Designed to be introductory primers for high school or other beginning groups, the Contemporary A Cappella Association Songbooks nonetheless adhere to a fine musical standard (unlike some beginning arrangements, which can be watered down and unsatisfying). There are informative performance notes and recommendations for transposing parts, to permit performance by all male or female ensembles. In addition, a discography suggests definitive recordings of these popular songs, which can help facilitate the learning process and educate the ear. Easy to use, the CASA songbooks are an excellent resource.

Songlist: Good Old Acapella, Under the Boardwalk, In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember), Only You (And You Alone), Zombie Jamboree (Back to Back), Silhouettes, The Longest Time, Up On The Roof, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight

This first volume for men's voices brings together some old favorites previously released for mixed voices.

Songlist: Good Old Acapella, Good Lovin', Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight, Stand By Me, Up On The Roof

Beautiful tells of the story of one of the 20th century's most beloved songwriters, Carole King, through 25 of the hit songs she penned for herself and others. Piano/vocal arrangements include: Beautiful - I Feel the Earth Move - It's Too Late - The Loco-Motion - (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman - One Fine Day - So Far Away - Some Kind of Wonderful - Up on the Roof - Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow) - You've Got a Friend - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - and more.

Songlist: Some Kind Of Wonderful, Beautiful, He's Sure The Boy I Love, Uptown, So Far Away, Pleasant Valley Sunday, It's Too Late, Be-Bop-A-Lula, Chains, One Fine Day, Happy Days Are Here Again, I Feel The Earth Move, The Loco-Motion, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Oh! Carol, On Broadway, Take Good Care Of My Baby, Up On The Roof, Walking In The Rain, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp Ba Bomp Ba Bomp), Will You Love Me Tomorrow?, It Might As Well Rain Until September, You've Got A Friend, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

A comprehensive collection of 70 of her hits, including: Been to Canaan - I Feel the Earth Move - It's Too Late - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - One Fine Day - Smackwater Jack - Some Kind of Wonderful - Up on the Roof - Will You Love Me Tomorrow? - You Light Up My Life - You've Got a Friend - and more.

Songlist: Some Kind Of Wonderful, Home Again, Way Over Yonder, Beautiful, Smackwater Jack, Don't Bring Me Down, Believe In Humanity, Brother, Brother, You Light Up My Life, Only Love Is Real, Nightingale, Hard Rock Cafe, Snow Queen, Simple Things, Wrap Around Joy, Hey, Girl, So Much Love, One To One, Being At War With Each Other, Chicken Soup With Rice, You're Something New, Stand Behind Me, Main Street Saturday Night, You're The One Who Knows, Where Does Love Go, Music, Time Gone By, Too Much Rain, I Can't Stay Mad At You, Wasn't Born To Follow, and more

James Taylor is a Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Carrboro, North Carolina. Taylor's career began in the mid-1960s, but his commercial and critical breakthrough came with the 1970 album Sweet Baby James, a collection of sensitive and introspective songs ranked among the greatest folk rock albums ever. He was part of a wave of singer-songwriters of the time that also included Cat Stevens, Carole King, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Tom Rush, and Jackson Browne, as well as Carly Simon, whom Taylor later married, although the marriage did not last. During the early seventies his work achieved success among critics and the public, with hit singles like Fire and Rain and the U.S. number-one You've Got a Friend, a cover of Carole King's song. His 1976 album Greatest Hits was certified diamond and has sold more than 11 million copies. After the very successful JT (1977), he retained a large audience over the decades. This anthology captures the artistic essence of the legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor.

Songlist: Bittersweet, Carolina In My Mind, Country Road, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Fire & Rain, Golden Moments, Handy Man Print, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Long Ago And Far Away, Mexico, Only A Dream In Rio, Shower The People, Something In The Way She Moves, Steamroller, Sweet Baby James, Up On The Roof, Walking Man, You Can Close Your Eyes, Your Smiling Face, You've Got A Friend

Pride of Branson, MO, 5-man a cappella band Cat's Pajamas has been sharpening their live show since 2005, and it shows bigtime! These 13 songs are pure entertainment, from soul hits like James Brown's "I Feel Good," pop hits like Del Shannon's "Run Around Sue," "Love Potion Number 9" and "Earth Angel;" Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and the Drifters' "Up On The Roof;" Doo-Wop classics like "Stand By Me" and "Blue Moon;" and even a sweet reggae medley of "Kiss the Girl" and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl"-these are great covers and fun stuff. Enjoy!

