The Blenders : Christmas Light   

Originally hailing from Fargo, ND, The Emmy-winning Blenders now call Minneapolis, MN their home, and this talented, pioneering all male a cappella quartet has been very busy since we first discovered them in 1992 with the first of their now 13 recordings, "Totally Whipped," "From the Mouth" (1994), and "The Blenders" (1995). Then came their instant Best Seller Christmas collection, "Nog," which filled the stockings of all our friends and family with creamy-smooth harmonies. 2002's "When It Snows" was supported by an enormously successful holiday tour and made the Billboard charts, and "The Blenders Holiday Best," (2004) and "Most Wonderful Time" (2005), live DVD "Christmas with the Blenders" (2007) and 2 CD set "The Blenders: Christmas Collection" (2007) helped make the Blenders' name synonymous with Christmas! "Christmas Light" has 11 songs, mostly accompanied. Our favorites are of course the cuts with little or no accompaniment, the fun, rhythmic "Sleigh Ride," richly harmonic "Some Children See Him," and bright, joyous "What Child is This." Among the accompanied tunes, the original "Where Are You Christmas," "Last Christmas," "Amen," "This Christmas," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Joy to the World" and bonus track "America" are standouts. But the highlight of all the Blenders recordings are the heavenly harmonies and great leads of these four talented men, often called "one of America's best-kept vocal secrets," who have been touring and delighting live audiences for decades with their signature sound.

Songlist: This Christmas, Last Christmas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Where Are You Christmas, Amen!, Children Go Where I Send Thee, Sleigh Ride, What Child Is This?, Some Children See Him, Joy to the World, America (bonus track)

From the opening cut, "Tasty,"; the Blenders infuse the hackneyed "upbeat "description with real meaning. There is an occasional touch of percussion added to this mix but frequently it is hard to discriminate between that and the vocal percussion and tambourine of Darren and Ryan. The production of this release is enhanced by experience as the group records, produces, and does everything else on this second effort. Studio originals are the substance of the recording but don't miss the hysterical, live, country version of "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

Songlist: Oxapello?, Tasty, Tasty, Tasty, Lonely With You, You, Jeannine's Anthem, Plainotfancy, Summer Sounds, Sailing, The Girl Is Good, Dirty Windows, 60 Minute Man, Interlude, Don't Worry, Be Happy, Gray Matters, Aunt Sue's Ant Soup

The Blenders : Holiday Best   

This 2004 releases is a compilation of their other two Christmas recording ("Nog" and "When It Snows") plus a new bonus track"I'll Be Home For Christmas"

Songlist: Carol of the Bells, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, Do You Hear What I Hear, When It Snows, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, The Christmas Song, The First Noel, Pure Imagination / White Christmas, Walkin' in a WInter Wonderland, Angels We Have Heard On High, One Small Child/We Three Kings, O Come All Ye Faithful, Tiny Little Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Silent Night, I'll Be Home For Christmas

The Blenders : Nog

Hurry, quick! Look at what the Santa's little helpers have been up to this year! It's hard to believe that these four young men from Minnesota have transfused these familiar holiday chestnuts with such inspiration and wonder, but indeed they have. "Let It Snow" takes as it's initial premise a Polynesian tiki lounge rhythm - already different - and then takes the cheery melody headlong into a ninth chord resolution! This CD is trimmed with so many gorgeous decorations that it improves the more one hears it, revealing subtleties that delight upon discovery. The creativity just saturates every song, whether as a distinctive rhythmic variation or unexpected countermelody, but always integrated into the whole (by the way, the group produced and arranged "Nog" themselves). In terms of intonation and blend, the Blenders (coinciding with their choice of name), are the best in the business: listen to "Do You Hear What I Hear" as just one excellent example. It's perfectly calibrated, the senses reveling in the purity of sound. Contemporary a cappella at its best.

Songlist: The Christmas Song, Do You Hear What I Hear, Let It Snow, The First Noel, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Angels We Have Heard On High, Christmas Time Is Here, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Silent Night

The Blenders : Now And Then   

This 1997 release is a compilation of some of the group's favorite songs from their first three albums, plus three previously unreleased tunes. The new material opens the album - so the first half (the "Now" part) is accompanied, but full of the luscious vocals that has won the group so many fans. It includes a somewhat obscure Led Zeppelin cover, "That's The Way;" a solemn song about a friend's death "Fly Away;" and radio-friendly "Every Now and Then." Among the six a cappella tunes are the Christopher Cross tune "Sailing," and originals "Plainotfancy" and "Rock Your World." The CD is intended to introduce The Blenders to listeners outside the a cappella world, but it will also serve as a great introduction to the group for our catalog customers, and is a must for collectors who want a complete set by this up and coming vocal band.

