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

Whether you're a karaoke singer or preparing for an audition, the Pro Vocal series is for you. The book contains the lyrics, melody, and chord symbols for eight hit songs. The CD contains demos for listening and separate backing tracks so you can sing alo

Songlist: Always On My Mind, The Best Is Yet To Come, Call Me Irresponsible, Dream, I've Got The World On A String, Lost, Me And Mrs. Jones, Wonderful Tonight

Settings of 17 poems by Langston Hughes. Contents: Angel Wings - Daybreak in Alabama - Delinquent - Demand - Dream - Dream Variations - Drum - Harlem Night Song - In Time of Silver Rain - Late Last Night - Litany Luck - Night: Four Songs - Port Town - Song for a Dark Girl - Stars - When Sue Wears Red.

Songlist: In Time Of Silver Rain, Harlem Night Song, Daybreak In Alabama, When Sue Wears Red, Late Last Night, Port Town, Angel Wings, Luck, Delinquent, Dream Variations, Stars, Song For A Dark Girl, Drum, Litany, Dream, Night: Four Songs, Demand

17 celebrated wedding songs, including: Ave Maria - Bist du bei mir (You Are with Me) - Devotion - I Love You Truly - One Hand, One Heart - Panis Angelicus (O Lord Most Holy) - Set Me As a Seal - Wedding Prayer - and more.

Songlist: Wedding Prayer, Set Me As A Seal, Ave Maria, Dream, My Heart Ever Faithful, Devotion, Bist du bei mir (You Are With Me), Because, I Love You Truly, O Promise Me, Zueignung (Strauss), Panis Angelicus (O Lord Most Holy), Calm As The Night (Still Wie Die Nacht), Ich Liebe Dich, One Hand, One Heart, Beloved,It Is Morn (Aylward)

49th Street is the neighborhood in West Philadelphia where Frank Lafaro and his cousin Bob Croce sang street harmony, and where they formed Frankie and the Fashions in 1963. Frankie and Bob, plus fellow 'Fashions' member Frank DiSantis, who wrote 'I Wonder Where You Are' on this cd, are together again (with 5 others including Frankie's daughter Christin) in 49th Street, and the selections include pop, jazz, R&B, rock & Doo-Wop. Some standouts: 'Sherry,' 'I Wonder Where You Are,' 'Where Are You,' 'Don't Worry Baby,' 'Summertime,' and 'Dream.

Songlist: Moonlight Serenade, Sherry, I Wonder Where Your Are, Carry On, Where Are You, Garden of Love, Don't Worry Baby, The Closer You Are, Where or When, We Go, Summertime, You Don't Understand, For What It's Worth, Home Away From Home, Dream, Philly Bound

The Clark Sisters (Ann, Jean, Peggy and Mary) recorded these songs in 1959 and 1962. Formerly known as the "Sentimentalists," they sang with Tommy Dorsey and had several chart hits. What sets them apart as special is their ability to mimic instruments with uncanny accuracy, such as on "Sugar Blues," where they capture every nuance of the trumpet sound, muted and open. The "Salute" album gave the sisters the opportunity to select their favorite numbers from groups such as the Mills Bros. ("Paper Doll"), the McGuire Sisters ("Sugartime"), the Pied Pipers ("Dream") and the Modernaires ("I've Got A Girl In Kalamazoo"), among many others. Listen to them cut loose on "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon," where they trade licks with the band!

Songlist: My Blue Heaven, Until The Real Thing Comes Along, Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, Paper Doll, I'll Get By, I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo, Dream, Sugartime, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, Undecided, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, When I Take My Sugar To Tea, St. Louis Blues March, Hot Toddy, Song Of India, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, I Can't Get Started, Trumpet Blues, In The Mood, When Day Is Done, The Mole, Take the 'A' Train, Sugar Blues, One O'Clock Jump

Producer Ronnie Italiano, Clifton Music's "Ronnie I," presents some authentic New Jersey Doo Wop by his Cliftonaires, who consist of two of the finest female singers on today's scene and 4 outstanding veteran male singers. The song selection on the 21 songs pays tribute to the legendary era of classic 1950s R&B Group recordings with bass Jack Scandura's fine arrangements. Some favorites: "How Sentimental Can I Be," "Angel and A Rose," "Blue Moon," "P.S. I Love You," "To Be Loved," "Dream," "Chapel of Dreams," "Skylark," "When I Fall In Love," "Night and Day," "I Found A New Baby," "Wedding Bells" and "I'll Be Seeing You." This is the good stuff!

Songlist: How Sentimental Can I Be?, Angel And A Rose, Blue Moon, Don't Say You're Sorry, P.S. I Love You, To Be Loved, Strange Love, Dream, Chapel Of Dreams, Here's That Rainy Day, Skylark, Zoom, You're Everything To Me, When I Fall In Love, Night and Day, I Found A New Baby, This I Swear, Wedding Bells, Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, I'll Be Seeing You

Texture and dynamics are among Eric Ericson's main tools for this Volume 2 of contemporary Swedish choral music. Sven-Erik Back, Lars Edlund, Miklos Maros and Arne Mellnas are presented - that is to say, some of our most eminent composers, represented by works of which several are classics already. "A superb presentation of the current high standard of Swedish choral music" was one reviewer's verdict.

