October 23, 2011

Vocal Majority - Bandstand

First founded by 12 men in Dallas, TX in 1971, The Vocal Majority, after a disappointing 3rd place international finish in 1973 convinced member Jim Clancy to take the role of director (and arranger). Since then they have won 11 Gold Medals! There's a classic Wurlitzer jukebox on the cover of "VM Bandstand," and if you love the Doo-Wop and Pop tunes that used to cost a dime or quarter on such a machine, this collection is for you. Although we need to warn a cappella purists that some of these tunes are rock-band accompanied, there is great stuff here—"Bandstand Boogie," "Turn Around, Look at Me," "50s Medley" (with "Lollipop," "Rock Around the Clock," "Sh-Boom" and others), "Blue Moon," "Jersey Boys Medley" ( with "Let's Hang On," "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man"), "All the Way," "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and others. Powerful, butter-smooth harmonies, sweet leads, great arrangements and top-drawer songlist—what's not to like? 9839 CD 14.95
Listen to "Pure Imagination

Posted by acapnews at 2:07 AM

October 21, 2011

Crossroads - That Lucky Old Sun

International Barbershop Harmony Society Quartet Champions Crossroads brings us their second album. The quartet won Gold at the BHS's 2009 international convention in Anaheim, CA, where Bass singer Jim Henry also directed the Ambassadors of Harmony chorus to their own international championship with the highest score ever obtained. All four members had previously won Gold in other quartets; Henry with 1993 champs Gas House Gang, baritone Brandon Guyton with 2002 champs Four Voices, lead Mike Slamka with 2003 champs Power Play, and tenor Fred Farrell with 1989 champs Second Edition. There are 13 songs here, favorites are Barbershop chestnuts such as "Sweet Adeline," "Hey There," the title tune and "Bread and Gravy;" Gospel tunes like "Your First Day in Heaven," "All People That On Earth Do Dwell," "Via Dolorosa" and "Guard Me, Oh Lord;" a very funny short parody of a missing hairpiece that "Blew By You," Swing-era hits like Cab Calloway's "The Jumpin' Jive," Irving Berlin's "Let Yourself Go" and Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Too Close for Comfort;" and a sweetly harmonic take on Lennon and McCartney's "Can't Buy Me Love." Crossroads is a so-called Barbershop "Super Group," formed of gold medal winners, the BHS's highest honor. Listen to "That Lucky Old Sun" to see why! 5994 CD 14.95
Listen to "Your First Day in Heaven

Posted by acapnews at 12:03 AM

October 12, 2011

Masters of Harmony - The Dream is Carried On

What a treat! Two gold-medal winning choruses on one CD. As both choruses are based in the LA area they decided to join up and record a CD together so we have The Masters of Harmony and the Westminster Chorus taking turns singing some great barbershop music. These sixteen tracks show exactly why these are two of the top male choruses of the day with a powerful yet refined sound that clearly demonstrate the talent of the singers and the respective directors. The wide variety of songs are bound to please al 2014 CD 14.95

Posted by acapnews at 12:01 AM

October 8, 2011

Just 4 Kicks - Joyful Noise

Talented, highly-respected music industry educators and arrangers Kirby Shaw, Randy Crenshaw, Kirk Marcy and Vijay Singh were asked by a dear friend, the minister of music at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem, OR, if Just 4 Kicks would perform at an upcoming concert and service at St. Paul's. His parameters were simple: "It needs to be all sacred music, but it needs to be Just 4 Kicks!" The group decided to accept the opportunity as a chance for rejuvenation that it needed, and immediately the creative juices started flowing within the quartet. The event was a huge success, and soon the group found itself in the studio, recording a fresh new book of tunes. We can see from the song list, there's a lot of diversity in these 11 tunes, from the jazzy "Sermonette," scattish "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "Come Sunday," to a Reggae-flavored, manic "Jesus Loves Me;" to a couple of Bob Dylan tunes, the bluesy "Gotta Serve Somebody" and the Reggae-arranged "Man Gave Names To All The Animals," there's lots of fun stuff here. Other favorites are a hip, finger-popping "Daniel in the Lion's Den," bluenote "A Child is Born," a foot-tapping Bluegrass take on "Walk On" and a hauntingly harmonic "A Quiet Place." We've always loved Just 4 Kicks, and we love this album—it's a great new direction for these talented men, and we look forward to hearing more inspirational, upbeat material like "Joyful Noise" from them! 5975 CD 14.95
Listen to "Jesus Loves Me

Posted by acapnews at 1:57 AM