The Swingle Singers

THE SWINGLE SINGERS - LIVE IN NEW YORK (1982)

 

Organ Fugue
Pastime with Good COmpany
Come Live with Me
Romance
It was a Lover and his Lass
For You
It's All Right with Me
Fascinatin' Rhythm
The Cock Linnet Song, arr.Grant
L'il Darlin'
Blue Rondo a la Turk
Clair de Lune
Flight of the Bumblebee
Country Dances
Just One of Those Things

If you know the Swingle Singers, then you know they were founded by Ward Swingle (it's not just a cute name for "swinging"). And you probably know that the group started in the 1960s in France with eight singers, string bass and a drummer.

This live recording from 1982 represents the bridge between the old Swingles and the new: mostly a cappella, based in England and populated with young singers. This is the last available recording with Ward himself contributing (on tenor), and the first that is a cappella performed by Brits (other than Ward, who was born in Alabama).

What hasn't changed in all these years is the quality of their singing. The live performances are stunning, and cover repertoire both familiar ("Organ Fugue") and new ("Come Live With Me," a Swingle original based on a Marlowe text). Not to be missed!