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Written by Shauna
NOVEMBER Release - "You, Wonderful You"

“You, Wonderful You” was introduced in the 1950 MGM musical “Summer Stock” starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. The first time we hear the song in the film it is a beautiful ballad sung to Judy Garland by Gene Kelly. Gene is using the song to help Judy understand the magic of musical theatre. If you choose to sing the song as a solo, this is how it can be done lyrically to work without the duet partner.
This is immediately followed by a number that highlights the genius of Gene Kelly and his dancing/choreographic brilliance. It features a great instrumental reprise of “You, Wonderful You”, a squeaky board, a newspaper, and Gene Kelly dancing soft-shoe & tap.
The final version in the movie is a very quick look at the upbeat version that we used as our inspiration (along with the next next). The call/response is just fun!
This song was also featured on the Dick Van Dyke show with a classic performance by Rob and Laura Petrie. In this episode you get to see his marriage proposal to her. This upbeat version was also used for our inspiration.
Moving on to our singing call! From the moment I decided to turn this song into a singer, I could hear Joe Saltel’s voice in my head. (If you gotta have voices in your head, there could be worse, right?) As I was noodling on who should do the female portion of the duet, I saw some posts on Facebook about Joe singing with his sister at a dance and even though I hadn’t heard her sing yet, I was all in on having her record this with Joe.
Joe and his sister, Cheryl Tiburzi, both visited SoCal for our trip to the studio for recording. It was so much fun getting to meet her, and watching/listening to them practice and lay down tracks. It is exactly how I imagined it would be and I love it!
CHIC 1091 is now in our "duets" series with this vocal by Jo Saltel (Staff Caller) and his sister, Cheryl (Saltel) Tiburzi.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
OCTOBER Release - "Let it Rock (Let it Roll)"

“Let it Rock (Let it Roll)” is a class Chuck Berry song and features his iconic guitar licks and chord progressions. It was released in July of 1959 and climbed the charts until it peaked at #64 in February of 1960.
Last March when Mike and Vic were in the studio together to record the vocals for “Good Old Country Song”, they were taking a trip down memory lane and talking about all the songs they used to sing together. “Let it Roll” (same song, different name) on Red Boot Star was a standout memory for them and we all thought it was another great candidate for a music refresh.
It took us a few months to get it going, but the timing worked out great. We knew the male range would have to feature Mike and Vic since it was another one of “their songs” and they already owned it. The voice on the female key had yet to be decided.
Enter Kris Jensen. Chic Recordings donated a recording opportunity to be auctioned off at the CALLERLAB convention and Kris was the highest bidder. When I queried her about what kind of song/genre she prefers, it turned out this song was right in her wheelhouse. We sent her the rough track, confirmed the right key for her, and she took it and ran! She recorded a GREAT vocal, and used additional lyrics to tell the story of the song. I’m so excited for her and excited for you to hear it. I had a ton of fun learning the harmony and singing along with her.
Of course, Mike and Vic knocked their vocal out of the park, too! It’s so fun for me to hear these two singing together again. They make it look so easy.
Jimmy did a great job bringing the Chuck Berry sound to life! This is a fun and driving song and I hope you enjoy it!
CHIC 1090 in the male vocal range features the vocal by Mike Seastrom (courtesy of Rhythm Records).
CHIC 2090 in the female vocal range features Kris Jensen.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
September Release "Game of Love" (Extended Patter)

“The Game of Love” is a Santana song from 2002 and has been on our possibles list for a long time. We had been trying to figure out how to make an arrangement work as a singing call and finally realized we were putting it in the wrong bucket. This song is perfect for a laid-back and smooth patter.
When the song was released in 2002, it featured a vocal by Michelle Branch (who also added some rhythm guitar to the track). That’s the version that got the radio play and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Imagine our surprise when we discovered that the original vocal for this song was recorded by the one and only Tina Turner! According to Wikipedia, Tina had recorded the vocal, but when she declined to participate in the music video they went looking for a replacement. Macy Gray first, and then it when to Michelle Branch (and the rest is history).
The Tina Turner version was released on a Santana retrospective album in 2007, and Carlos had this to say about the two vocal choices: “There's only one Tina Turner...No one can hit a note like Tina Turner...I love Michelle [Branch] and she did a great interpretation of it. It's just that with all honor and respect to Michelle, there's the girl and there's the woman, and Michelle is unfolding into a woman...but it takes time to go from a girl into a woman."
We love both versions. And we also love our take on it with Jimmy channeling the distinctive Carlos sound. Hope you enjoy it too.
CHIC 4089 is the extended patter of "Game of Love."
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube link (to the left) for preview!
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Written by Shauna
AUGUST Release - "Sweet Mary"

