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Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

From the musical

A New Brain

Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" is a popular song which was nominated for "Best Song" in 1945 after being used in the film "Here Come the Waves". The music was written by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and it was published in 1944. It is sung in the style of a sermon, and explains that accentuating the positive is key to happiness. In describing his inspiration for the lyric, Mercer told the Pop Chronicles radio documentary "[my] publicity agent ... went to hear Father Divine and he had a sermon and his subject was 'you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.' And I said 'Wow, that's a colorful phrase!'"

Mercer recorded the song, with The Pied Pipers and Paul Weston's orchestra, on October 4, 1944, and it was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 180. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on January 4, 1945 and lasted 13 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 2. The song was number five on Billboard's Annual High School Survey in 1945.

On March 25, 2015, it was announced that Mercer's version will be inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for the song's "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy"

    Release Date: 1944



Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-12 of 12 items.


Harold Arlen : The Harold Arlen Songbook : Solo : Songbook : 073999590807 : 0881884251 : 00359080

Harold Arlen : The Harold Arlen Songbook

A must-own collection of 76 songs of Harold Arlen. Includes his major works and some previously unpublished titles. Highlights include: Come Rain or Come Shine - Get Happy - Let's Fall in Love - The Man That Got Away - Over the Rainbow - Stormy Weather - and more!

Songlist: Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive, Lullaby, Ain't It De Truth, God's Country, Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home, As Long As I Live, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Out Of This World, Blues In The Night, Buds Won't Bud, My Shining Hour, Right As Rain, Cocoanut Sweet, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead, Dissertation On The State Of Bliss (Love And Learn), Don't Like Goodbyes, Down With Love, The Eagle And Me, The Morning After, Get Happy, Evelina, Fancy Meeting You, For Every Man There's A Woman, Fun To Be Fooled, Goose Will Never Be Peacock, Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe, Happy As The Day Is Long, Happy With The Blues, Hit The Road To Dreamland, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 20252b | Songbook | $21.95 | PVG


Johnny Mercer : The Johnny Mercer Centennial Sheet Music Collection : Solo : Songbook : 884088688738 : 0739074776 : 00322363

Johnny Mercer : The Johnny Mercer Centennial Sheet Music Collection

Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) was not only one of America's greatest lyricists - he helped define the American South from the outside in. His words paint rich and vivid portraits of life in his native Georgia. Mercer wrote a wide variety of songs, from lush, dreamy ballads to plays on colloquial American expressions. He joined forces with some of the most talented composers of his day, including Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, and Henry Mancini, to fashion one of the most startlingly original catalogs in American popular music. This songbook commemorates the centennial of his birth with piano/vocal sheet music arrangements (including guitar chord frames) for 46 of his most famous and best-loved classics.

Songlist: DREAM, EMILY, LAURA, SKYLARK, BLUES IN THE NIGHT, CHARADE (FROM 'CHARADE'), COME RAIN OR COME SHINE, DAY IN DAY OUT, Days of Wine and Roses, I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU, I WANNA BE AROUND, SATIN DOLL (VOCAL VERSION), SUMMER WIND, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY, I'M AN OLD COWHAND (FROM THE RIO GRANDE), FOOLS RUSH IN (WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD), GOODY-GOODY, AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE, AND THE ANGELS SING, ANY PLACE I HANG MY HAT IS MY HOME, AUTUMN LEAVES A/K/A LES FEUILLES MORTES, DRINKING AGAIN, G.I. JIVE, GLOW WORM, THE, HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD, I'M OLD FASHIONED (Lyric Version), IN THE COOL COOL COOL OF THE EVENING, JEEPERS CREEPERS, LAZYBONES (a/k/a LAZY BONES), and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 20251b | Songbook | $19.95 | PVG


Paul McCartney : Kisses on the Bottom : Solo : Songbook : 884088654139 : 145844063X : 00307707

Paul McCartney : Kisses on the Bottom

Sir Paul's tribute to classic standards also features a few originals that pay homage to the genre. Our matching folio features all 14 songs: Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive - Always - Bye Bye Blackbird - Get Yourself Another Fool - The Glory of Love - Home (When Shadows Fall) - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter - The Inch Worm - It's Only a Paper Moon - More I Cannot Wish You - My Valentine - My Very Good Friend, The Milkman - Only Our Hearts - We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me).

