess gift!

Songlist: Jingle Bells, Rock Around the Christmas Tree, Here We Come A Caroling, The First Noel, Joy To The World, Nr Det Lider Mot Jul, The Holly And The Ivy, You're All I Want For Christmas, Snowflake, Saturnalia Smile, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hold Out For Christmas, Christmas In LA, Casse Noissettes, Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, White Christmas

Voicing: christmas/contemporary-a-cappella/

Review: This CASA Awards 2001 CD contains an eclectic mix of rock, classical, barbershop, doo-wop, R&B, close harmony, gospel, jazz, folk, pop, hip-hop, world music and more, including some favorites of ours: SoVoSo's "Charity," +4db's "I Burn For You," The Persuasions' "Black Muddy Water," Cadence's "I Wish," Gas House Gang's "Go Tell It On The Mountain," Real Group's "Thousand Things," The Magnets' "All The Wrong Reasons," Michigan Jake's "I'm Beginning to See the Light," Voice Male's "Light In Your Eyes," Artisan's "Dancing With Words" and Univ. of Michigan Amazin' Blues' "Millennium," among others. The best of the year 2001 in a cappella, from CASA's point of view.

Songlist: I Wish Cadence, All The Wrong Reasons The Magnets, Images Five O'Clock Shadow, Light In Your Eyes Voice Male, Millenium University Of Michigan Amazin' Blue, I'm Beginning to See the Light, That Great Day Jon McLemore, How Could You Say No Acappella, Go Tell It On The Mountain Gas House Gang, Charity SoVoSo', Thousand Things Real Group, I Burn For You +4db, We Have Standards The HeeBee-jeebees, Black Muddy Water Persuasions, Dancing With Words Artisan, Matona, Mia Cara (Di Lasso) Douglas Frank Chorale

Voicing: a-cappella/contemporary/cds-mixed/

Review: The CARA judges had to make some hard decisions this year, and may we have the envelopes, please. 17 songs, from Tonic Sol Fa's "Na, Na, Na" and 2001 Harmony Sweeps winner Sixth Wave's brilliant "Gimme That Wine," "Jezebel" by Millennium, and the Cadillacs' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" to the Swingles' "Fool on the Hill," the Heebee-jeebees' hilarious "Arrest This Bearded Gentleman," local boys Hookslide's cover of "Dream On," and Summit favorite Dilemma's "Wishing." Some unexpected treats are the Washington Univ. Mosaic Whispers' "Uninvited" and The Happy Campers' "Camp Minnie Mickey Medley." We won't go into which individual awards were won by whom, but we enjoy hearing CARA's take on the best of the year-- it's all pretty amazing stuff!

Songlist: Ina, Na, Na - Tonic Sol-Fa, Gimme That Wine - Sixth Wave, Jezebel - Millennium, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Cadillacs, It's Alright With Me, The Fool On The Hill, Grapefruit Diet - A Cappella Gold, Arrest This Bearded Gentleman - The Heebee-jeebees, That Time of Year - Four Shadow, Brother In Me - Mezzo Macho, Tenbrae - Ensemble Amarcord, In the Cross - Acappella, Dream On - Hookslide, Uninvited - Washington University Mosaic Whispers, Wishing - Dilemma, Taken Up - InsideOut, Camp Minnie Mickey Medley - The Happy Campers

Voicing: a-cappella/contemporary/cds-mixed/

Review: The earliest recording of a Harmony Sweeps National Finals that is still available. It was a classic year!

Songlist: Say, Say A Prayer, Stray Cat Strut, Nuclear Power, Change The World, Nothing Is Written, Hush, Higher And Higher, Spiderman, Get Down Tonight, All I Want, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Thinkin' About You, Human Nature: Seven Seconds, Celebration, If I Lost You

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: We are fortunate indeed to have assembled such a truly talented group of finalists for the 1998 Harmony Sweeps. Winners Metropolis, the barbershop quartet from Southern California, sing "Some Lucky Day" and the entertaining "Yakko's World." Audience favorite (and second-place finishers) +4dB begin the festivities with "In A Mellow Tone" and also perform the Real Group's "Chile Con Carne." Other groups include Canadians the Heebee-jeebees, catalog favorites Blind Man's Bluff, Ball in the House and Acapelicans (from Australia), Cool Shooz and the third place winners, the Sweet Adelines' quartet City Lights. Bonus performance: An improvised jam by our evening's hosts, SoVoSo.

Songlist: In a Mellow Tone, Some Lucky Day, Good Lovin', The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, This Island Earth, That's How You Jazz (medley), Wake Up Call, Get It On, Virtual Insanity, Happy World, Maritime Folk Song, Chili Con Carne, Coronet Man, Yakko's World, Crawlin', Sign Your Name Across My Heart, Improvised Jam

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: This year's program was the most diverse and exciting yet. Filled with emerging groups, as well as Sweepstakes favorites such as Chicago Voice Exchange, the competition was intense indeed. Seven, from New York, garnered top honors, with their intricate and multi-textured voicings, heard to best advantage on "Bridge Over Troubled Water"; the group's arrangements are expanding the universe of sound. Taking second place were the Standards, five brothers whose onstage appeal and energy charmed everyone. Minimum Wage's outrageous humor, as exemplified by "The Last Cowboy Song," had the audience begging for mercy (or more?) Other musical highlights include the ringing tones of last year's champs, Metropolis (a barbershop quartet), the Euphorics, with "Message In A Bottle" and Pickup 6's medley of Beatles favorites.

Songlist: Bless This House, Underdog, Route 66, Sweet Georgia Brown, Baby I'm With You, Message In A Bottle, Ja'ackson, Lean On Me, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Mary, Don't You Weep, Patty Duke, Beatles Medley, Our Day Will Come, Bring Him Home, The Last Cowboy Song, I Sing Low, Hands To Heaven, I Believe

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: The professionalism of the competing groups becomes more impressive with each passing year! Each and every ensemble that graces the stage with their talent has something special, and each group is distinct in its own way. Of course the contemporary and jazz groups are always popular - and in fact, Toxic Audio, the contemporary/jazz quintet from Florida, took first place, and another mixed jazz quintet, Bay Area favorites +4 db, were third - but, in addition, we feature the Perfect Gentlemen, a barbershop group from Los Angeles (2nd place), and the Total Experience Gospel Choir. Of course, 1999 champs, and your hosts, the contemporary Christian septet, Seven, perform two songs, and their virtuosity is undeniable. Audience favorites the Exboyfriends (who have won this category in previous New York regionals, flexing their performance muscles), swagger with Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On," while the reconstituted All Star Vocal Band (formerly the 17th Ave. All Stars) cover Journey and Stevie Wonder. Live Wire and Chapter Six represent the hot retro swing craze. It's a panoply of sound!

