December 15, 2006

Vocal Six - International

We aren't quite sure what it is - the long winter nights, something in the genes or perhaps the great Scandinavian beer but those Swedes sure know how to sing! While the Real Group is Sweden's leading vocal jazz group Vocal Six is probably the country's leading contemporary a cappella group which is clearly demonstrated on this fine new release. A collection of their English tracks from earlier albums plus several new cuts shows the wide range of the sextet as there is a dab of disco, a great Tom Jones medley, a Tony Bennett track, an unusual "Dancing Queen" and the very fun "Las Vegas". Vocal Six are also great performers with a dynamic and exciting stage presence and you will be thoroughly entertained by this recording. 1212 CD 14.95
Listen to "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"

Posted by acapnews at 12:33 AM

The Standards - Christmas with the Standards

We have been wowed by these five brothers from Idaho, twice when they nearly won the Harmony Sweeps, by their first 3 CDs, and now, even more so, by "A Night," their Christmas CD. We join the guys singing "Let Ring Out the Bells" on the street on a snowy evening, where they see a homeless man and a boy, Julian. They sing a wonderfully Doo-Woppy "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick" for them, then they take Julian on a walking odyssey to find the true meaning of Christmas. On the way they harmonize on "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," "White Christmas," "Carol of the Bells," "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," "O Holy Night," "Silent Night" and the piano-accompanied "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" as beautifully as we have ever heard these songs. The interactions with Julian and the guys are touching and profound, but if you'd just like to hear the tunes, a second CD with just the songs is included. A truly magical "Night!" 1226 CD 14.95
Listen to "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Posted by acapnews at 12:29 AM

Realtime - Ain't That A Kick

They won it all in 2005 when they were crowned International Barbershop Quartet Champions and are the only quartet in history who took top honors who are not all Americans. Based in Vancouver, Canada the quartet has an international flavor being comprised of 2 Canadians, one American and an Australian. And it's easy to see why they became champs as this fabulous new release is one of the best barbershop recordings we have heard to date. As it becoming more common in barbershop CDs not every track would be considered true barbershop by the purists yet the close harmonies and tight arrangements are most certainly in the barbershop style while other songs are straight ahead traditional gems. A realtime treat! 5742 CD 14.95
Listen to "Ain't That A Kick In The Head"

Posted by acapnews at 12:23 AM

December 14, 2006

The Real Group - Live at the Stockholm Concert Hall

Based in Sweden and rarely coming to the US it has been tough for fans to see this fabulous quintet but now, for much cheaper than a airline ticket, one can have the next best thing by watch this live concert on your TV. And the even better news is that this group is just as wonderful in performance as they are on their recordings and with high production values in both video and audio this is like having perhaps the world's very best a cappella group performing in your very own living room. Vocal harmony heaven!! 7492 DVD 29.95
Watch "selection of video clips"

Posted by acapnews at 4:13 AM

December 6, 2006

Go Fish - Snow


High energy Contemporary Christian all male trio Go Fish apply their tight Rockapella-like sound and cutting-edge arrangements to a Christmas collection, beginning with an accompanied, rewritten "Joy to the World," seguing into a surprising, upbeat "We Three Kings," with jazzy scat non-vocal percussion. An a cappella, traditional, richly harmonic "Away in a Manger/ Beautiful Savior" medley follows, a jazzy, heavily-accompanied original, "Christmas with a Capital C". A finger-snapping, mellow a cappella "White Christmas," a thought-provoking "It's About the Cross," plus the rhythmic, powerful "Little Drummer Boy." round out the album.
2221 CD 14.95

Listen to "Christmas Time"





Posted by acapnews at 12:21 AM

Mighty Echoes - Doo Wop Around The Christmas Tree

One of our longtime favorite Doo-Wop a cappella male quartets, the Echoes apply their "simple and profound" sound, as "Two a Half Men" writer Eddie Gorodefsky describes it, to 11 Christmas chestnuts: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "The "Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas," the plaintive "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," "Christmas In New Orleans," "Blue Christmas," "O Holy Night," and finishing with John Lennon/ Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas {War is Over)." It adds up to a yummy, rich, deep-bass, vocal Christmas pudding to enjoy again and again! 8211 CD 14.95
Listen to "Happy Xmas"

Posted by acapnews at 12:13 AM

December 5, 2006

Four Bettys - Four Bettys

Third in 2005, second in 2006 surely this fabulous quartet are the next heirs apparent to the Queens of Harmony crowns. And how worthy they are is clearly demonstrated on this fine recording as the ladies are in top form as they sing some classic barbershop songs along with some vintage jazz gems. Made up of members of the Melodeers and the Choral-Aires Sweet Adeline choruses the quartet members Lynda, Joan, Heather and Cori fine individual voices blend in great harmony with a spirit that shows why we love female barbershop singing so much. This recording should be in all fans collections. 5744 CD 14.95
Listen to "In My Life"

Posted by acapnews at 12:19 AM

Spotlight - In The Spotlight

One of our longtime favorite Doo-Wop a cappella male quartets, the Echoes apply their "simple and profound" sound, as "Two a Half Men" writer Eddie Gorodefsky describes it, to 11 Christmas chestnuts: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "The "Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas," the plaintive "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," "Christmas In New Orleans," "Blue Christmas," "O Holy Night," and finishing with John Lennon/ Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas {War is Over)." It adds up to a yummy, rich, deep-bass, vocal Christmas pudding to enjoy again and again! 5754 CD 14.95
Listen to "As Long As Singing"

Posted by acapnews at 12:16 AM

December 2, 2006

Discovery Singers - Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Veteran Gospel ensemble the Discovery Singers hail from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and sing as part of the Discovery House ministry and associated radio programs. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is a straightforward collection of 17 favorite hymns performed with the signature choral sound that has been delighting audiences for the 40 years the group has been performing together, with beautiful new a cappella arrangements. Favorites like "Abide With Me," "It is Well With My Soul," "He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought," "Day By Day" and the title tune inspire and touch us once again. 2219 CD 14.95
Listen to "Lead Me Lord"

Posted by acapnews at 12:12 AM

December 1, 2006

Buzz - Buzzapalooza

As quite possibly the most highly regarded Sweet Adeline quartet performing today we had high expectations for this new release and are pleased to report that the CD perhaps even surpasses those hopes. This is a very talented quartet of singers who has chosen a most eclectic and interesting repertoire for this recording. They are also singing the arrangements of a veritable who's who of the great barbershop arrangers including Latzko, Wright, Briner, Waeche, Clancy and Rene Craig. Barbershop gurus Joe Connelly and Tony DeRosa also helped with the recording adding further to the feel of barbershop royalty and to the impeccable sound of the CD. This Buzzapalooza has plenty of razzmatazz and is highly recommended to all fans of barbershop singing. 5741 CD 14.95
Listen to "Like A Red Red Rose"

Posted by acapnews at 11:54 PM