This release is a special one because it drops exactly EIGHT YEARS after our first release back on August 22, 2015. Time sure flies when you're having fun!
“Sweet Mary” was written by Steve Jablecki and recorded by his band, Wadsworth Mansion. It was released in early 1971 and quickly climbed the charts, peaking at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Wadsworth Mansion went on to release only two more singles, neither of which charted, sealing their status as a one-hit wonder.
Nevertheless, this song has been on my list of possibles for a long time. There’s just so much that’s fun about it, and when the chorus hits we all sing along to “Sweet Mary I’m coming home now, that’s the least I can do.”
As Vic and I were discussing who we thought would be the right voice to record this song, Vic said “wait, I know.” We made a phone call and when that voice came on the other end, Vic asked, “what would say if I said ‘wop-a-dooba do wop-wop-wop’” as he proceeded to sing the intro of the song. The answer on the other end of the line was immediate, “Sweet Mary sent a letter today…” Tony Oxendine was absolutely the right voice for this song and he nails it!
We had also created a rough track in a secondary key, but the range of this song was narrow enough that I was actually singing better to the same track/key. So, similar to “Lion Sleeps Tonight,” we opted not to invest in a second key when the range of the song didn’t require that investment.
CHIC 3088 features Tony Oxendine (courtesy of Royal Records) with an amazing vocal.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
CALLERLAB Releases - "I Feel Like Dancing" and "I Like to Move It" (Extended Patter)

We were so excited about the CALLERLAB convention this year that we dropped TWO new releases at the convention. First up is an extended patter version of "I Like to Move It." This song was made famous by the Madagascar movie franchise. I first heard the song playing Dance Dance Revolution with our kids. (I am grateful there are no videos available of this.) This is just a fun song that makes people smile and move. We limited the vocals and had Jimmy build the track from simple electric guitar fills, transitioning to some flute and organ, and finishing the track with some pretty killer electric guitar.
Next up is an exciting new singing call, "I Feel Like Dancing." “I Feel Like Dancing” is a brand new hit, dropped by Jason Mraz on February 15th this year, making it just over two months on the market. I discovered it as I was channel surfing on SiriumXM while driving home from my Thursday class. If you haven’t seen his video, check it out. It’s just good fun!
I reserved it immediately and we fast-tracked with Jimmy so I could have it ready for release at the CALLERLAB convention this past week. We JUST made it in time. I got the final tracks with David’s vocal late Saturday night, just hours before opening the Chic booth the next day.
David Mee did a fantastic job on the male range vocal. He and I both took the rough tracks for a few test drives as we tweaked the arrangement to make sure it was working the way we hoped before we finalized everything and laid down all the live instruments and background vocals.
CHIC 4086 is the extended patter of "I Like to Move It."
CHIC 1087 in the male vocal range features the vocal by Staff Caller, David Mee.
CHIC 2087 in the female vocal range features Producer, Shauna Kaaria.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
April Release "Oh Yeah" (Extended Patter)

Straight from Wikipedia: “’Oh Yeah’ is a single released in 1985 by the band Yello and featured on their album Stella. The song features a mix of electronic music and manipulated vocals. The song gained popularity after being featured in the films “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” and “The Secret of My Success”, among other films. It is a popular staple in pop culture.”
Almost 40 years after its initial release, “Oh Yeah” is still featured in commercials and movies because it is so memorable and makes you start bopping the minute that downbeat starts.
Much of the original track was done with human vocal noises and our track is no different. It was sure fun to listen as Jimmy was recording the various sounds. So much about this song is iconic, and we wanted to capture the essence of it accurately. Of course, we still let Jimmy throw in some guitar riffs throughout this extended patter track.
CHIC 4085 is the extended patter of "Oh Yeah."
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube link (to the left) for preview!
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Written by Shauna
March Release - "Good Old Country Song"