Songlist: Route 66, Away, Train, Style, Don't Stop Believin', Istanbul, Ramble On, Zoot Suit Riot, Have I Ever Told You, The Lord's Prayer, I Could Write A Book, I Wish, The Water Is Wide, Jump, Jive And Wail, A Salute to 20th Century Music, Pass Me Not, A Philoyles Thing

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: The sellout crowd at Marin Veterans Aud. in San Rafael, CA once again saw a dazzling Harmony Sweepstakes Final - Eight Regional winners from all over the country, giving their all in the "most exciting twelve minutes in a cappella." In this wonderfully recorded CD we hear Denver winner Eclipse's "Danny Boy" and "Look My Way," Bay Area Winner III of a Kind's incredible cover of "Man in the Mirror" and the Asian hit tune "Anak;" returning winner (Pacific NW) The Standards' "Ain't Got Nothing But Love" and heartfelt "Prayer of the Children;" Boston Winner Groove's great covers of "Anna Begins" and James Brown's classic "I Feel Good," and New York winner, the Russian group Autri, sings "Keimanchuli" and a stunning original by one of its members, "Tale of War." Los Angeles' Perfect Gentlemen's cutting edge barbershop harmony soars into "Blue Skies" and "Patty Cake." Washington, DC's Tone Rangers score with their offbeat covers of "I Need You" and Simon & Garfunkel's "Keep The Customer Satisfied." Finally, Chicago winner Chapter 6 nails Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and finishes with a hilarious "Wizard Of Oz Medley." In the end the judges chose The Perfect Gentlemen as National Champion, (also chosen Audience Favorite) and we walked into the night, smiling and raving about one of the best a cappella shows of all time!

Songlist: Look My Way, Patty Cake, Keep the Customer Satisfied, Danny Boy, Anna Begins, I Need You, Krimanchuli, I Feel Good, Blue Skies, Tale of War, Anak, Nothing But Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, Wizard of Oz Medley, Prayer of the Children

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: We're of the almost certainly biased opinion that the Harmony Sweeps Finals are the best a cappella shows in the world. Imagine 8 groups, who have come in first in Regional competition with 10 other groups in places like New York, Boston, the Bay Area, Chicago and LA, performing before a packed auditorium in San Rafael, CA for 12 minutes each, for the coveted National Championship. Each year outdoes the last, and "electric" doesn't do justice to the 2003 Finals. There are 18 songs on the CD, two from each group and two from '02 Champs, and very funny hosts, LA's Perfect Gentlemen, "Gimme Some Skin" and the guitar accompanied (!) "Meanest Thing You Ever Did Was Kiss Me." The Bay Area's hilarious Moosebutter brings us "Psycho, The Musical," winner of "Best Original Song" (lyrics), and their trademark parody, "Star Wars," part of a set that won them 2nd place honors. The Pacific NW's Second Chance contribute a funky "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and the very funny beach song parody "Sand Down My Pants." LA's Undivided Musical Group sing "Amarte Mas" and nail Ward Swingle's arrangement of "Mission Impossible Theme." Boston's All About Buford do wonderful covers of the Gershwins' "Summertime" and Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine." Chicago's Nightwatch sing two songs from their infamous "Diner Set" (complete with ballistic donut), "Truck Drivin' Man" and "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," and New York's very smooth Cadence covers "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "Tempted' beautifully. Denver's Groove Society gets the crowd up and rocking with "You're No Good" and the classic "Listen to the Music." Unbelievably, as good as all these groups were, the best was saved for last, Mid-Atlantic winner Idea of North from Australia, who shine on "Mas Que Nada" (which won the David Lichtman Award for Best Arrangement) and Randy Newman's heart-tugging "When She Loved Me." Idea of North got the nod from the judges, and won Audience Favorite, while Moosebutter and Cadence placed 2nd and 3rd. A chorus of "Goodnight Sweetheart" later we were all walking out of beautiful Marin Veterans Auditorium, not believing how good a show we had just seen and heard!

Songlist: Mas Que Nada, Amarte Mas, Psycho: The Musical, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, My Funny Valentine, Truck Drivin' Man, Gimme Some Skin, Straighten Up and Fly Right, You're Not So Good, Tempted, When She Loved Me, Sand Down My Pants, Star Wars, Meanest Thing You Ever Did Was Kiss Me, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Mission Impossible Theme, Summertime, Listen to the Music

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: This year's Harmony Sweepstakes reminded all who participated, how magical making music can be. Now, we all can share that magic by listening to this excellent live recording. With 20 years gone by, this national competition is still going strong and bringing out the very best in a cappella singing. This year's show had an excellent assortment of various styles, including jazz, pop, contemporary, Latin and much more. There were lots of humorous moments, including the national champions, Chapter Six's original song, 7th Wheel, as well as somber/uplifting moments including the beautiful performance of Kiss From A Rose by Impulse. Of course no one could forget Clockwork's performance of Inna-Godda-Da-Vida or Vox Bop's Commercial medley. With continuous stellar performances from all eight groups, this 19 track CD is sure to keep you entertained.

Songlist: Happy Birthday, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Blue Bayou, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Salsa Te Triago Yo, 7th Wheel, Charlie on the M.T.A, Take 5, St. Louis Blues, I've Got Rhythm/Fascinatin' Rhythm, God Bless This Child, Obsession, Cree (Believe), Isn't She Lovely, Use the Force, The Commercial Medley, Bye Bye Blues, Shining Star, Kiss From A Rose

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: It always seems to us as the Harmony Sweeps celebrates another year of its existence (its 21st, in this case), that "last year's Finals were so sublime, how could this year's possibly etc., etc." - but then we're in the sold-out, excited audience for this year's, and the first group is about to come on... what we're trying to say is somehow each Sweeps Final is better than the last. And what we love about the CDs is that they're live, 9 of the best a cappella groups in the world on one stage, singing their hearts out for 13 short minutes, for the National Championship. Last May, Mid-Atlantic's Cartoon Johnny, Boston's Firedrill, Chicago's Fiveplay, NYC's Traces, Denver's Face, Pacific NW's Groove for Thought, LA's Undivided and SF's own Moodswing were those groups. 19 songs, including "Joy to the World" and Best Original Song, "Walk the Straighter Road" by Kevin Kunz of National Champions Groove For Thought, David Lichtman Best Original Arrangement winner "Paper Moon" by Greg Murai of Moodswing, ("Moanin'" by Moodswing is also happily included), 3rd Place finishers Fiveplay sing Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious/IWish" and "I Never Knew," and runner-up and Audience Favorite Face have 3 winners, "Pink Panther Theme," "Harder To Breathe" and "Safety Dance." But let us not forget hosts Chapter 6, whose "Ode to Krispy Kreme" and "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" drew standing O's, Firedrill's Motown classic "Chain of Fools," Traces' "Mary Don't You Weep," Undivided's "What's Goin' On" and Cartoon Johnny's "Crazy Love." A savory sampler from a magic night in May in San Rafael, CA!

Songlist: Ode To Krispy Kreme, Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing, Paper Moon, Mary Don't You Weep, Joy To The World, Superstitious/I Wish, Can't Stop Thinking About You, Crazy Love, What's Goin' On?, I Never Knew, Englishman In New York, Chain Of Fools, Pink Panther Theme, Moanin', Walk The Straighter Road, Rock Your Body, Amazing Grace, Harder To Breathe, Safety Dance

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: It's the first weekend in May, and the sold-out audience at Marin Veterans Auditorium in San Rafael, CA is buzzing with anticipation of seeing the Harmony Sweepstakes Finals, possibly the best live show in a cappella! 8 Regional-winning groups are backstage, having beat out as many as 8 other groups for the privilege of singing their hearts out for the National Championship. "Finals" has 16 of the best tunes from that memorable night, including Bay Area winner Clockwork's jazzy "My Baby Just Cares For Me," and wonderful cover of Radiohead's "Creep," part of an excellent set that won them 3rd place, and the award for "Best Original Arrangement." We hear Mid-Atlantic-winning Regency's "Only You" and high-energy "Jump, Jive and Wail," part of a great set that won them 2nd place. LA barbershop quartet Hi Fidelity, in "Addams Family" costume, bring us the "Addams Family" theme and a key-bending, hilarious "Blackbird," they won both Audience Favorite and the National Championship. New York Quartet 'Round Midnight's "Take the A-Train" and "Tin Roof Blues," Chicago's Elmo Thumm's "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Shooting Star," Denver's Curious Gage's "Long Train Runnin'" and "Windmills" show us how good Hi-Fidelity had to be to win. Boston's Traces sing "As" and "Wonderful World," which won Best Original Song," and the Pacific NW's Tongue Tied A Cappella give us a dynamic cover of the Starship's "We Built This City." Exciting cuts from a magic May evening in San Rafael!

Songlist: Addams Family, My Baby Just Cares For Me, Only You, Take the 'A' Train, Last Train to Clarksville, Blackbird, Jump, Jive & Wail, As, Creep, Tin Roof Blues, Shooting Star, We Built This City, Long Train Runnin', Sunglasses, Windmills, Wonderful World II

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: On a perfect May Saturday night in San Rafael, CA, the sold-out audience witnessed another unbelievable evening of unaccompanied vocal harmony singing. Eight Regional winners were up on stage, singing their hearts out for the fans and the judges, with the National Championship on the line. The best 18 songs of the night, including from local favorites the folk/world female ensemble Solstice with "Wade in the Water" and the dynamic "Kappee." A pair of songs from Audience Favorites Denver's "Face," includes the gritty, powerful rocker "Home," that won them 2nd Place. Three tracks from the evening's winners National Champs from Los Angeles, Moira Smiley & VOCO with the folk tune "Bring Me Little Water, Silvie," "Szerelem" and the lovely, moving "Stand in that River." Other favorites are New York's The Fault Line's "Some Kind of Wonderful;" the Pacific NW's V-Chords' "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing", Boston's Men in Black's "Run Around" and Chicago's Nightwatch's very funny "Defying Gravity." And let us not forget host group 2006 Champions Hi-Fidelity (hey, that's 2 in a row for L.A.!), whose "Enterprise/Sulu Medley" reminds us how brilliant and funny they can be.

Songlist: O Fortuna, Bring Me Little Water, Silvie, Steal My Kisses, Rock Around The Clock, Sugarcane Jubilee, Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing, Wade in the Water, Szerelem, Home, Some Kind of Wonderful, Run Around, Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident), Defying Gravity, Stand in that River, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Enterprise / Sulu Medley, Kappee, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Voicing: cds/harmony-sweepstakes/

Review: Northern Harmony, Edmonton, Alberta's a cappella festival, the only a cappella 'battle of the bands' in Canada, celebrated its 8th year in 2005 with a 'best of' CD, 'Do No Harm.' Specifically, these 22 cuts represent all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, Audience Favourite, Best Soloist, Best Original Song and even Best Bass, between 1998-2004, by 16 groups, some of which don't exist anymore. Calgary's Heebee-Jeebees, who brought their manic humor south to our Harmony Sweeps Final, have 3 winners here: 'Use the Force,' 'Gitarzan' and 'Channel 12.' Quintessential's crazed country-western 'The Auctioneer' and 'Quintessential Harmony' are excellent, as is 'Let the Rest of the World Go By' by barbershoppers About Face. Contemporary group Real F/X do a hot cover of the Young Rascals' 'Good Lovin',' and No Assembly Required has a nice pair, 'Criminal on the Cross' and Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes.' Standing Room Only's very funny 'Mr. Taxman' (to the tune of 'Mr. Sandman'), OnCue's 'Name Song,' Voce's 'Let It Go,' InSync's 'The River (Sailing)' medley, CNote's folky 'Old Brown's Daughter,' The Fabulous Doo-Wop Boys' cover of Weird Al's 'One More Minute,' and CHICKAdivas' crazed 'Logdriver's Waltz' join our list of favorites. A cappella is burning brightly in the north country, and the pilot light can be found in Edmonton, Alberta!

Songlist: Use The Force, The River, Almost Doesn't Count, You Won't Be Hurtin' Me (No More), Man Like Me, Logdriver's Waltz, Criminal On The Cross, Gitarzan, The Wind Is Blowing, The Auctioneer, Let The Rest Of The World Go By, Good Lovin', And So It Goes, Mr. Taxman, Quintessential Harmony, Name Song, Old Brown's Daughter, Wild West Woman, One More Minute, Channel 12, Maskowsiwin, Let It Go

Review: "The Sing-Off," based on our beloved Harmony Sweepstakes, is putting a cappella on America's Prime Time Doorstep, and drawing huge viewing audience numbers for NBC. Some very bright person from the show in Hollywood got the very good idea of recording a Christmas CD featuring the 10 groups still in the running for the Sing-Off 2010 championship. Thus we have in our hands a unique Christmas album, a "best of the Sing-Off best," if you will! Beginning with Pitch Slapped's upbeat, spirited cover of "Joy To The World," On The Rocks' sweet, harmonious "White Christmas" and The Backbeats' powerful "O Holy Night," we continue with Eleventh Hour's classic Pop cover of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," Men Of Note's ringing "The First Noel," Yale's Whiffenpoofs' intricately arranged and harmonized "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," Committed's surprising bluenote arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard On High," Jerry Lawson & Talk of The Town's Motown-flavored "Silent Night," Harmony Sweeps champs Groove For Thought's wonderful "We Three Kings/O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" medley and Street Corner Symphony's driving vocal percussion gem "Auld Lang Syne." As we saw so many times at the Sweeps National Finals, each of these groups is marvelous in their own way, and we could only be sure as we heard their sets that we didn't envy the judges. But for now, let us take home and treasure this unique Christmas album from ten of the best a cappella groups in the country, and bless The Sing-Off, a beautifully-wrapped gift to a cappella music!

