The 148-strong (if our math is right) San Diego Chorus cooks up some classic Sweet Adelines music here, ably accompanied by 2001 International Quartet Champions a cappella Gold (on "If You Love Me, Really Love Me"), and Quartet medalists Fanatix (on "I've Got the World On A String"). These women know how to belt them out, and our emotions are wonderfully tugged in many directions. We have the rousing and foot-stomping: ("South Rampart Street Parade," "It's A Great Day for the Irish," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and "Rockabye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody." And there's the sweet and sentimental: "I've Got the World on a String," "If You Love Me, Really Love Me, and "How Do You Keep The Music Playing." Finally we have the Gospel/Christian: "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "Sweet Hour of Prayer," and the closing Gospel Medley-"How Great Thou Art." Inspiring, uplifting, tug-on-your-heartstrings stuff, beautifully performed!

Songlist: South Rampart Street Parade, Lullabye In Ragtime, That Tumbled Down Shack In Athlone, Irish Medley, I've Got the Whole World On A String, Rock-a-bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody, I'll Be Seeing You, How Do You Keep the Music Playing, Alexander's Band Medley, If You Love Me, Really Love Me, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Gospel Medley

Kim Hulbert has led the 100 singers of the veteran San Diego Chorus (celebrating 53 years of excellence in San Diego), for the last 20 years to a tremendous record of Sweet Adelines success, 7 Regional Championships, and Gold, Bronze and 2 Silver medals in International competition. "Merry and Bright" is a particularly warm and wonderful Christmas collection of 12 songs. It's actually more than that if we include one of our favorites, the 3-song, nicely-narrated "Grinch Medley," which celebrates Dr. Suess' timeless Christmas classic. Other favorites are Harold Stanley's jazzy "The Man with the Bag," a raucous, feisty "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," a heart-tugging "That's What I Want for Christmas," "Baby It's Cold Outside" (sung with guest chorus Pacific Coast Highway), a romantic "Merry Christmas Darling," "Christmas Eve, Sarajevo 12/24" (which we assume was performed by the SDC in that war-torn city) and David Axelrod's "Keep Christmas with You." We think you'll love "Merry and Bright," brought to us courtesy of one of Sweet Adelines' best and most entertaining choruses!

Songlist: Happy Holiday, Here Comes Santa Claus, Grinch Melody, My Christmas Wish For You, The Man With The Bag, Star of Bethlehelm, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, That's What I Want For Christmas, Baby, It's Cold Outside, Merry Chrsistmas Darling, Christmas Eve - Sarajevo, Keep Christmas With You

Nothing is finer than a Sweet Adeline chorus in full song and this new release from this champion chorus is a delight from beginning to end. One would expect something great from this chorus as they are directed by one of the biggest names in women's barbershop and this CD most certainly delivers the goods. Kim Hulbert has won the international quartet championship an unprecedented three times with A Cappella Gold, High Society and Savvy and her talents and years of experience have shaped this chorus to be a force to be reckoned with. Refreshingly many of the songs are arranged by women such as Nancy Bergman and Ann Minihane which somewhat surprisingly is rather unusual as many of the standard chorus arrangers are men. So Fine indeed!

Songlist: If There's Anybody Here, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Listen To My Heart, I Don't Know Enough About You, There Goes My Heart, It Gets You Right Here, Cornet Man, St. Louis Blues March, Young And Foolish, Down South Camp Meeting, Saved, Brother Love's Traveling Salavation Show, Great Day, Power Of The Dream

Founded in 1951, The 160-strong San Diego Chorus is one of the largest and most dynamic chapters of Sweet Adelines International, winning International Gold in Portland in 2001 and in Seattle in 1975, with 3 Silver medals and a Bronze sandwiched in between. Dynamically directed by the creative and talented Kim Hurlbert, herself a multiple winner of S.A. quartet gold, the SDC has a record of excellence and a sound to match. Included in "Sound" are 13 wonderful, rich selections, including several medleys, some of our favorites: "Parade Medley," "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage," "Amazing Grace," "Salute to the Armed Forces," "Cohen-Broadway Medley," "My Fair Lady Medley," "Andrew Lloyd Webber Medley" and "This is the Moment." Soaring solos, rich, spirited harmonies-SDC is the best, and they aren't afraid to flaunt it!

Songlist: Parade Medley, You're A Grand Old Flag, What A Wonderful World, I Can Dream, Can't I, Quiet Please, There's A Lady on Stage, Amazing Grace, Salute to the Armed Forces, Cohan-Broadway Medley, My Fair Lady Medley, My Melancholy Baby, Andrew Lloyd Webber Medley, This Is the Moment, A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening