Chic Recordings...Answering the call!

 

You CAN have it both ways!

 

Today's square dance music market is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition.  Chic's goals are to produce singing calls in a variety of music styles; stay true to the original song; and release the music in two separate keys, one for male callers, and one for female callers. The second key is not simply a re-pitched version of the first. All the live instruments and background vocals are done twice to maintain the quality of the recordings.

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Written by Shauna

June Release - "Similau (See-Me-Low)"

 “Similau (See-Me-Lo)” was a 78 RPM single recorded by Peggy Lee and released on Capitol Records in 1949. It has recently reached a brand-new audience, being featured on the soundtrack of a television commercial for Samsung. In fact, it has been called “the TV spot that launched a million Shazam searches.” The song caught the attention of my favorite caller, and myself, while watching TV one evening, and I put it on our “possibles” list. Shortly after, I received an email from Chic Recordings Staff Caller, Deborah Carroll-Jones, also suggesting the song. That was all it took for me to pull the trigger on the producton, and into the studio we went. Jimmy and I had a blast with his box of percussive instruments, using many to make this cool rhythm track groove in all the right ways.

As I was doing some research on the song, I came across a quote from Isaiah Serer who directed the Samsung commercial, and it resonated deeply with me. He said, “Everyone’s scared to do old tracks in commercials, but our philosophy is, if we find something timeless, but also speaks to the moment, then we have a total winner.” It resonated so deeply, I believe, because it conveyed the way I feel about choosing songs to produce for Chic Recordings. We are always looking for something new, but the “timeless tracks” often find a way to “speak to the moment” (and to me) and demand to be produced. Hopefully this one will be a “total winner.”

I had been waiting for just the right song to invite Justin Russell to record a guest vocal. As I was pondering which male voice would be the best fit, I realized that this was the right song for Justin. Thankfully, he agreed, and he recorded the vocal exactly the way I imagined it to be. Justin appears courtesy of Royal Records. As always, I appreciate their support!

As previously mentioned, “Similau” was suggested by Deborah Carroll-Jones, and there was no way anyone else was going to record the vocal for the female key. I challenged her to “go all Peggy Lee” with it, and she did just that! She even got creative with some “limbo” choreography. We are so lucky to have Deborah’s talents as part of the Chic Recordings staff!

CHIC 1042 in the male vocal range features the great vocal from Justin Russell (courtesy of Royal Records).

CHIC 2042 in the female vocal range features Staff Caller Deborah Carroll-Jones singing a vocal that would make Peggy Lee proud.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

May Release - "Till the Rivers All Run Dry"

 “Till the Rivers All Run Dry” is a classic Don Williams ballad, written by Don (along with Wayland Holyfield). The song was released in December of 1975 and quickly climbed the charts to the Number One position. Don’s smooth and soft-toned voice, along with his height of 6’1”, earned him the nickname “Gentle Giant.” Throughout his career, Don Williams was best-known for his beautiful ballads, always sung from the heart. Don Williams stopped touring in March of 2016, and he passed at home in Mobile, Alabama on September 8, 2017. This release is our tribute to the “Gentle Giant” and his musical legacy.

With Steve Moore on staff, Chic Recordings is blessed to have our own “Gentle Giant.” Steve’s voice has a similar smooth, soft-toned sound, and he really shines in this Country ballad lane. As the producer, I had goosebumps listening to him record in the studio, and when he finished and added the “I love you baby” to his wife (who was sitting nearby as he was recording), my little heart just melted. It was my extreme pleasure to add a few harmony tracks to this beautiful song that was originally released on an album titled “Harmony.”

The real magic and beauty of music lies in the fact that it can be so personal and speak different things to each person who listens. It may be due to Mother's Day, or her approaching birthday, but for me, this beautiful “I’ll be needing you” message brings tender feelings of my mother who left this world not that long ago. A few years after her own mother passed, my mother shared with me how frequently she still felt the need to call and talk to her. I get it, Mom. I totally get it. I’ll never stop needing you. Happy Mother's Day!

CHIC 1041 in the male vocal range features the beautiful vocal from Chic Staff Caller, Steve Moore.