Songlist: I Feel Good, Oh What A Night, Love Potion Number 9, Run Around Sue, Stand By Me, Pretty Women, Blue Moon, Kiss The Girl, When The Sun Goes Down, The Joker, Earth Angel, Up On The Roof, My Old Man

All male a cappella quintet Cat's Pajamas of Branson, MO first got together in 2005 to sing live in an Oreo cookie jingle contest, placed in the top 10 and never looked back. They've been touring extensively and recording, sharpening their vocal chops and live show, which we get a nice taste of on "One Stop Doo-Wop"-ten of the 12 cuts were recorded live in the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI, and "I Feel Good" was recorded in group member Nate Mendl's dining room! Favorites are "OREO/Rockin' Robin," when we get to hear the famous Oreo song that brought the group together, "Duke of Earl," CCR's "Proud Mary," the bubblegum hit "Hooked on a Feelin'," the Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk," "Up On The Roof," The Righteous Bros.' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Only You." The live audience went nuts over this one, and if you love Doo-Wop, we bet you will too!

Songlist: Duke of Earl, Under the Boardwalk, OREO / Rockin' Robin, Stand By Me, Hooked on a Feelin, Love Potion No 9, You've Lost That Loving Feeling, Pretty Women, Up On The Roof, I Feel Good, Only You (And You Alone)

All the great hits!

Songlist: There Goes My Baby (If You Cry), True Love, True Love, Dance With Me, This Magic Moment, Save The Last Dance For Me, I Count The Tears, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Up On The Roof, On Broadway, Under the Boardwalk, I've Got Sand In My Shoes, Saturday Night At The Movies, Please Stay, Sweets For My Sweet, When My Little Girl Is Smiling, I'll Take You Home

Two original early '60s LPs are combined here and the result is a virtual Drifters Greatest Hits. "Up on the Roof," Carole King's gorgeously romantic ode to working class escape and freedom, is here in both the hit single and slightly longer LP versions (the single is in mono, the LP version is stereo with a longer intro). Elsewhere, you'll find a real embarrassment of riches, with song after brilliant hit song from the fertile imaginations of the great Brill Building writers of the pre-Beatle era, including Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill ("On Broadway"), Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman ("Sweets for My Sweet," "This Magic Moment," "Save the Last Dance for Me"), plus lesser known but equally evocative songs from Burt Bacharach and Otis Blackwell. Timeless stuff.

Songlist: Up On The Roof, There Goes My Baby, Sweets For My Sweet, This Magic Moment, Mexican Divorce, Stranger On The Shore, What To Do, Save The Last Dance For Me, Lonliness Or Happiness, Another Night With The Boys, (If You Cry) True Love, True Love, Room Full Of Tears, When My Little Girl Is Smiling Ruby Baby, Under the Boardwalk, One Way Love, On Broadway, Didn't It, I Feel Good All Over, Vaya Con Dios, Rat Race, In The Land Of Make Believe, If You Don't Come Back, Let The Music Play, I'll Take You Home

Essentials : Oh What a Night   

From that hotbed of a cappella music to the north, Canada, comes a young, high energy quintet who are devoting their harmonious labors on this album to the art of the doo-wop, particularly the early 60's style. 'Sixteen Candles,' 'Runaround Sue,' 'So Much In Love,' 'Come Go With Me,' and 'The Way You Do The Things You Do' are a partial list of the tunes, 14 in all. You can thoroughly enjoy a moment of nostalgia or enjoy those oldies anew as the harmonies are tight and rich, the bass is solid and the tunes are all from an era of great schmaltz and great vocalization, a virtual golden age of acappella. (For spelling information see the Belmont's review) 

Songlist: I Wonder Why, Sixteen Candles, Runaround Sue, Up On The Roof, Denise, So Much In Love, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Earth Angel, Come Go With Me, Lean On Me, The Way You Do The Things You Do, Blue Moon, In The Still Of The Night

High Five : Moondance   

"Moondance" is the debut CD for New York mixed-voice jazz quintet High Five, who are no strangers to the Harmony Sweepstakes, placing second to Vox Bop in 2004's very competitive New York Regional. 13 crisply arranged jazz tunes lend themselves well to High Five's fresh, clean sound, some favorites: "Moondance/Fever Medley," "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," "One Note Samba," the upbeat "Let's Get Away From It All," a sweet, doo-woppy "Up on the Roof," "Walking Down the Street," the salsa-flavored "Mais Que Nada," a bluenote "Whistling in the Dark" a finger-snapping "One for My Baby" and a surprising arrangement of "Brahms Lullaby." There is bigtime talent here, from the singers and arrangements to the exquisite design of the liner notes. An impressive debut from High Five, who we will be expecting to see onstage at a Harmony Sweeps Finals before too long!