Songlist: Natten ar framskriden (Back), Jesus tank pa mig, Morkret skall skilja, Gloria (Edlund), Elegi, Nenia, Succsim (Mellnas), Dream, Turba (Maros)

A pair of Philadelphia boys, Al Alberts and Dave Mahoney, finding themselves in the North Atlantic in the Navy in WWII, killed time by singing together. Joining two more local boys, Rosario and Louis, they formed the Four Aces, following in the footsteps of the Ames Brothers. Their first hit was "(It's No) Sin," which was shopped to no avail to New York record companies, and finally released by Al, who started his own record company, Victoria Records, to do it. The song peaked on Billboard's charts at #4 in 1951, and the Aces were quickly signed by Decca. The group-written "Tell Me Why," "A Garden in the Rain," "Perfidia," "I'm Yours" and "Heart and Soul" were next to climb high on the charts. Appearing frequently on TV, Aces singles "La Rosita," "Just Squeeze Me," "Laughing on the Outside" and "The Gang that Sang (Heart of My Heart)" were among 8 of the group's hits in 1952. "Stranger in Paradise" went to #2 on the charts, which the Aces finally topped with the theme from the movie "Three Coins in a Fountain." Popular hits "Dream" and "So Long," followed, and "Mr. Sandman" and "Melody of Love" scored in Billboard's top five before the floodgates of Rock 'n Roll opened in 1955, and even that year the Aces had another chart-topper with "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." "Heart" features 24 of the group's (all accompanied) upbeat, romantic tunes in a nicely done package with group history and photos. For smooth quintessential 50s pop harmonies, Four Aces win every time!

Songlist: (It's No) Sin, Tell Me Why, Heart and Soul, A Garden In The Rain, Strange In Paradise, The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart", Mr. Sandman, Perfidia, Melody Of Love, Three Coins In A Fountian, I'm Yours, Should I, There Is A Tavern In The Town, You Brought Me Love, In Apple Blossom Time, Dream, So Long, Laughing On The Outside, Organ Gringer's Swing, La Rosita, Just Squeeze Me, I Understand, It's A Woman's World (From Woman's World), Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine)

With its roots in Philadelphia, close-harmony all male quartet The Four Aces first began performing together in 1949 and scored their first big hit with "It's No Sin" in 1952. They followed up with top 10 hits "Tell Me Why," "Perfida," "The Gang That Sang Heart of My Heart," "Should I?," "Melody of Love," which hit #3 on the charts, "Mister Sandman" (#5), "Stranger in Paradise" (#3) and "Three Coins In The Fountain" (#1). 28 all-accompanied songs by this enormously popular group, 25 chart hits and 10 top tens, recorded from 1951 to 1955, records which have sold over 100 million copies. A generous, spirited collection by Vocal Hall of Famers, the Aces!

Songlist: Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, It's No Sin, Tell Me Why, A Garden In The Rain, Perfidia, I'm Yours, Heart and Soul, I'll Never Smile Again, My Devotion, Should I, La Rosita, Just Squeeze Me, But Don't Tease Me, Laughing On The OUtside, Crying On The Inside, Organ Grinder's Swing, The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart", Stranger In Paradise, Amor, Three Coins In The Fountain, Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine, Dream, It's A Woman's World, Mr. Sandman, Heart, Shine On Harvest Moon, Melody Of Love, There Is A Tavern In The Town, A Woman In Love, So Long

The HOTC has grown in many ways since its founding in 1994, Ron Black now at the helm as Music Director, growing to 59-strong and recently placing 12th in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Competition in Salt Lake City. 17 classic tunes: "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Always," "Goodbye, Dixie, Goodbye," "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," "Dream," "Glow Worm," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Floatin' Down to Cotton Town," "If I Had My Way," "You Make Me Feel So Young," and "With A Song in My Heart." Sophisticated arrangements, smooth, ringing chords, feel-good selections-it adds up to great entertainment from a top-drawer men's chorus deep in the Heart of Texas!

Songlist: Smile, Darn Ya, Smile, Fly Me To The Moon, Old St. Louie, Amor, Always, Goodbye , Dixie, Goodbye, Oh, You Beautiful Doll, Dream, Glow Worm, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Floatin' Down To Cotton Town, Sam, The Accordion Man, If I Had My Way, Orange Colored Sky, You Gotta Have Skin, You Make Me Feel So Young, With A Song In My Heart

JaLaLa : Old Mercer Magic!   

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

"Mill City Mix" is a four-piece mixed group whose inspiration is the close harmony groups of the forties - the sounds of the Merry Macs, Pied Pipers and their ilk. This accompanied CD features sixteen agreeable songs, such as "Perfidia," "Sunny Side Of The Street" and "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree." "Eloise" has a descending progression that is classic American songwriting, "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy" crackles with energy, and a high-octane piano break; in contrast, "Irresistable You" captures all the longing of love.