Songlist: Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive, Always, My Very Good Friend, The Milkman, Home (When Shadows Fall), Bye Bye Blackbird, My Valentine, Only Our Hearts, Get Yourself Another Fool, The Glory Of Love, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter, The Inch Worm, It's Only A Paper Moon, More I Cannot Wish You, We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)

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Voicing: Solo | Performed by Paul McCartney | 20344b | Songbook | $16.95 | PVG


Tony Bennett : Tony Bennett Sheet Music Anthology : Solo : Songbook : 888680915025 : 1540046044 : 00289023

Tony Bennett : Tony Bennett Sheet Music Anthology

100 songs from Bennett's remarkable and lengthy career which started in the early 1950s and is still going strong today! Our songbook features his very best arranged for piano/vocal/guitar, including: As Time Goes By - Because of You - Bein' Green - Body and Soul - Cheek to Cheek - Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) - The Good Life - I Left My Heart in San Francisco - I Wanna Be Around - It Had to Be You - Just in Time - The Lady Is a Tramp - Moonlight in Vermont - New York State of Mind - Over the Rainbow - Put on a Happy Face - Rags to Riches - Smile - Stella by Starlight - Tender Is the Night - and more.

Songlist: Anything Goes, Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive, Rags To Riches, Dancing In The Dark, Once Upon A Time, Smile, I'm A Fool To Want You, All My Tomorrows, All The Things You Are, Because Of You, The Good Life, I'll Be Around, Alright, Okay, You Win, Firefly, Are You Havin' Any Fun?, New York, New York, As Time Goes By, Sweet Lorraine, Tender Is The Night, Some Other Time, Bein' Green, The Best Is Yet To Come, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Blue Moon, Blue Velvet, For Once In My Life, Body And Soul, The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, Emily, Look For The Silver Lining, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 70727b | Songbook | $29.95 | PVG


Various Arrangers : Crooners : Solo : Songbook : 884088274979 : 1423463668 : 00311819

Various Arrangers : Crooners

Your audience will swoon over these 84 standards crooned by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Mel Tormé and others. Includes: Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive - Bewitched - Blue Velvet - Chances Are - Georgia on My Mind - I've Got the World on a String - Lazy River - Misty - Mona Lisa - The Nearness of You - Red Roses for a Blue Lady - There Is No Greater Love - When I Fall in Love - and dozens more. Includes a title index, artist index, and a great section of photos and bios of each featured artist.

Songlist: I Believe, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, I'm Walking Behind You (Look Over Your Shoulder), If, Wish You Were Here, Till The End Of Time, Rockin' Chair, Chances Are, Alright, Okay, You Win, Nature Boy, Night Song, Cry, Change Partners, Baby, It's Cold Outside, Baby (You've Got What It Takes), Candy, There Is No Greater Love, Bewitched, Beyond The Sea, Learnin' The Blues, Just Walking In The Rain, Blue Velvet, Body And Soul, Mr. Lonely, It's Just A Matter Of Time, Careless Hands, Mona Lisa, Cheek To Cheek, The Christmas Song, My Foolish Heart, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 2491b | Songbook | $19.95 | PVG


Various Composers : Cabaret Songbook : Solo : Songbook : 073999904888 : 0793500869 : 00490488

Various Composers : Cabaret Songbook

Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue - a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables (often dining or drinking) watching the performance being introduced by a master of ceremonies, or MC. Here are 54 essential cabaret classics.

Songlist: Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, Ain't Misbehavin, All By Myself, And All That Jazz, Another Op'nin' Another Show, Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home, As Long As He Needs Me, Being Alive, The Best Is Yet to Come, Blame It On My Youth, Cabaret, Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, Comedy Tonight, Comes Love, Copacabana (At The Copa), Everything's Coming Up Roses, From This Moment On, How High The Moon, I Am What I Am, I Believe In You, I Wanna Be Loved By You, I Wish You Love, I'd Do Anything, I'll Be Seeing You, I'm Beginning to See the Light, I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary People), I've Got You Under My Skin, I've Got Your Number, It's All Right With Me, The Lady is a Tramp, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 5136b | Songbook | $19.95


Various Composers : The Great American Songbook - The Composers : Solo : Songbook : 884088106522 : 1423419545 : 00311365

Various Composers : The Great American Songbook - The Composers

From Berlin to Gershwin to Carmichael to Cahn, this folio features a comprehensive collection of standards from the greatest American composers, along with photos and bios of these masters of song.