The title of this tune is no lie. This IS a “Good Old Country Song” and although there were at least three singing calls based on it already, they were all 40 to 50 years old and out of print, so we decided it was WAY past due for a modern update.
In order to do it right, we started with Jimmy for rough tracks and then made it a true family affair as we reached out to my very talented brother-in-law and nephew. My brother-in-law (AKA Farley the Fiddler) provided the Fiddle and Jews Harp tracks.
After listening to the original song, recorded by Lynn Anderson in 1975, we knew we had to have some killer flat picking and steel guitar as well. Enter nephew, Matt Workman. Having spent a few years working and touring in Nashville, Matt and my niece have returned to Southern California and are sharing their musical talents performing/gigging at local places. Thankfully, Matt loves the studio and spent a day with us and Jimmy.
Listen up and you’ll hear Matt’s amazing flat-picking on the acoustic guitar, more amazing picking on the mandolin, and he rounds out the trifecta with his lap steel. Of course, all of this TWICE. You know, male and female ranges.
And speaking of Jimmy…he took all of those instrumental tracks, added his own electric guitar, banjo, and honky-tonk piano (again, twice). So much good stuff and we spent hours putting it all together in all the right places for a killer “Good Old Country Song.”
There was zero question who would sing the male vocal. My first time hearing this song was at a dance that Mike Seastrom and Vic called together about 20 years ago. It was that performance that made me fall in love with the song in the first place. Before I could even ask Vic if he’d be willing, he had already reached out to Mike and invited him to do it together.
For the female range, I had a bit of a learning curve since my only experience with the song was singing the harmony when Vic and I sang it together. I had to learn the melody! I was thrilled that Mike and Vic agreed to add their killer harmonies.
This release feels like a bit of a throw-back to an older style of singing call, but with the added beauty of modern technology for recording, mixing, and including background vocals. The melody of the tune is embedded in the lead instrumentation, rather than just a melody track so this release does not have a no melody version included. It would have stripped the song at the core of its musicality. We do still include versions with and without the background vocals (all of which were recorded by Mike and Vic)
I am SO grateful for talented family and friends, and this was one of our most fun releases to date. It’s very different than anything we’ve done before. Hope you love it, too.
CHIC 1084 in the male vocal range features the vocal by Mike Seastrom (Courtesy of Rhythm Records) and Staff Caller, Vic Kaaria.
CHIC 2084 in the female vocal range features Producer, Shauna Kaaria.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
February Release - "Words of Love"

“Words of Love” was written by Buddy Holly and first recorded and released by him in April of 1957. He harmonized with himself on the song, which certainly wasn’t as easy to do then as it is today. Wikipedia states that while it wasn’t a notable hit for Holly, it is regarded as one of his most important recordings.
In 1964, The Beatles recorded a cover version of the song as a tribute to Buddy Holly. The Beatles themselves said “Buddy Holly was a poet – way ahead of his time. At least the first 40 songs we wrote were Buddy Holly-influenced.” That brings context to the following comment I found regarding this cover. “There is a reverence that the Beatles show for Buddy Holly in this cover that is quite unlike anything else they ever recorded. It's almost like a prayer to Holly, their hero, who first inspired them to write songs.”
This is such a simple song with a beautiful message. The harmonies on the Beatles cover are so tight, it hard to tell them apart. George’s double guitar lead is the backbone of the song and Jimmy did a beautiful job recreating it with his Gretsch.
Our singing call in the male range features our newest Staff Caller (and major Beatles fan), Joe Saltel on the lead. The harmonies were recorded by our other major Beatles fan, Vic Kaaria. I don’t know about you, but I could listen to these two paying tribute to The Beatles all day long.
Since I was the only caller in the studio at the time, I took the Buddy Holly approach and recorded my own harmonies for the female range.
CHIC 1083 in the male vocal range features the vocal by Staff Caller, Joe Saltel.
CHIC 2083 in the female vocal range features Producer, Shauna Kaaria.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
November Release - "Crying in the Rain"