Songlist: Perifidia, Irresistible You, Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy, Daddy, Dream, Shoo Shoo Baby, Sunny Side Of The Street, Watch What Happens, Sentimental Journey, Sweet Eloise, Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree, A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening, Whispering, Elmer's Tune, Jukebox Saturday Night, Misty

In the 1940s, in comparison to the rest of the world, Americans had it all-nylons, chewing gum and harmony groups like the Merry Macs, Modernaires and the Pied Pipers. Originally an octet when first hired by Tommy Dorsey, they were fired when his sponsors disapproved of "Hold Tight-Want Some Sea Food Mama" as unsuitable broadcast material (this is the first we've ever heard of this-possibly it had a hidden sexual connotation?). In any case, they reduced to a quartet and were on the verge of disbanding when they were hired back by Dorsey to join his new solo vocalist Frank Sinatra. With Sinatra the Pipers recorded quite a few hits including "I'll Never Smile Again," which was the very first #1 record on Billboard's Best Selling record chart, which began in 1940. The group's Jo Stafford also had solo hits, including "Yes Indeed." After an argument with Dorsey the group left for Hollywood and signed to newly-formed Capital Records. "Deacon Jones/Pistol Packin' Mama" was the first of a string of hits on their own and with Johnny Mercer and other solo artists, including "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive," "Personality," "Winter Wonderland," "The Trolley Song," "In The Moon Mist," "My Happiness" and "Dream." All songs are Swing-band accompanied. This is one of those 2-CD, 50-song collections we love so well because they are such a bargain and have so much great music. The Pipers were one of the most popular harmony groups of the Swing Era, and this is their "greatest hits" collection. What a treat from one of our favorite eras in American music!

Songlist: Pistol Packin' Mama, Doin' What Comes Natur'lly, Dream, In The Middle Of May, Girl of My Dreams, Cecilia, Watcha Know Joe?, You've Got Me This Way, What A Deal, There's Good Blues Tonight, Mairzy Doats, My Happiness, My! My!, The Freedom Train, Sweet Potatoe Piper, Old Man River, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Nine Old Men, You And Your Love, You Won't Be Satisfied, I Love It So, I've Got the Sun In the Morning, It's Only A Paper Moon, Linger In My Arms, I'll Buy That Dream, Easy Street, Gotta Be This Or That, Jamboree Jones, Isn't That Just Like Love, Embraceable You, and more

The four Slamkas (brothers Mark and Mike, Dad Jack and cousin Don) have done right on this one. With ineffable musical taste, they have selected fabulous songs, such as "Polkadots and Moonbeams," "Heart" and "Swingin' On A Star," and arranged them with creativity and consummate finesse. Their "Orange Colored Sky" (arranged by Tom Gentry), is an exquisite balance of restraint and flash, as is "Operator," where they exploit the gospel flavor, while remaining within the barbershop boilerplate. Power Play (formed in 1988) has that extra special magic in their blend, that fortuitous combination of luck and genes, that gives their sound both sparkle and a smooth finish.

Songlist: Hey Look Me Over / If My Friends Could See Me Now, Polkadots and Moonbeams, Heart, The Little Boy, Swingin' On A Star, Rock-a-Bye Baby, I Love To Hear That Old Barbershop Style, Dream, The Best Man, Pal of My Dreams, Orange Colored Sky, I Know A Little Bit / I Don't Know Why, The Lord's Prayer, Operator

Rosemary Clooney's career began in 1945, singing duets with her sister Betty for WLW Radio in Cincinnati. In 1947, they joined the Pastor band as "The Clooney Sisters," making their debut at The Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Two years later, Rosemary signed a solo recording contract with Columbia Records. Clooney recorded her first single, "Come On-a My House," in 1951. It was an immediate and enormous success and catapulted Rosemary to stardom. Her horizons soon expanded to include motion pictures, including the classic "White Christmas" in 1954. In 1956-1957 "The Rosemary Clooney Show" joined CBS television's weekly variety show lineup. Clooney also gave birth to five children, Miguel, Maria, Gabriel, Monsita, and Rafael, between February 1955 and March 1960. This program includes a compilation of 19 musical performances by Rosemary from her 1950's television program, The Rosemary Clooney Show including My Blue Heaven and Mambo Italiano.

Songlist: Tenderly, Botch-A-Me, Mambo Italiano, Moonlight In Vermont, My Blue Heaven, How About You, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, There Will Never Be Another You, Lullaby Of Broadway, I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me, A Foggy Day (In London Town), You Make Me Feel So Young, Chicago, That Toddlin' Town, Dream, Just You, Just Me, I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good), Too Marvelous For Words, This Ole House, They Can't Take That Away From Me, Taking A Chance On Love, Blues In The Night, Come On / A My House, Hey There, Up A Lazy River, I'll Be Seeing You, Haven't Got A Worry