Customer Reviews

Son of Sea: 1997 20 Barbershop Quartets

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This is the recording put out from the 1997 Quartet Competition at the annual SPEBSQSA convention. It was one of the best competitions in the last decade or so, so this is an excellent introduction to genuine close-harmony, a capella Barbershop singing.

Although the group Yesteryear took the Gold (and sang extremely well), you can tell that the Silver Medalist group, FRED, was the audience favorite. This is due to the fact that FRED is not only an extremely talented tight-knit quartet with marvelous singing, they are also a "comedy quartet". This sub-genre of Barbershop groups sings the same tunes, with largely the same arrangements as the other quartets, but the words are parodied into something that almost makes this another art form. (With a little slapstick nonsense thrown in for good measure.) FRED was so good, indeed, that they went on to take the Gold two years later. If you can find a copy of that 1999 competition, GET IT. It's already a collector's item.

Some of the best good ol' Barbershop standards are here, done exceedingly well, include "Mississippi Mud", "They're Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine", and "Lulu's Back in Town". The last cut, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", is the also from a comedy quartet, and it's hilarious: "You want to sing right with 'em / but they don't have any rhythm"... you get the idea.

THIS C.D. IS WORTH BUYING IF ONLY FOR YESTERYEAR'S "SON OF THE SEA." IT GIVES ME CHILLS EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEAR IT. IT'S ALSO A KICK TO HEAR FRED'S SONG ABOUT ALL OF THEIR COMPETITORS. THIS C.D. IS FULL OF FABULOUS GROUPS AND GREAT SONGS, AND IS WELL WORTH ADDING TO YOUR COLLECTION.

For the best of the SPEBSQSA barbershop quartets from this year -- be sure to get this album. Also be sure to check out SPEBSQSA . c o m for more information on how you can take part in this great hobby of barbershop quartet singing.

Once you start -- you'll never quit!

Be sure to lookup a local chapter near you to experience the lifeblood of organized barbershop quartet singing!