CHIC 2041 in the female vocal range features my tribute to my mother.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

April Release - "Oh Happy Day"

 “Oh Happy Day” was recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers in 1967. This was a new gospel music arrangement of an 18th-century hymn, and quickly became an international hit, landing in the top 5 of musical charts all over the world. Hawkins’ new arrangement has since been covered by many recording artists and was also featured in the film, Sister Act 2. Somehow, this song had never been translated to a square dance singing call (that we could find), and we decided it was about time it joined the square dance gospel music catalog. It’s the icing on the cake that we were able to release this song on Easter Sunday. “Oh Happy Day,” indeed!

Once we decided to adapt “Oh Happy Day” for a singing call, I knew this was the perfect song to feature the talents of the entire Chic Recordings Staff. It took some doing to get all the vocals gathered, and wasn’t without some hiccups along the way, but you’ll hear why I feel so blessed to have such talented callers in the Chic Recordings family. The Chic family wouldn’t be complete without the talents of Jimmy Mac. It’s his unique skill set that pulled all the tracks together, played the amazing music to go with it, built the background vocal “wall of sound” (which included singing some of the BGV himself), and once again made what I believe is some Chic magic.

CHIC1040 in the male vocal range features the vocal talents of the Chic Recordings men.

CHIC2040 in the female vocal range features the vocal talents of the Chic Recordings women.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

March Release - "Love is Strange"

 This month we add another song to our "Duets" catalog. “Love is Strange” was originally released in November 1956 by rhythm and blues duet artists, Mickey and Sylvia. Written by Mickey and Sylvia, along with Bo Diddley, the opening hook of the song was based on a Jody Williams guitar riff. The same guitar riff was also used in the ‘62 song “Rinky Dink.”

Although previously recorded (quite well, I might add) by Chaparral Records, we felt that Chic’s “Duets” series was the perfect place for a remake that would capture the authenticity of the original Mickey & Sylvia hit. As always, Jimmy Mac managed to recreate the sounds of the original, this time using his Gretsch guitar for those iconic blues riffs. We made an effort not to overproduce this cut and capture the simplicity of the original hit.

Chic Recordings Staff Caller, Scott Smith, was the perfect choice to record the male portion of the new duet, as it was his voice that brought the original Chaparral recording to life. The female portion of the duet was recorded by producer, Shauna Kaaria, who also had some fun attempting to capture the feel of the answer-back “Yeah-ays” and “no-o-nos” of the original. Bonus, now she can knock “record a duet with Scott Smith” off her bucket list.

CHIC 3039 a duet suitable for both male and female vocal ranges, features Shauna and Scott's vocal.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, tracks for either vocal range to sing along with the second voice, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

February Release - "Time of the Season" and a

"Time of the Season" sale on love songs!

 We are back to the 60's this February with The Zombie's 1969 hit ,“Time of the Season.” “Time of the Season” is built around the bassline heard in the intro, along with a hand clap and that iconic breathy "ahhhh" vocal. We knew that if we were going to take on this song, we had to be able to replicate the classic intro. It didn’t take long to figure out that Jimmy Mac’s list of talents includes breathing on the beat. Once again, he nailed it! A little bit of Zombie trivia… The famous lyrics, "What's your name, who's your daddy, is he rich like me?" are a nod to the Gershwin standard "Summertime," which The Zombies released on their first album. (That song contains the lyrics, "Your daddy's rich and your mama's good looking.")

Staff Caller Vic Kaaria delivered such a great vocal on our release of the 60’s classic “For What It’s Worth,” we just had to give him the vocal on the male key of this 60’s classic as well. Once again, he perfectly captured the sound and feel of the original.

In January, Chic Recordings welcomed Patty Greene as an official Staff Caller and we quickly put her to work for our February release. We had fast-tracked the production of this song and with a very short window before our deadline, Patty delivered a great vocal with just the feel it required. Background vocals for both courtesy of Shauna Kaaria, with bass assists by Vic Kaaria and Jimmy Mac.

BUT WAIT...there's more! Since February really IS the "time of the season for loving," we are having a "Time of the Season" sale on our love songs. Chic's love songs will be discounted to $6.00 each through Valentine's Day, 2/14/18.

CHIC 1038 in the male vocal range features Vic's awesome vocal.

CHIC 2038 in the female vocal range features the great vocal from Patty.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

January Release - "He Don't Love You"

 “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You)” written by Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and Calvin Carter, was released by Tony Orlando & Dawn in 1975 and quickly became a number one hit. It had previously been a top ten hit for Jerry Butler under its original title, “He Will Break Your Heart.” The song was also recorded by Dolly Parton with a title/lyric change to “She Don’t Love You,” which is just what we’ve done with the vocal for the female key.