Songlist: Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, Ain't Misbehavin', All The Things You Are, All The Way, April In Paris, Autumn In New York, The Best Is Yet To Come, The Best Things In Life Are Free, Beyond The Blue Horizon, Big Spender, Blue Skies, Body And Soul, Button Up Your Overcoat, Buttons And Bows, Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, Change Partners, Cheek To Cheek, Come Fly With Me, Come Rain or Come Shine, Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me, Don't Blame Me, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, Easy Living, Everything's Coming Up Roses, A Fine Romance, For You, For Me, For Evermore, Georgia On My Mind, Here's That Rainy Day, Honeysuckle Rose, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 5324b | Songbook | $27.95 | PVG


The Andrews Sisters : 20th Century Masters : 1 CD : 112230

The Andrews Sisters : 20th Century Masters

Songlist: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Means You're Grand), Hold Tight (Want Some Sea Food), Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar, I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me), Shoo-Shoo Baby, Rum And Coca-Cola, Near You, I Wanna Be Loved, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, I Can Dream, Can't I

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4449c | 1 CD | $14.98 | Accompanied


The Andrews Sisters : Apple Blossom Time : 1 CD : 5286

The Andrews Sisters : Apple Blossom Time

Part of the ASV "Living Era" series, "Apple Blossom Time" contains 25 favorites from the female group that will forever define the harmony sound of World War II. Hits such as "Rum and Cola," "Don't Fence Me In" (with Bing Crosby), "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and the title track were standard issue back then, and Maxene, Laverne and Patricia captured the spirit of the nation. Their balmy, lilting style (reminiscent of the Boswell Sisters before them), can be saucy one moment ("Strip Polka," "Shoo, Shoo Baby") or sweetly romantic ("Near You," "Toolie Oolie Doolie") with equal charm. Accompanied, with the big band swing arrangements popular at the time, though on a few tracks - "Apple Blossom Time" in particular - the instruments are muted and almost insignificant.

Songlist: I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time, Joseph, Joseph!, Ti-Pi-Tin, Begin the Beguine, Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!, Say "Si, Si" (Para Vigo Me Voy), The Woodpecker Song, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, The Shrine of St Cecilia, Three Little Sisters, Strip Polka, Pistol Packin' Mama, Shoo, Shoo, Baby, Straighten Up and Fly Right, Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?, Don't Fence Me In, Rum and Coca-Cola, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, Along the Navajo Trail, South America, Take It Away, Near You, Civilization (Bongo Bongo Bongo), Toolie Oolie Doolie (the Yodel Polka), Underneath the Arches

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5429c | 1 CD | $14.98 | Accompanied


Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix : Put on a Happy Face : 1 CD

Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix : Put on a Happy Face    onsale

Dick Van Dyke, who all of us loved in "The Dick Van Dyke Show," Disney's "Mary Poppins" "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and many others, ordered some a cappella CDs from us awhile back and we mentioned the fact on the acappellanews.com news blog. Mike Mendyke, formerly of Five O'Clock Shadow, read this and soon thereafter happened to run into Dick in a Starbucks. One thing lead to another and soon they formed a quartet that would sing on the set of "Diagnosis: Murder". We love stories like this, and Dick Van Dyke looks and sounds great on these 14 cuts! "Put On A Happy Face" from Bye Bye Birdie, Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Baby of Mine" from Dumbo, "High Hopes," "Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book, "Pick Yourself Up," "A Lover's Wuestion," "It's Not Easy Green," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive," and the heartwarming "Theme from Dick Van Dyke Show," with unpublished lyrics attributed to Morey Amsterdam. Two bonus cuts are Dick reciting "A Visit from St. Nicolas" (Twas the Night Before Christmas) and "Old Fashioned Christmas" a nice original by Bryan and Michael. Dick Van Dyke is as funny, personable and entertaining as ever, and Eric, Michael and Bryan, the Vantastix, provide great backup vocals, solos, harmonies and stellar arrangements for all the songs. "Put on a Happy Face," obviously a labor of love for Van Dyke, did exactly that for us, and we're sure this gem will be loved by children and fans of all ages!