Songlist: Joy to the World, White Christmas, O Holy Night, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, The First Noel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Angels We Have Heard On High, Silent Night, We Three Kings/O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Auld Lang Syne

Voicing: sing-off/

Review: Since the couple of months in the Spring of 2008 that producers from NBC followed Primarily A Cappella's John Neal around and their camera crews filmed the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Finals in San Rafael, CA, the a cappella world has gone through some big changes. The Sing-Off showed off the Sweeps' brand of exciting, unique mixed-genre a cappella competition to new studio audiences and millions of new Primetime tv viewers. Harmony Sweeps Finals veterans like Face and MAXX Factor were showing off their stuff, and the first year's champion was Nota, whose three core members performed as Alpha at the '04 Sweeps Finals. "The sing-off, The Best of Season 2" features 2005 Sweeps champs Groove for Thought, and these 11 songs, like "Beautiful Day" by all the sing-off contestants, "Apologize" by 1st place winners Committed, Radiohead's "Creep" by Street Corner Symphony, Stevie Nicks' "Landslide" by The Backbeats, Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town's "Mercy," Eleventh Hour's "Baby," Groove for Thought's "Cooler Than Me," The Yale Whiffenpoofs' "Grace Kelly," Pitch Slapped's "Good Girls Go Bad," Men of Note's "Take a Bow" and On The Rocks' "The Final Countdown" simply underscores how much vocal talent has been assembled here for all to see and hear. Buy "The Best of Season 2" and listen to a cappella take off like a harmonious, vocal percussioning rocket on national TV!

Songlist: Beautiful Day, Apologize, Creep, Landslide, Mercy, Baby, Cooler Than Me, Grace Kelly, Good Girls Go Bad, Take A Bow, The Final Countdown

Voicing: sing-off/

Review: If you love a cappella vocal jazz then this CD is for you. These four groups from four countries are certainly some of the top vocal groups performing today and this compilation features some of their best songs. The Real Group (Sweden), Idea of North (Australia), M-Pact (US) and Rajaton (Finland) are highly regarded by aficionados and this recording is a great introduction to the genre.

Songlist: Amazing Voice Song, A Cappella in Acapulco, Singin' A Cappella, Fantasy, Butterfly, Words, Almost Like Being in Love, The Wild Song, Thou Shalt, You Need to Know, A Life for Me, Salty Water, Isn't She Lovely

Review: Mandatory for fans of vintage vocal jazz, this delightful collection also documents the musical evolution of the genre with great groups such as the Mills Bros., Andrews Sisters and Dandridge Sisters, as well as many less famous but still important ensembles. "Caravan," "Tuxedo Junction," " Java Jive" and "Stormy Weather" are included, but it's equally a treat to hear "That's My Weakness Now," (The Rhythm Boys, who had Bing Crosby as a member) or the silly humor of "The Girl In the Little Green Hat." All tracks are accompanied.

Songlist: Breezin' Along With The Breeze, The Whisper Song, Too Busy!, Dear, On A Night Like This, That's My Weakness Now, The Girl In The Green Hat, At The Baby Parade, Sweet Jennie Lee!, Dinah, Oh! By Jingo, Stormy Weather, Cuban Tango, America Calling- Medley, Why Don't You Practice What You Preach, In The Shade Of The Old Apple-Tree, Caravan, Everybody Step!, Mandy, Bidin' My Time, Undecided, Tuxedo Junction, Shakespeare In Rhythm, Java Jive, Breathless, Auf Wiederseh'n, My Dear

Voicing: jazz/vintage/cds-mixed-voice-groups/

Review: The Barbershop Society's collection of Top 20 Choruses from this summer's internationals is here, and Gold medalists Masters of Harmony, from Santa Fe Springs, CA open with "Time After Time" and "Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On" for us. Toronto's Northern Lights show how "Right From The Start She Had My Heart" won Silver, and Northbrook, IL's New Tradition brings us the Bronze medal-winning "If I Loved You" and "Strike Up The Band." The Alexandria Harmonizers, Great Northern Union, The Alliance and Sound of the Rockies follow -the top 20 Choruses in the world, live from the Finals at Salt Lake City - what could be better?

Songlist: Tome After Time, All The World Will Be Jealous Of Me, Strike Up The Band, Crazy-, Mr. Touchdown USA, You Gotta Be A Football Hero Medley (Parody), I Love A Parade, Seventy-six Trombones, When It's Darkness on The Delta, Too Long At The Fair, What Kind Of Fool Am I, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, You Make Me Feel So Young, Bye Bye Blackbird, Side By Side, Because Of You, South Ramport Street Parade, It's You, When you Were Sweet Sixteen, Til Tommorrow, Fortune In Dreams

Voicing: barbershop/chorus-cds/

Review: Music Capitol of the South Nashville, TN played host to the Barbershop Harmony Society's annual International Chorus competition in 2008, and The Masters of Harmony from Santa Fe Springs, CA, took home the Gold, winning their 7th championship! Here they sing "Wonderful One" and "Yona from Arizona." Ambassadors of Harmony took the Silver, singing "Love Walked In," "Voices of Harmony took 3rd Place Bronze with "In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town," Sound of the Rockies got 4th Place Bronze with "You're from Heaven and You're Mine," and New Tradition won 5th Place Bronze withtheir "This is the Army Mr. Jones"/"Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" medley. Sixth through twentieth place, The Alliance through Brothers in Harmony, are each represented by one song. These are all live cuts from the stage of the Nashville finals, and you can feel the excitement in the air! "2008 20 Top Choruses" brings us a powerful sampling of Barbershop's best!