Staff Caller, David Mee, was the only choice for a Tony Orlando song. “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” was the first singing call he ever learned, and he used it often in his first caller school. (Yes, there is a story there.) We considered making a Chic version of “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” for David to sing, but it has been done so many times already, we didn’t feel there was anything new we could add. While sorting through old Tony Orlando CD’s we found “He Don’t Love You” and knew it was a great choice for David and he delivered a great vocal! Background vocals courtesy of Shauna Kaaria

The female key was recorded by Chic's producer, Shauna Kaaria (me), with background vocals courtesy of Shauna and Jimmy Mac.

CHIC1037 in the male vocal range features David's awesome vocal.

CHIC2037 in the female vocal range features the vocal from Shauna.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

December Release - "Greater" Patter

 Our December release is another patter that is truly "Greater" and already receiving positive reviews. One caller said "I just downloaded my new favorite hoedown. Great job!"

The original "Greater" is a song by the Christian group, MercyMe, and was brought to my attention by a recent class member. Using his iPod, I played the song over the speaker during a break at class. I was immediately hooked by the groove, and I wasn't the only one. Many other dancers rushed the stage to ask me the name of the song because they loved it! I went home and purchased the MercyMe track and began using it for patter with a great response from dancers. My girlish voice didn't battle too much with the male vocals on the original track, but a few of the male callers I know who tried to use it for patter didn't have the same success. So...into the studio we went to create an instrumental version that all callers (and dancers) could enjoy. The result is a fun track, full of dance, that will also be an uplift for any dancers who happen to know the original song. If they don't, the beat is gonna grab them anyway!

CHIC4036 (4000 series identifies patters and hoedowns) is a "greater" piece of patter music that starts the feet moving from the first beat.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

Holiday Release - "Santa's Reindeer Ride"

 The holidays are nearly upon us, so here we are with our annual holiday release! We have discovered that finding Christmas songs that have not already been adapted for singing calls can be a challenge. Last year we released "Baby, It's Cold Outside" as a duet, and followed it with Garth Brook's brand new song, "Ugly Christmas Sweater." This year, we step back to 1979 with a cute little Christmas gem by Amy Grant. "Santa's Reindeer Ride" is a catchy and whimsical song we discovered on a Christmas compilation CD. The melody is just so very merry! It had to be a singing call.

The male vocal was recorded by our newest Staff Caller, Scott Smith, and we invited his former Chaparral mate, Ken Bower to join him. What a treat to hear them calling together again! They both embraced the spirit of this fun song. This is Ken's first guest appearance on Chic Recordings, and we certainly hope it won't be his last. Ken and Scott also recorded the harmonies except for a little "la-la-la" help from Shauna Kaaria.

The female key was recorded by Chic's producer, Shauna Kaaria (me), with background vocals courtesy of Shauna and Jimmy Mac.

CHIC1035 in the male vocal range features Scott and Ken's amazing duet.

CHIC2035 in the female vocal range features the vocal from Shauna.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

October Release - "Runaway"

 Our release for October is just a little bit late (there's a good reason we'll explain shortly), but we think you'll find it was worth the wait! "Runaway" is a mega-hit, written and recorded by Del Shannon in 1961, and pretty much recognized simply by the title. When we received an email from one of our customers suggesting Bonnie Raitt's cover as an idea for Chic Recordings, we knew the song by title, but her bluesy rendition was quite a departure from the original cut. It only took one listen to know that yes, the "customer was right," and this rendition of the song needed to be made into a singing call.

We went to work in the studio, and Jimmy Mac did his always amazing job with the music. Similar to our inaugural release of "You're No Good," we went a little more rock/grunge with the male key and more pop/bluesy with the female key. The vocals were recorded and it was ready to go to market by the first of October, but as I listened to the final tracks I realized it was missing a key ingredient. Bonnie's version opens with an amazing blues harmonica riff, and we needed to have it! As luck would have it, I happen to know an amazing blues harp player (worked with him at the day job for many years before he retired), so I reached out and asked if he might be willing to share his talents with Chic. There are not words to describe how thrilled I was when he agreed to play. He matched the style of each key with two different harp sounds, and as soon you hear those opening (and closing) riffs, you'll agree that the wait was worth it. A huge Chic Shout-Out to Michael "Mo" Grundy (pictured above) for coming to our rescue with his incredible talent!