“Crying in the Rain” was composed by Carole King with lyrics by Howard Greenfield. Interesting trivia that this was the only song written by them together. Both were in other writing duos working for Aldon Music and “on a whim” they all decided to switch writing partners for the day.
Everyone will likely recall that this song was a huge hit for the Everly Brothers when it was released in 1962. Rhythm Records has a great cut of this tune, based on the Everly’s version. When I first started calling, I sought out songs with harmony lines so Vic could sing with me and Wade’s version of this song was one. I always loved the harmony line that Vic sang and we did it often in my early days of calling. I had to take the music up +5 to put it in my range, but it was worth it to sing with Vic.
With a nice cut of the song already available, this tune wasn’t on my radar or any of my wish/idea lists. And then we did some remodeling in our house. One of the perks I gave myself was a bathroom fan with built-in Bluetooth and Alexa. The first time I asked it to play music for me, the playlist included a version of this song with a voice that was clearly James Taylor on the harmony and a voice I knew (but couldn’t place) singing melody. A quick google search informed me that JT was singing with Art Garfunkel. I’m ashamed I didn’t recognize his voice but in my defense, Art usually sang harmony. It was a beautifully simple acoustic cut of “Crying in the Rain” with some very interesting harmony turns and it mesmerized me.
Of course, that translated to working on a new arrangement and getting a rough track from Jimmy. This is a very different feel than the Rhythm Records track. If it wasn’t, what would be the point? We inserted the bridge of the song in the middle break and closer, and used a completely different rhythm track.
Before I pulled the trigger on the rough track from Jimmy, I had Vic’s assurance that he would sing the harmony for my track. He “condition” was that he would do the male range cut and I would sing the harmony for him. Deal! Jimmy helped us track JT’s harmony line and gave us each a harmony practice version. Now that it’s finished, I’m thrilled with the results. I LOVE this song, and now I get to sing it with Vic any time I choose! (And so can you!) Of course, if the female range track is out of your vocal reach, then you’re stuck singing with me.
CHIC 1082 in the male vocal range features the vocal by Staff Caller, Vic Kaaria.
CHIC 2082 in the female vocal range features Producer, Shauna Kaaria.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!
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Written by Shauna
September Release - "I Can See Clearly Now"

“I Can See Clearly Now” was written and first recorded by Johnny Nash with a June 1972 release. After making modest chart advances for a month, the single unexpectedly took only two weeks to vault from No. 20, to No. 5, to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining at the top of that chart for four weeks
This song has been on our “possibles” list for many years, with no impetus to pull the trigger on production. Enter Jack and Tony. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a guest at the first TOTL Recordings’ school and recording session last May. I happened to be sitting next to Tony at dinner one evening when Jack sent him a link to the Karen Peck version of this song. I immediately fell in love with it and was totally bummed that it was in Tony’s hands. I jokingly picked up my phone as if I was logging into the producer’s “clearing house” and said to Tony, “Chic reserves ‘I Can See Clearly Now.’” Tony, being Tony, asked if I really wanted it. I honestly told him that it had been on my list, but I hadn’t pulled the trigger yet. Having heard this new version, I would LOVE to cut it. He replied “it’s yours.”
Since the text came from Jack, I suggested to Tony that maybe I could steal Jack for the vocal. A few text messages later, and Jack was on board. He took the rough track for a lot of test drives (I even got to hear one and sing some harmony in Evansville), and then he gave us a great vocal for the final cut.
I reached out to Staff Caller, Deborah Carroll-Jones for the female range track. This was a great song choice for her, and she nailed it!
Wikipedia lists “reggae” as the genre for the Johnny Nash version of the tune, and he was certainly inspired by that genre when he wrote the song. The Karen Peck version emphasized that rhythm even further, and then added a really cool Latin vibe with a catgut guitar and mandolin. Those two things, along with the beautiful harmonies on their track are what we tried to capture with our release. Jimmy’s guitar and mandolin work is absolutely beautiful. Credit where credit is due, my silent partner/favorite caller-on-sabbatical also loves this song but was unable to attend the session. Jimmy and I sent him an almost finished track and Vic suggested that we take the catgut melodies/fills and add a harmony line to them (a very latin style of playing). Listen to the beautiful melody lines on figures 2 and 4 and try to imagine the track without that harmony. One of the many reasons I don’t really let my silent partner be silent.
As for the finished music, two insiders (nameless people who got an early preview) both independently stated that this may be one of the best cuts yet from Chic Recordings. I hope that’s true because starting our eighth year and still improving is music to my ears!
CHIC 1081 in the male vocal range features the vocal by Jack Pladdys, courtesy of Royal Records.
CHIC 2081 in the female vocal range features Staff Caller, Deborah Carroll-Jones.
To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.
Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!