Songlist: Wonderful One, Yona From Arizona, Love Walked In, In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town, You're From Heaven And You're Mine, This Is The Army Mr. Jones/Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning Medley, My Foolish Heart, If Ever I Would Leave You, Clap Yo' Hands, Bury Me Not On The Lone Prarie, 'Deed I Do, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Penguin's Lament, Who Can I Turn To?, Here Comes The Showboat, Hello, My Baby, For All We Know, The Trolley Song, Yesterday I Heard The Rain, When Day Is Done, You Make Me Feel So Young

Voicing: barbershop/chorus-cds/

Review: We have the 2005 collection of The Barbershop Society international competition winners, featuring Gold medalists Realtime's "Story Of The Rose" and "Cry Me A River," Silver medalists Max Q's "This Little Piggie Went To Market" and "Steppin' Out With My Baby," and Bronze medalists (and Sweeps winners) Metropolis' "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "Love/Eyes (Medley)." Riptide, O.C. Times, Vocal Spectrum, Saturday Evening Post... hot selections from the top 20 Barbershop Quartets in the world, live from the electric Finals in Salt Lake City!

Songlist: Yesterday I Heard The Rain, Birth Of The Blues, When You're Smilin', This Little Went To The Market, It's The Girl, I Only Have Eyes For You, Baby Face, Come Fly With Me, Wonderful One, I'm Always Chasing Rainbows, Somebody Knows, Jazz Comes Up The River, In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening, You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You, A Wink And A Smile, Do You Really Love Me, From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye, Beautiful Baby, You're So Pretty, Never Say Never Again, Coney Island Baby, I'm In Love Again, Them There Eyes

Voicing: barbershop/quartet-cds/

Review: The women of Sweet Adelines, like their male counterparts, represent the most jubilant, and essentially American, style of harmony singing of the 20th century. This best-of compilation is a long-overdue salute to the stars (and spangles!) of SAI and its spirited membership. Featuring both the rousing and upbeat - High Society's "Thank You World," Showtime's "Ya Gotta Know/I Can't Give You Anything But Love," Classic Edition's "Hit Me With A Hot Note" and the brand new Signature Sound track, "Mama's Gone Goodbye Medley," - as well as the exquisite ache of Ambiance's "Bundle of Old Love Letters," Panache's "Someone Like You" and Swing Street's "All Of My Life," this collection of studio cuts is the first of its kind. We think your ears will agree that it's also the finest!

Songlist: Thank You World, Ya Gotta Know / I Can't Give You Anything But Love, I Only Have Eyes For You, All Of My Life, If I Had A Voice, I'm Dancing This Dance In The Wrong Romance, Someone Like You, Mama's Gone Goodbye Medley, Help I'm Turning Into My Parents, Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now, Hit Me With A Hot Note, Bundle Of Old Love Letters, I Wish I Had My Old Pal Back Again, Moondance, The Trolley Song, Sentimental Journey

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: Top choruses of 2000 including Song of Atlanta, Toast of Tampa, Pacific Empire, Ramapo Valley, Houston Horizon, City of Lake, Gem City, Pacific Sound, Scottsdale and Melodeers.

Songlist: Medley (Gotta Know How To Dance / Hokey Pokey, Soft Shoe Song), Secrets, Medley (I'l the Last of the Red Hot Mamas / Nobody Knows What a Redhead Mama Can Do / You've Gotta See Mama Ev'ry Night), Auld Lang Syne, Medley (Alabamy Bound / Alabama Jubilee), (I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over, I Just Can't Wait To Be King, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, Kiss Me One More Time, Medley (I'm Gonna Follow the Boys / Goodbye Broadway / Over There), Medley (There'll Be Some Changes Made / I Used To Love You But It's All Over Now), Sweet Adeline, Medley (Mama's Gone Goodbye / Lies / Just Because ), Daddy I'm Saying Goodbye, Medley (Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On / On the Mississippi), Sing Me That Song Once Again, Redhead Mama, Who'll Be the Next Ones to Cry Over You, Medley (Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home / Angry), Original Dixieland One Step, Floatin' Down to Cotton Town, The Church Bells Are Ringing For Mary, Oh, How I Miss You Tonight, My Honey's Lovin' Arms

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: After the final harmonious chord of a spirited Sweet Adelines International Chorus competition in Nashville, North Metro Chorus was wearing the gold, followed by Gem City, Scottsdale Chorus, Harborlites and Pacific Sound. We get to hear 4 tunes from the winners, 3 each from the 4 runners-up and 2 each from the rest of the top ten. Simply the best from the great Nashville convention!

Songlist: How Many Hearts Have You Broken, Here I Am, Brokenhearted, Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home, I Miss Mother Most of All, How Many Hearts Have You Broken With Those Big beautiful Eyes, There Goes My Heart, I Never Meant To Fall In Love, Original Dixieland One-Step, For the Sake of Auld Lang Syne, I'm the Last of the Red Hot Mamas, When I Lost You, They Never Told Me, It's Time to Sing Sweet Adeline Again, Crying Myself to Sleep, The Joint is Jumpin, Roses of Yesterday, If You Love Me, Really Love Me, Ballin' the Jack, What'll I Do?, Roll On Mississippi, Roll On / Mississippi Medley, Daddy, I'm Saying Goodbye, How's Every Little Thing in Dixie / Look Me Up When You're in Dixie / So Long Dearie Medley, Waiting for the Robert E. Lee / All Aboard the Boat for Dixie Medley, Once Upon a Time, If You Had All the World and Its Gold, Gold Minin' Gang

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: Looking at the wonderful pix of the top 10 Choruses at the International Chorus Finals in October 2005 in Detroit, we totally want to be there. Incredible costumes, joyous faces-dozens of beaming, beautiful women having big fun singing their hearts out, going for the Gold. That honor went to Scottsdale (AZ) Chorus, so consistently fine that they have entered 13 International competitions since 1976 and have placed no lower than 3rd, winning it all 4 times! Silver went to Pride of Baltimore Chorus, 3rd to Kansas City (MO) Chorus and 4th to Coastline Show Chorus of Providence, RI. This "best-of" compilation features 2 songs each for the 5th to 10th place finishers, beginning with Greater Nassau Chorus's "At A Georgia Camp Meeting," 3 songs each for 5th through 2nd place groups, and 4 songs for the Champs, as it should be! Favorites among these 26 tunes are Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do," by Scottsdale Chorus, Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean," by Pride of Baltimore, "Runnin' Wild," by Kansas City Chorus and "The Joint Is Jumpin'" by Coastline Show Chorus. Powerful harmonies, hitting on all cylinders from the Motor City!