A great song needs a great vocal and we knew that Scott Bennett's voice would be perfect for this bluesy rendition. Even though expectations were high, the vocal track he sent blew us away! This is his fourth guest vocal for Chic Recordings and perhaps his best one to date! Scott appears courtesy of Crest Recordings and we sure appreciate his continued support of Chic Recordings!

The female key was recorded by Chic's producer, Shauna Kaaria (me), with background vocals for both courtesy of Shauna and Jimmy Mac.

CHIC1034 in the male vocal range features Scott's awesome vocal.

CHIC2034 in the female vocal range features the vocal from Shauna.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

September Patter Release - "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly"

 Another patter, another movie theme. This one is perfect for all those Western-themed dances! We start and finish the extended patter track of "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly" with the vibe of the Ennio Morricone original release and sandwich the sound of the 60's hit from Hugo Montenegro in the middle. We blended it all together witih some class Jimmy mac guitar. (Jimmy did some impressive chanting and grunting, too.)

I even got to make a personal contribution to the music. We couldn’t find the right trumpet samples for the classic “wah-wah-wah” of the song, and we happened to have a real trumpet in the studio. It’s been a few years since I’ve played, but after a little warm-up, I managed to get some usable sounds out of it! We didn’t have the right mute, so we improvised with a plastic mug. Way too much fun!

CHIC4033 (4000 series identifies patters and hoedowns) is a fun piece of patter music that your dancers will recognize and love.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube link (to the left) for a preview!

Details
Written by Shauna

September Release - "Here Comes the Sun"

 We had such a positive response to our first two Beatles classics, that we return to the Fab Four for another. “Here Comes the Sun” was written by George Harrison and was introduced on the “Abbey Road” album. Harrison’s songwriting was greatly influenced by Indian classical music, which resulted in a series of unusual time changes in “Here Comes the Sun.” These time changes made translation to the 64-beat/section structure of a singing call a bit of a challenge. We refused to give up, and after an hour and a half in the studio with Jimmy Mac and Vic (not just my favorite caller, but also the biggest Beatles fan I know)…we found an arrangement that made us all happy. It also helps to have the Beatles’ number one fan in the studio while guitars are being recorded. Jimmy had just recorded his final strum, and was setting down the guitar and Vic says… “Uh, Jimmy, you’re not done…you haven’t played the ending riff.” Before we called it a wrap, the ending riff (along with the rest of George’s classic guitar) was played (in both keys), double bass was laid down, the Moog synthesizer was recorded, strings were added, hand claps and background vocals were done, and goosebumps were had (by me).

The Beatles’ number one fan may have been in the studio with us, but as Beatles fans go…Joe Saltel is a close second. Maybe even tied for first! Joe did such a great job with “I Will,” we had to invite him back to record the vocal for this one, too. Joe appears courtesy of Royal Records and we sure appreciate their support and enthusiasm for Chic Recordings!

The female key was recorded by Chic's producer, Shauna Kaaria (me), with background vocal assistance from Jimmy Mac.

CHIC1032 in the male vocal range features Joe's awesome vocal.

CHIC2032 in the female vocal range features the vocal from Shauna.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

August Release - "Fallen"

 It’s nearly Fall and our new release, “Fallen,” is a perfect fit for the season. “Fallen” is a beautiful smooth jazz ballad, recorded by Lauren Wood in 1989. The response from people who have heard it range from: “I don’t think I know this song,” to “I feel like I’ve heard this song, but I can’t remember where,” and then those who know…“It’s ‘Fallen!’ I love that song from ‘Pretty Woman!’” No matter where you fall in the “Fallen” spectrum, the beautiful melody will grab you and stay with you, and it dances like a dream!

We haven’t had a vocal from Mike since “A Summer Song” (a Chic best-seller), which was our second release back in September of 2015. I’ve been waiting for just the right song for his second vocal, and I knew this was it. Mike came into the studio prepared and delivered an amazing vocal. He test-drove the final cut at his class and his students reported they “loved it” and it “dances like butter.” Everyone who has heard this track agrees, this is Mike’s best vocal yet!

The female key was recorded by Renee' Ruud (courtesy of Fine Tune Records). Renee has a beautiful, Karen Carpenter-esque, kind of voice, and I knew it was exactly right for this beautiful song. When she sent me the “Fallen” vocal track, it was every bit as good as I had imagined!.

CHIC1031 in the male vocal range features Mike's vocal.