Songlist: That's the Way, Fly Away, Every Now & Then, Let It Fall, Charlie Anyboy, Comin' Back Again, Sailing, Plainotfancy, Grey Matters, Together, Rock Your World, Last Kiss

On their annual holiday concert tour, The Blenders got the idea for a different kind of recording than they had done in their 16 years together, of music so universal that it could be performed for any audience at any time of the year. It would be a tribute album, not Christmas music, and not a cappella. 10 songs based on a simple criteria: they had to be soulful, songs that speak to the heart, songs with messages of hope: "People Get Ready," compassion -"Takin' It to the Streets," support - "Lean On Me," and love - "Put A Little Love in Your Heart," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," "Love Train" and "Love the One You're With." They had to do a couple of songs, "What You Won't Do for Love" and "29 Ways," just because they feel so good. Admittedly, it's not easy getting used to an accompanied Blenders album, but the voices, harmony and soul we've loved in these Sweeps champs is as strong as ever, the tunes are great, and "Songs" is another Blenders winner.

Songlist: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Takin' It To The Streets, Lean On Me, What You Won't Do For Love, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Put A Little Love In Your Heart, Love The One Your With, Love Train, People Get Get Ready, 29 Ways

The Blenders have long been one of our favorite a cappella groups, particularly around Christmas, when they have released 5 wonderful Christmas albums and a live Christmas DVD. Darren, Tim, Ryan and Allan take a different tack on "Songs from the Soul," a Soul cover collection, accompanied by drums, guitars, bass and keyboards. Motown is of course well represented here, with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely," the Four Tops hit "Reach Out (I'll Be There)," and Aretha Franklin's "Knew You Were Waiting for Me." Pop selections include Carole King's hit for James Taylor, "You've Got A Friend," The Gibb brother's Disco hit "How Deep is Your Love," the Grand Funk Railroad rocker "Some Kind of Wonderful," and the Elton John/Bernie Taupin classic, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me." Although we prefer to hear the Blenders sing a cappella, these are some of our favorite classic hits, and their butter-smooth harmonies are as sweet as ever. And the leads show what we always knew, a top-drawer quartet like the Blenders is comparable to most accompanied bands, but with four lead singers. If you like classic accompanied soul, pop and rock, you'll love "Songs from the Soul!"

Songlist: Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Isn't She Lovely, The Heart of the Matter, Just the Two of Us, I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), You've Got A Friend, Reach Out, I'll Be There, How Deep Is Your Love, Love Will Keep Us Alive, Some Kind of Wonderful, Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me

The Blenders : Totally Whipped   

Fargo North Dakota is the center of the a cappella universe! Say what? Well it becomes so, at least momentarily, with each new Blenders release. This first release from 1992 introduced a young quartet of men who were bursting with creative energy, musical cleverness, and humor. Mostly we are treated to original work with just 4 covers for those who like to judge talent against the past. Totally Whipped was a great initial release and truly foreshadowed the career which is one of the dynamic successes of the a cappella world. Be prepared to boogie!

Songlist: Jump Up, Accidental Lovers, You Can't Do That, In My Room, She Was Mine, Stand By Me, Faith, Drive By, Get Ready, Last Kiss, Together, Mama Knows Best, I Understood (Be Who You Want), Rock Your World, Last Kiss (808 Mix)

The Blenders : When It Snows   

The Blenders, one of our favorite groups of all time, and whose Christmas CD on PAC Records, "Nog," has been our best-selling Christmas title, have a new Christmas CD! "Carol of the Bells" segues into a surprising, jazzy, blue-note vocal-percussion "Twas the Night." "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland" is a funky, bopping rap romp (with some non-vocal percussion). The sweet "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" has the trademark Blenders harmonies. "When It Snows" is a powerful original, "One Small Child/We Three Kings" is dramatically beautiful. The atmospheric original "Pure Imagination" segues into a finger-snapping "White Christmas," a funky "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," a touching falsetto "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Sleigh Ride" is a parody of the Velvet Underground's "Walk on the Wild Side," and a final sweet, rhythmic original, "Tiny Little Christmas." Some non-vocal percussion and keyboards on some cuts. A striking, innovative Christmas CD by the Blenders!

Songlist: Carol Of The Bells, Twas The Night, Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, When It Snows, One Small Child / We Three Kings, Pure Imagination / White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, O Come All Ye Faithful, Sleigh Ride, Tiny Little Christmas

The Blenders have been performing a series of very successful Christmas concerts for many years and now we finally have a chance to see for ourselves what makes the shows so popular. Neither all a cappella nor just Christmas songs the concert is nevertheless a real treat for Blenders fans who enjoy their wonderful harmonies and a blend that can only come after many years of singing together. The all a cappella "Hark The Herald Angel Sings" and "I Wonder As I Wander" are particular treats on this enjoyable live performance footage.

Songlist: Opening Credits, Put a Little Love In Your Heart, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, When it Snows, Audience Greetings, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland, I Wonder As I Wander, Do You Hear What I Hear, One Small Child / We 3 Kings, Frosty The Snowman, Audience Greeting 2, I Bought You a Plastic Star (For Your Aluminum Tree), Pure Imagination / White Christmas, Lean On Me, All Wrapped Up, Love Train, End Credits