Songlist: At A Georgia Camp Meeting, The Masquerade Is Over, If I Give My Heart To You, No No Nora, You Keep Coming Back Like A Song, How Many Hearts Have You Broken, Brokenhearted, After My Laughter Came Tears, Auld Lang Syne, Climb Every Mountain, Charleston, The Joint Is Jumpin', If The Rest Of The World Don't Want You, Mistakes, I'll Never Say Never Again, Runnin Wild, From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye, How Deep Is The Ocean, Once Upon a Time, Original Dixieland One, What'll I Do, If You Love Me, Really Love Me, Swanee, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Going, Going, Gone

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: Once again, another fine year for the Sweet Adelines International Chorus competition, not to mention the fact that it was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year we have North Metro Chorus in 3rd place, the Melodeers in 2nd, and champions this year were the Rich Tone Chorus, of Richardson, Texas. Some of today's, and yesterday's, finest songs were transformed into tight barbershop arrangements and sung with gusto by these choruses, who were all very deserving of their spot in the top 10.

Songlist: The Joint Is Jumpin', If I Ruled The World, My Buddy, Alabamy Bound, Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone, At Last, If I Had My Life To Live Over, Toot Toot Tootsie, Young And Foolish, You Keep Coming Back Like A Song, What'll I Do, Roll On Mississippi Roll, Daddy Say Goodbye, I Will Love You Till The End Of Time, I Used To Call Him Baby, My Romance - Skyline, Do You Ever Think Of Me, Down Yonder, Once Upon a Time, Time After Time, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, I'm Alone Because I Love You, Nobody's Baby

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: The 61st Annual Sweet Adelines International 2007 Convention and Competition took place in Calgary, Saskatchewan, and this wonderful live CD gives us a generous helping of the colorful chorus competition. One only has to glance at the photos of the top ten finishers in the sparse liner notes to get a taste of the color and excitement of this event. Anaheim, CA's Harborlites Chorus took the gold, Pride of Baltimore 2nd, Lions Gate Chorus from Vancouver, BC, Coastline Show Chorus from Providence, RI 4th, and Kansas City Chorus took 5th place. Harborlites has four winners here, "My Honey's Lovin' Arms," "A Bundle of Old Love Letters," "When Day Is Done" and "Sweet Georgia Brown;" the 2nd through 4th place finishers have 3 songs each, and the 6th through 10th place winners, which include the Toast of Tampa Show Chorus, Greater Nassau Chorus, Mountain Jubilee Chorus, Christchurch City Chorus from New Zealand, and the Choral-Aires Chorus, all have 2 tunes each. A powerful, richly harmonic, touching collection of Sweet Adelines' best!

Songlist: As Long As I'm Singing, All Aboard For Dixie, I Will Love You Till The End Of Time, Once Upon a Time, The Joint Is Jumping, Medley: Angry, There Goes My Heart, The Rhythm Of Life, The End Of The Road, Goodbye World Goodbye, After You've Gone, My Honey's Lovin' Arms, (Here Am I) Brokenhearted, Tips, Help Is On The Way, Pick A Little, Ice Cream, Marion, Till There Was You, Lida Rose, Seventy Six Trombones, Medley: William Tell Overture, Darktown Strutter's Ball, Something's Coming, Look Me Up At The Convention, Barbershop Convention, Hooked On Classics Medley, Medley: How Many Hearts Have You Broken?, Canadian Man, Born To Be Wild, Medley: I Never Knew I Could Love Anybody, Once Upon a Time, Smile Medley: Smile, Darn Ya, Smile, How Deep Is The Ocean?, When The Day Is Done, Sweet Georgia Brown, Tonight, My Honey's Lovin' Arms, Angel of Music/ Phantom of the Opera

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: The competition was tough at the 2010 competition held in Seattle and the ladies were in full voice. The judge's finally decided on the Scottsdale Chorus as winners of the coveted gold medal with the Harborlites taking Silver and North Metro won silver. This is another wonderful collection for all fans of Sweet Adeline singing.

Songlist: The Joint is Jumpin', Time After Time, Sonny Boy, Waitin' For The Robert E. Lee, If I Give My Heart to You, When The Red, Red Robin, Yesterday I Heard The Rain, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Five Minutes More, Sweet Adeline, If I Loved You, Goodbye Broadway, If You Love Me Really Love Me, If I Had My Way, Ain't She (He) Sweet, Over The Rainbow, Its A Great Day for the Irish, Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Rah, Ring Ring the Banjo, A Bundle of Old Love Letters, Sweet Georgia Brown, Danny Boy, All Aboard for Dixieland, What'll I Do?, How Deep Is The Ocean?, Put Your Arms Around Me

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: Annual release from Sweet Adelines International of the top quartets from the convention in Orlando, Florida. Featuring Surround Sound, Persuasions, Brava!, Success Express, Crystal Clear, Fanatix, Razzcals, Night Magic, Swinglish Mix and champions A Cappella Gold.

Songlist: Original Dixieland One Step, Secrets, Take Another Guess, Beside An Open Fireplace, Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Kiss Me One More Time, Goody Goody, Medley (I'm in Love Again / Them There Eyes), Medley (Oh How I Miss You Tonight / When I Lost You), When the Red, Red Robin Goes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along, Little Lady Make Believe, Medley (Two Tickets to Georgia / Sentimental Gentleman From Georgia), If I Were the Only Girl in the World, Oh, You Beautiful Doll, The Bandstand In Central Park, When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam', For the Sake of Auld Lang Syne, You Better Keep Babyin' Baby, Mistakes, Last Night On the Back Porch, What'll I Do?, Flirty Eyes, Medley (How Many Hearts Have You Broken? / Them There Eyes), If You Love Me, Really Love Me, Heart of A Clown, Nobody Knows What A Redhead Mama Can Do

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: In 2004, Indianapolis, IN played gracious host to the 2004 Sweet Adelines' convention, and some names familiar to us and our readers rose to the top of the heap. In 5th place was "Remix," 4th was "Salt," 3rd, "Spotlight," Second, "Razzcals", and in first, "The Buzz." We are treated to four songs by "The Buzz:" "No, No, Nora (Norman)," Irving Berlin's "How Deep is the Ocean," Hammerstein's "Because of You," and "You Turned the Tables on Me." The Razzcals have 3 cuts, Salt has 3, Spotlight 3, "Remix" 3, and "Unplugged" and the remainder of the 10 groups, 2 each. This is great stuff from an epic competition, the mother lode for lovers of Sweet Adelines!