Songlist: Moondance + Fever Medley, I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Scotch + Soda, One Note Samba, My funny valentine, Let's get Away From It All, Up On The Roof, Walking Down the Street, What Can You Loseq, Mais Que Nada, Whitling in the Dark, One for my Baby, Brahms Lullaby

Songlist: May The Lord Bless You Real Good, Proud Mary, Return To Sender, Up On The Roof, I Can't get Next To You, Mustang Sally, Go To The Mardi Gras, Ain't To Proud To Beg, Only You (And You Alone), You Haven't Done Nothing, I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent, Power In The Name Of Jesus, When The Saints Go (To The Superbowl?), He Did It For You And Me, Jesus When The Sun Goes Down, We Are Soldiers, Just A Closer Walk with Thee, Running For Jesus

Jackson, Paul, Kim, Joe, Gary, Dan and Rick have at least two things in common: they're all wonderful Doo-Wop singers, and they're earning a lot of fans in Arizona! "Burgers, Shakes Doo-Wop," contains 16 pretty straightforward covers of Doo-Wop standards like Bob Gaudio's "Sherry," Brian Wilson's "Little Deuce Coupe," Fred Parris' "In the Still of the Night," Hart & Rodgers' "Blue Moon," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight..." this album might have been called "Greatest Doo-Wop Hits of All Time!" These 7 guys (MC6 plus 1?) absolutely nail every song, and the additional voices add more richness and depth to the harmonies. Other favorites are "Up on the Roof" and "One Fine Day" by Carole King and Gerry Goffin; "Runaround Sue" by Ernie Maresca and Dion Dimucci, Al Yankovic's very silly "Since You've Been Gone," Del Shannon's "I Go to Pieces," Billy Joel's "The Longest Time" and the album closes with Harmony Sweeps audience favorite "Goodnight Sweetheart" by James Hudson and Calvin Carter. MC6 clearly loves Doo-Wop and entertaining us, and, like the burgers and shakes we remember, it's all big fun and delicious!

Songlist: Sherry, 409 / Little Deuce Coupe, Come Go With Me, In The Still Of The Night, Blue Moon, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Surfer Girl, Up On The Roof, Runaround Sue, One Fine Day, Since You've Been Gone, Teenager In Love, So Much In Love, I Go To Pieces, The Longest Time, Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight

The Mighty Echoes : A Cappella Cool   

We will freely admit to loving LA's four Echoes, "Brothers in Harmony" Charlie, Harvey, John and Jon at first listen, almost 20 years ago. Many audience-pleasing live performances and three great CDs haven't changed our feelings as we joyously tear the annoying plastic wrap off "Cool" and treat our boombox to the Echoes' 4th collection of 15 Doo-Wop winners. Some of our favorites include an exquisitely meandering "I Only Have Eyes for You," a complex, soaring arrangement of Brian Wilson's "Good Vibrations" (that few groups would even attempt, much less nail), a rock-solid, soulful "Lean On Me," a silly, tough-talking "Daddy Cool," a richly harmonic cover of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," a powerful "Duke of Earl," a luscious "In The Still of the Night," an incongruous but marvelous "White Christmas," and the final tune, a foot-stomping "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." The Echoes have the tight arrangements, perfect pitch, soaring leads, deep basslines and love of singing that make "Cool" one of the best Doo Wop recordings of the year!

Songlist: Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, I Only Have Eyes For You, Return To Sender, Good Vibrations, Lean On Me, Daddy Cool, Wonderful Tonight, With This Ring, Duke of Earl, Whispering Bells, In The Still Of The Night, Chapel of Love, Up On The Roof, White Christmas, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

This is the one that began the most enduring career of any modern vocal group. The self titled album went gold in Canada in two months with huge radio hits of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," and "Up On The Roof" which are among their signature tunes to this day. "Duke Of Earl" was recorded live in Vancouver before a wildly cheering audience, the only live track. For the "purist" a cappella fan, "A Million Ways," "Somethin' Bout Cha," "Duke Of Earl," "Rock & Roll Lullaby" and "Up On The Roof" are accompanied by only finger snaps or hand claps.

Songlist: The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Love Potion #9/ Spooky, A Million Ways, Somethin' Bout Cha, Duke Of Earl, Rock & Roll Lullaby, Find The One I Love, Some People, Up On The Roof, Me And The Boys

The oft-imitated "Lion Sleeps Tonight" leads off this 1984 recording. Other memorable tunes include "This Boy," "Perpetual Emotion,"and "Stepping Stone."