CHIC2031 in the female vocal range features the vocal from Renee'.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

2nd Anniversary Release - "I Enjoy Being a Girl"

 Wow! Our second Anniversary is upon us and another year is in the books! Where does the time go? Continued thanks for all the support and making our second year a great one! We celebrated our first anniversary with a show tune release, "Whatever Lola Wants," and our second anniversary is no different. (It wasn't by design, but maybe we should make it an anniversary tradition.) "I Enjoy Being a Girl" comes from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Flower Drum Song." The original song was covered many times by popular singers of the day, including Doris Day and Peggy Lee. I was first introduced to this song in 1980 while performing with The Grandland Singers. It has been on the list of possible singing calls since before Chic was officially born, but I just wasn't sure what to do with the male key. The answer turned out to be very simple. We changed the first-person lyric to a third-person perspective, and Ta-Da! It worked!

We took advantage of the fact the David Mee (Chic Staff Caller) and Charlie Robertson (courtesy of Crown Records) were in the studio already, and recorded this second vocal. Add the additional voice of Vic Kaaria (Chic Staff Caller), and it's a tri-fecta of fun! We did have to keep an eye (and ear) on their recordings. They were trying to take some liberties and create their own lyrics. (No, we don't have any outtakes.) Deborah Carroll-Jones (Chic Staff Caller), Patty Greene (courtesy of Royal Records), and I have been dreaming about doing a singing call together, and with this song that dream finally came true. Both Deborah and Patty embraced the song, but in completely different ways. It was so fun to hear their interpretations and then throw in a bit of my own to round out the trio.

CHIC1030 in the male vocal range features Vic and Dave and Charlie (as stated above). They did manage to get their own names into the lyrics.

CHIC2030 in the female vocal range features the vocal from Deborah, Patty, and I.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

July Release - "Rolling Along"

 Our July release is a brand new country song from The Mavericks! It holds the distinction of being the first Mavericks song to include a banjo, along with a bit of a zydeco sound. The song rolls along, just as the title suggests, with a simple melody and a simple message. It was debuted at the National Square Dance Convention in Cincinatti, OH, with immediate positive reviews.

The male key features the amazing voice of former Chaparral recording artist, Scott Smith! Scott recently returned to the calling microphone and we were THRILLED when he agreed to record this vocal for Chic. It was a perfect song choice for Scott's smooth calling style, and he nailed it! We were even more thrilled when Scott agreed to officially join Chic Recordings as our newest Staff Caller.

The female vocal and background vocals were recorded by producer, Shauna Kaaria.

CHIC1029 in the male vocal range features Scott Smith's amazing vocal, with background vocals by Vic Kaaria.

CHIC2029 in the female vocal range features Shauna Kaaria, as stated above.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody and background vocals, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for the two vocal previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

June Bonus Release - "Pink Panther Patter"

 Once again, we turn to Henry Mancini for our patter music inspiration. "The Pink Panther" was written for the 1963 movie of the same name, with the animated Pink Panther cartoon being created for the opening credits.

We had such a positive response to "Baby Elephant Walk" that we couldn't resist creating patter music out of another Mancini classic. Jimmy Mac did a great job of capturing the feel of the original and laying it on top of a solid dance beat. And he nailed that saxophone melody!

CHIC4028 (4000 series identifies patters and hoedowns) is a fun piece of patter music that your dancers will recognize and love.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube link (to the left) for a preview!

Details
Written by Shauna

June Release - "Seein' My Father in Me"

 Happy Father's Day! June was the perfect time to release this classic Paul Overstreet song. “Seein’ My Father in Me” was written by Paul Overstreet and Taylor Dunn, and first released in early 1990. I loved the song back then, but I had not heard or thought about it for quite some time. Hearing another song with a similar message brought this one back to the forefront of my memory. After a single listen, I knew that it would be Chic Recordings’ June release for Father’s Day. A week and two studio sessions later, it was finished.

Steve Moore is Chic Recordings’ first Staff Caller, and I had been searching for just the right song for his next vocal. Steve can sing anything but he really shines in the Country lane, so the minute the decision was made to produce “Seein’ My Father in Me” I knew it was the perfect choice for him. I sent an excited text message to let him know and got a quick reply saying that he loved the song, but he was afraid he couldn’t sing it. (When your Dad was your best friend, it’s a tough thing to lose him. Songs like this can hit you right in the “feels.”) With a little encouragement, Steve agreed to give it a shot. As you can hear, he delivered a beautiful vocal and the love for his father shines through. Steve kindly agreed to share some pictures of he and his father (and his own son & daughter as well) for our preview video.