Songlist: The Old Piano Roll Blues, You Are My Sunshine, Medley: I Told Them All About You, Friend; You Dear, Fain & Freed, I'm Gonna Lock My Heart, One Upon A Time, Red Head, Oh, How I Miss You Tonight, I'm Alone Because I Love You, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Red Hot, If I Give My Heart To You, I'll Never Say "Never Again", Always, Medley: Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me; Undecided, If We Can't Be The Same Old Sweethearts, Medley: How Many Hearts Have You Broken; Them There Eyes, If I Were The Only Girl In The World, When The Red, Red Robin Goes Bob, Bobbin' Along, Who'll Take My Place When I'm Gone, Medley: Ya Gotta Know How To Love; I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Roses Of Yesterday, When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam', No, No Nora, How Deep Is The Ocean, Because of You, You Turned The Tables On Me

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: Another great Sweet Adelines International convention took place this year, and this one was especially exciting as it was held in Las Vegas, Nevada! The Bay Area favorite, the Razzcals did quite well this year, taking 3rd Place. Four Betty's, who also put on a great show at our 2005 Harmony Sweepstakes, Chicago Regional, grabbed 2nd place. This year's Queens, SALT, stole the show, reminding us once again, so many great performers/musicians have come out of Sweden. This CD features two tracks from the quartets placing 4th - 10th, three tracks from Four Bettys and the Razzcals, and we get to hear four tracks from SALT! If you're looking for the best in Sweet Adelines' recordings, this collection definitely delivers!

Songlist: Side By Side, Young And Foolish, What'll I Do, That's My Weakness, I Had Someone Else Before I Had You, At Last, Forgive Me, Changes Medley, Smile Medley, How Deep Is The Ocean, Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart, If You Love Me, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Taking A Chance On Love, Over The Rainbow, With Plenty Of Money And You, Roses Of Yesterday, Love Medley, There Goes My Heart, I'm Alone Because I Love You, Two Tickets To Georgia, Kiss Me One More Time, I Love Jazz, If You Wee The Only Girl In The World, Who'll Take My Place When I'm Gone, When The Red Robin Comes Bob Bobbin Along

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: Convention and Competition in Calgary, Saskatchewan are as exciting and electric as it gets, and this CD has the top ten winners live! Photos of these groups in their beautiful matching outfits give us a taste of what it was like to be there, and the recordings are the next best thing. Four Bettys from Elmhurst, IL took the gold, and they are given four tunes: "Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey," "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight," "I'm Alone Because I Love You" and "How Many Hearts Have You Broken;" Jackpot! from Winter Springs, FL was 2nd and sing 3 songs, including "How Deep is the Ocean;" Razzcals from Roseville, CA took 3rd and sing "Flirty Eyes" and 2 others; Moxie Ladies from Columbus, OH were 4th and sing "Love Medley" and 2 others; and Capri, from Odenton, MD were 5th and sing "At Last" and 2 others. The 6th through 10th place finishers, Mojo, Zing!, Cabaret, Shimmer! and Jukebox respectively, have two songs apiece. If you love Sweet Adelines, Barbershop and spirited, ringing harmonies, this recording will be pure joy for you from chord one!

Songlist: Forgive Me, Changes Medley: There'll Be Some Changes Made, Tired Of Me, After My Laughter Came Tears, You Turned The Tables On Me, Young and Foolish, Love Medley: I Can't Give You Anything But Love, If You Love Me Really Love Me, Oh, You Beautiful Doll, Johnny Medley: Johnny's In Town, At Last, It's The Girl, Roses Of Yesterday, Love Medley: I Can't Give You Anything But Love, It's You, I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling, There Goes My Heart, Flirty Eyes, My Mother's Eyes, Money Medley: With Plenty Of Money and You, How Deep Is The Ocean?, Taking A Chance On Love, Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey, I'm Alone Because I Love You, How Many Hearts Have You Broken?

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Review: It was another great year for top notch singing at the International contest held this time in Seattle, Washington. Here are the contest performances from the top quartets including of course bronze winners Capri, silver medalists Journey and the 2010 Queens of Harmony MAXX Factor.

Songlist: Oh Suzzanna, After My Laughter Comes Tears, Brokenhearted, L-O-V-E, How Many Hearts Have You Broken?, Time After Time, The Church Bells Are Ringing For Mary, Baby Face, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Over The Rainbow, When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam', How Are Things in Glocca Mora?, My Baby Just Cares For Me, Angry, My Foolish Heart, No. No, Nora, I Told Them All About You, At Last, I Had Somebody Else Before I Had You, Cuddle Up A Little Closer, May I Never Love Again, Put Your Arms Around Me, Cry Baby, All The Way, When You Wish Upon A Star, It's A Sin to Tell a Lie

Voicing: barbershop/sweet-adelines-cds/

Various Artists : Barbershop's Best

Review: Hot off the presses from our own record label comes a great collection of some of the finest barbershop quartets aptly named "Barbershop's Best".This is the first recording to feature a wide selection of both champion male and female quartets and includes some of the finest groups to ever perform in the barbershop style. These studio tracks were in great part selected by the groups themselves and represents, in their opinion, some of their finest work. Featured are cuts from Platinum, Acoustix, Ambiance, Boston Common, Bluegrass Student Union, Panache, Fred and Rumors and more. 16 great tracks.

Songlist: This Is The Moment, Caroline, A Foggy Day (In London Town), Long Ago and Far Away, Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia, Royal Garden Blues, When October Goes, Jungle Book, Five-Oh-Two, Where Are You, Jeepers Creepers, What'll I Do, I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo, Feels Like Home, Eine Kleine NOT Music, I Will Never Pass This Way Again, Excerpts from "Rhapsody in Blue"

Voicing: barbershop/quartet-cds/

Review: As hundreds of Barbershop quartets descended on Nashville in July of 2008, it occurred to ten of the best of them to record a tribute to the Music City. Thus was born this sweet little collection of 10 tunes: Gotcha!'s "Be My Baby Tonight," OC Times' "Honey (Open That Door)/Hey Good Lookin' Medley," Realtime's "Rocky Top," The Rounders" (featuring the Jordanaires) "Are You Lonesome Tonight," Men In Black's "Roly Poly," Vocal Spectrum's "Daddy Sang Bass," Great Nashville Singout's "Crazy," Tonehenge's "Senior Citizen Blues," State Line Grocery's "Tennessee Waltz" and Rural Route 4's "I've Been Everywhere." "Welcome" is a tasty smorgasbord of country flavors that will make you want to sing along!