Songlist: The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Take Me To Your Heart, This Boy, Oo Wee, Oh Me, Oh My, Combat Zone, Up On The Roof, Perpetual Emotion, Stepping Stone, Remember (Walking In The Sand), The Stars Are Ours

The Nylons : Best of   

In 1993 Attic Records and Windham Hill Records put out their first collection, entitled Best Of..., which, like the later compilation Perfect Fit is a fine survey of the four Nylons whom most consider the originals, Marc Connors, Paul Cooper, Arnold Robinson and Claude Morrison. Many of the signature tunes are found on both releases but uniquely on Best Of... are "That Kind Of Man," "Up The Ladder To The Roof," "Please," "Stepping Stone," "Bop Till You Drop," "Combat Zone," "Wildfire" and "The Stars Are Ours."

Songlist: That Kind of Man, Kiss Him Goodbye, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Up the Ladder to the Roof, Please, Happy Together, Drift Away, Stepping Stone, Bop Till You Drop, Chain Gang, Up On The Roof, Prince of Darkness, Poison Ivy, Combat Zone, Wildfire, The Stars Are Ours

Attic Records has been working with Windham Hill Records to rerelease the Nylons' "Attic years". Perfect Fit is a collection of favorites from the previous releases, The Nylons, One Size Fits All, Seamless, Happy Together, and Rockapella. This release is a grand survey of the early Nylons giving us, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," "Happy Together," "Kiss Him Goodbye," "Love Potion #9/Spooky," "Silhouettes," "Chain Gang," "Poison Ivy," "Drift Away," "All I Have To Do Is Dream," "Up On The Roof," "This Boy" and three more.

Songlist: The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Happy Together, Kiss Him Goodbye, Love Potion #9/Spooky, Selhouettes, Chain Gang, Poison Ivy, Drift Away, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Up On The Roof, Oo Wee, Oh Me, Oh My, This Boy, Remember (Walking In The Sand), Duke Of Earl

Scotti Brothers released this compilation of tunes in 1997. The Nylons had recorded them while on that label and all have been released on other cds. On it are arrangements which vary from live performance sung unaccompanied by even their patented percussion track ("One Fine Day," "Up On The Roof" and "Kiss Him Goodbye") to the instrumentally enhanced tracks found on the cd Because ("The Time Of The Season" and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"). If you aren't a collector this release gives you a fine survey of their mid-careeer period.

Songlist: Time Of The Season, God Only Knows, My Cherie Amour, A Change Is Gonna Come, One Fine Day, Up On The Roof, Kiss Him Goodbye, Lady Madonna, The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in Her Kiss), Will You Love Me Tomorrow?, Hey Girl, Because

Here's one of the group's earliest recordings which was originally released in 1969 and has now been digitally remastered and rereleased. The guys were young and their voices were strong and their enthusiasm is catching making this a truly authentic recording that catches the essence of the era perfectly. A must for all collectors.

Songlist: Searchin' For My Baby, I Just Can't Work No Longer, Old Man River, Monologue Introduction, Don't Look Back, Drip Drop, The Whole World Is A Stage, Up On The Roof, The Bounce, Since I Fell For You, Too Late, It's All Right

Timing, that is the key. Often we understand the magnitude of an event only though the hindsight of history. In 1990 Spike Lee & Co. produced a television special totally a cappella. It featured some of the finest rock/popular/doo-wop groups in the world. Included in this sound track are Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Mint Juleps, The Persuasions, Rockapella, Take Six and True Image. In historical terms this event was a watershed event bringing the renaissance of a cappella of to the public consciousness. It still is a marvelous cd and a must for any enthusiast of the genre. What ever happened to True Image, anyway?

Songlist: I Need You, Don't Let Your Heart, Zombie Jamboree, Looking For An Echo, Phansi Em Godini Down In The Mines, I Want To Live Easy, Under The Boardwalk, Up On The Roof, Higher And Higher, Get Away Jordan, N'Kosi Sikeleli Afrika God Bless Africa, Pass On The Love, The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Of all the contemporary a cappella groups The Nylons have always put on one of the best shows, in great part because of their background in live theater. So this DVD of a historic concert shot in Japan in 1986 is a real treat and a must for all Nylons fans. The high production values shows the guys at their high-energy best and features Marc Connors, Claude Morrison, Paul Cooper and Arnold Robinson. As well as the thirteen song concert footage there are six bonus music videos that the group has shot over the years which helps makes this a most enjoyable watch!

Songlist: Me And The Boys, Bop 'Til You Drop, Stepping Stone, One Fine Day, Please, Romance (If I Can Get It), Heavenly Bodies, Silhuoettes, Up On The Roof, Prince Of Darkness, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Up The Ladder To The Roof, Fire, That Kind Of Man, Take Me To Your Heart, Combat Zone, Happy Together, Wild Fire, Busy Tonight