Songlist: Put On A Happy Face, You've Got A Friend In Me, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Baby Of Mine, High Hopes, The Bare Necessities, Pick Yourself Up, A Lover's Question, It's Not Easy Being Green, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, Theme From DickVan Dyke Show, A Visit From St. Nicholas (Twas The Night Before Christmas), Old Fashioned Christmas

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2513c | 1 CD | $14.95 ON SALE $4.95 | A Cappella


Heart Of Texas Chorus : The Beginning : 1 CD : Eddie Martinez

Heart Of Texas Chorus : The Beginning

"The Beginning" is the Heart of Texas Chorus' first recording after their founding in 1994 by 20 men who wanted to form a quality barbershop chorus in the "Central Texas Corridor" from Georgetown to San Antonio. Their members ranged in age from 14 to 64, and they were lucky to have a director of the caliber of seasoned barbershop veteran Eddie Martinez, formerly of the Houston Tidelanders. The 31-strong group (at that time) started winning Barbershop Harmony regional competitions right away, and competing in the Ohio "Buckeye International" Contest. 14 songs, with guest performers Soundtrax, the top-ten Sweet Adelines quartet, who join the Chorus on "And So to Sleep Again," "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" and "Orange Colored Sky." Other Barbershop standards show off the HOTC's smooth, dynamic sound: "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella," "Swinging on a Star," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "In That Great Getting' Up Mornin'," "Smile," "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive" and "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die." Good early stuff from a powerful, dynamic chorus from Texas!

Songlist: Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella, Swinging On A Star, Are You Lonesome tonight, Lulu's Back In Town, Softly As I Leave You, In That Great Gettin' Up Mornin', Smile, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, And So To Sleep Again, Oh, You Beautiful Doll, In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning, Orange Colored Sky, The Lords Prayer, I'm Gonna Live Till I Die

More details
5689c | 1 CD | $14.98 | A Cappella


JaLaLa : Old Mercer Magic! : 1 CD : 895232002065 : DRET200206.2

JaLaLa : Old Mercer Magic!    Out of Print

Janis Siegel, Laurel Masse and Lauren Kinhan share more than their intense passion for passionate sounds that resonate with the listeners of their respective groups, The Manhattan Transfer and The New York Voices. The three pop vocalists share admiration for the late Johnny Mercer, one of the true American songwriters and poets. Thus, their collaborative effort, "That Old Mercer Magic," a fascinating and highly rewarding recording that showcase both the collective talents of these top notch singers and one of the great songwriters of the age. You will listen to this recording for ever!

Songlist: Spring, Spring, Spring, You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby, Jeepers Creepers, My Shining Hour, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, Dream, I'm Old Fashioned, Riding On The Moon, Moon River/Moon Country, Have You Got Any Castles Baby?, Too Marvelous For Words, The Dance Of Life

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2915c | 1 CD | $14.95


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-3 of 3 items.


Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive : SA : Joy Hirokawa : Harold Arlen : A New Brain : 1 CD : 00153646 : 888680096731

Joy Hirokawa : Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive

Your singers will love developing style and technique while performing this jazz arrangement of the famous Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer song with a fun notated scat section and authentic piano accompaniment.

Arranger: Joy Hirokawa | Composer: Harold Arlen | Lyricist: Johnny Mercer | Musical: A New Brain

More details
Voicing: SA | Sheet Music | $2.15 | With Piano |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 00153646


Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive : SSA : Paula Foley Tillen : Harold Arlen : A New Brain : Sheet Music : 08201233 : 073999556582

Paula Foley Tillen : Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

This Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen standard is one of the top swing tunes of the '40s and this SSA setting will show your girls' group at their finest! Available: SSA, ShowTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 2:50.

Arranger: Paula Foley Tillen | Composer: Harold Arlen | Lyricist: Johnny Mercer | Musical: A New Brain

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Voicing: SSA | Sheet Music | $2.25 | With Piano |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08201233


Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive : 2-Part : Steve Zegree : Harold Arlen : A New Brain : Sheet Music : 08551688 : 073999829020

Steve Zegree : Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

Introduce your younger choirs to the music of Harold Arlen with this 'must-sing' jazz arrangement by Steve Zegree. Whether you use the notated scat section, or let your singers improvise, your choir will love it! Available: 2-Part, ShowTrax CD. Approx. Time: 2:30.

Arranger: Steve Zegree | Composer: Harold Arlen | Lyricist: Johnny Mercer | Musical: A New Brain

More details
Voicing: 2-Part | Sheet Music | $2.30 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08551688 | Showtrax CD Available

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