Songlist: Be My Baby Tonight, Honey (Open That Door)/ Hey Good Lookin' Medley, Rocky Top, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Roly Poly, Daddy Sang Bass, Crazy, Senior Citizen Blues, Tennessee Waltz, I've Been Everywhere

Review: A live recording featuring six contemporary doo-wop groups, billed as 'an acappella tribute to R & B vocal group harmony,' recreating the doo-wop classics of yesteryear (save Reunion, who throw a curveball by including Thin Lizzy's 'Boys Are Back In Town'). As promoted by Ronnie I, Choice, the Delmonicos, Larkings, Reunion, Things To Come and the Valentinos (the only mixed male/female group)render their own interpretations of 'I Like It Like That' (Spaniels), 'Why Did You Have To Go' (Dells), 'Story Untold' (Nutmegs), 'Since I Don't Have You' (Skyliners) and 'Memories Of You' (Harptones) and many more. 

Songlist: Ronnie I Intro, Shoo Be Do Wah, I Like It Like That, Everybody's Laughing, Two Loves Have I, Stardust, Can't We Be Sweethearts, Why Do You Have To Go, Story Untold, Down To Earth, Over and Over Again, Boys are Back in Town, Wonderful Tonight, Silvie, At This Moment, Sh-Boom, Since I Fell For You / Since I Don't Have You, Farewell My Love, Solitaire, My Memories of You, Lullabye of the Bells

Review: New York City's Apollo Records was a key fifties R&B label that released great groups, blues and gospel. In their archives, however, was unearthed a treasure trove of audition tapes of early a cappella groups, The Casanovas, Miriam Grate & The Dovers, the Gentlemen, The Keynotes, and the Avalons. This is a collection of 20 of the best songs rescued from the dusty boxes in Apollo's warehouse: "A Star" and "Early One Morning" by the Keynotes, "Pleading from My Heart" and "Night Rider" by the Casanovas," The Dovers' tasty "My Love" and "Sweet as a Flower," "Baby Looka Here" by the The Avalons, and "Story of a Love Gone Cold" by the Gentlemen are some of our favorites. Most of these songs are new to us, and they showcase the raw talent and creativity of the early Doo-Wop scene, where dozens of groups were a record contract or some radio play away from a hit and stardom.

Songlist: Please Be Mine, Only Heaven Knows, Youre Driving Me Crazy, A Star, Pleading From My Heart, My Love, Love Me Now Or Let Me Go, Girl In The Chapel, Sweet As A Flower, Suddenly, Baby Looka Here, You Are My Queen, Tell Me You Love Me, Night Rider, Do Something For Me, Early One Morning, The Sentence, Story of a Love Gone Cold, I Don't Know, Your Love

Review: More great tracks in this classic series from maestro Ronnie Italiano.

Songlist: I Don't Want To Cry, Forgotten Spring, It Was The Night, When I Fell In Love, Twilight, Please Say It Isn't So, Don't Leave Me Baby, You Never Loved Me, Lundee Dundee, Ooh Baby Baby, Danny Boy, Hang On Sloopy, Autumn Leaves, Speedoo, To The Aisle, This Magic Moment, Sound Of Heartbreak, Castle In The Sky, Good Good-Bye, Senorita

Review: The Doo Wop era lasted for just for a short period of time but this excellent and arguably the best of all the Doo Wop compilations is in this 4 CD Box set . Ranging from the years 1948 to 1987 it concentrates its music in the 50s where most of the best doo wop was recorded on small indie labels . There were revivals since the early 60s when the era ended and some of that is showcased somewhat here .

If you grew up in the era these tunes will give you goose bumps all over and being a jazz enthusiast I found that some of the tenor breaks in many of these doo wop classics nothing short of amazing.

Songlist:

Review: The second set of Rhino Records' The Doo Wop Box includes such gems as Robert & Johnny's "We Belong Together," Gene Chandler's "Duke of Earl" and the Robins' original version of Leiber & Stoller's "Smokey Joe's Cafe." The box set contains 39 Top 30 R&B hits plus such pop smashes as the Platters' "My Prayer," the Clovers' "Love Potion No. 9," Dion & the Belmonts' "Where or When," the Crests' "Step by Step," the Marcels' "Heartaches" and Don & Juan's "What's Your Name." Putting more emphasis on uptempo tunes than its predecessor, the new box includes both the Cadillacs' "Zoom" and the Collegians' "Zoom Zoom Zoom" as well as Frankie Lymon's giddy, boy soprano on the galloping "ABC's of Love." The first Doo Wop Box is still the better collection, for it had first crack at the widely acknowledged classics of the genre, but The Doo Wop Box II is full of historical milestones and dizzying music.

Songlist:

Review: This is volume 10 of an a cappella doo-wop retrospective series on Starlight Discs. There are 20 cuts on this CD, featuring Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, Fred Johnson & The Marcels, The Chalets, The Revelations, The Prospects, Angel & the Allures, Cornerstone, Neighbor's Complaint, Elements of Life, The Four Sevilles and Street Dreams. The tunes are all standards like 'Angel Baby,' 'For Your Precious Love,' 'Lean On Me' and 'What's Your Name' or might-have-been hits, like 'Way Beyond Today,' 'In A Fairy Tale' and 'Lily Maebelle.' No info on the groups, but a cool picture of Lewis Lymon (Frankie's brother?) & The Teenchords on the front.

Songlist: Dance Girl, Please Tell the Angels, Goodbye to Love, Fat Mom Mi O, Lily Maebelle, Lean on Me, Higher and Higher, Way Beyond Today, Dedicated to the One I Love, Angel Baby, Come Back My Love, My Lonely Room, For Your Precious Love, That's What You're Doing To Me, Over the Rainbow, In A Fairy Tale, What's Your Name, Bluebird of Happiness, Don't Say Goodbye

Review: You know the drill - this is volume 12 of an a cappella doo-wop retrospective series on Starlight Discs. There are 20 cuts on this CD, featuring Dino & the Heartspinners, Charles Moffitt's Velours, Deja-Vu, The Four Sevilles, The Ovations, The Revelations, A Moment's Pleasure, and New Emage. The tunes are all doo-wop standards like 'Love Potion #9,' 'Ten Command-ments of Love,' 'Under the Boardwalk' and 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love' or songs that might have been doo-wop hits, like 'Mio Amore,' 'Sweetness' and 'Laura.' No info on the groups in the liner notes, but there's a vintage picture of the Velours is on the front, and a picture is worth...

Songlist: Ten Commandments of Love, Mio Amore, This Could Be the Night, Maaybe, Over the Rainbow, If I, Little Maiden, You're Mine, Laura, Love Potion No. 9, Don't Look Back, White Christmas, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve, Sweet One, Sweetness, O Baby Don't, Ol' Man River, Frankie & Johny, Under the Boardwalk, Why Do Fools Fall in Love