The female cut is for my Dad. Although this song was probably meant for Fathers and Sons, there is still a lot of truth in it for Dad’s and Daughters. I treasure the times I’ve spent with my dad, especially our fishing expeditions that began at an early age and continue every summer. While I look more like my mother, there is a LOT of my father in me. I took a few liberties with the lyrics to make it more about what I learned from my father, as opposed to the physical similarities. We finished this song the day before Mother’s Day, so when we all gathered the next day to celebrate my mother (we lost her a few years ago), I played this song for my Dad. His reaction was a moment I’ll always treasure. I love you, Dad.

CHIC1027 in the male vocal range features Steve Moore's amazing vocal.

CHIC2027 in the female vocal range is my Father's Day gift to my Dad..

The background vocals for both keys were recorded by Shauna Kaaria and Jim MacDonald.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody and background vocals, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for the two vocal previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

May Release - "Thank You for Being a Friend"

 Having just returned from the annual CALLERLAB convention with so many wonderful and supportive callers and friends, "Thank You for Being a Friend" is a perfect release and message for May! Chic Recordings would not be a reality without the amazing assistance and support of so many wonderful friends!

This song was brought to our attention via the Square Dance Music group on Facebook (keep those great ideas coming), and we couldn't wait to get into the studio to record. We brought in brand-new Chic Staff Caller, David Mee, and Charlie Robertson (courtesy of Crown Records) for the male vocal. The studio was full of fun that day! These guys have been a tremendous support, and they knocked this vocal out of the park!

The lead vocal and backgrounds on the female key were recorded by producer, Shauna Kaaria.

CHIC1026 in the male vocal range features the tag-team vocals of David and Charlie.

CHIC2026 in the female vocal range features Shauna Kaaria.

David Mee added his harmonizing skills to the background vocals for the male key with an assist from Shauna Kaaria on the higher parts. The background vocals for the female key were recorded by Shauna.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody and background vocals, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for the two vocal previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

April Release - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

 "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is my tribute to the fun times playing with the Shakedown Band. This was one of my favorite songs from our “playlist,” and I was thrilled to get most of my bandmates into the studio for the production. Our drummer, Ty Barnes, set up and recorded the drums for this song and did the same great job that he did when we played it live. Vic and I sang our respective background vocals, with Jimmy Mac filling in for Mike Haworth to round out the BGV. Mike was tied up with two separate calling gigs the day we were in the studio and couldn’t make it for recording. Missed you, Mike!

Pat Carnathan’s lead vocal and amazing falsetto used to “wow” the crowd at our gigs, and this vocal recording will do the same. We recognize that not everyone has the ability to sing all those falsetto lines, so Pat recorded a second sample vocal with a more standard rendition. Pat appears courtesy of Shakedown Records.

The vocal range on this song is fairly narrow, and keyed in a place that will make it accessible to most callers (male and female alike), so we chose to release this in a single key. This is especially true if you are not singing the falsetto lines.

CHIC3025 features Pat Carnathan's lead vocals with background vocals by Vic and Shauna Kaaria, and Jim MacDonald.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody and background vocals, and the vocal cut.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for the two vocal previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

March Release - "You're So Vain"

 "You're So Vain" was written and recorded by Carly Simon in 1972. The question of "who was the subject of the song" remains largely unanswered. Simon did finally reveal that each verse was written for a different man, and confirmed that the second verse was about Warren Beatty. She has also adamantly stated that the song was not written about James Taylor, which makes Chic very happy (we are JT fans). "You're So Vain" has never been cut as a singing call prior to now, and we were excited to find a way to make it work!

Hunter Keller (courtesy of Royal Records) returns for his third guest vocal for Chic Recordings. We had this song on the back burner list of "possible singers" when Hunter called suggesting we produce it (and offering to sing). We took it off the back-burner and had the rough cut down by the end of the next studio session.

The female key was recorded by Chic's producer, Shauna Kaaria.

CHIC1024 in the male vocal range features Hunter Keller's great vocal.

CHIC2024 in the female vocal range features Shauna Kaaria.

Both versions include additional background vocals by Shauna Kaaria amd Jim MacDonald.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody and background vocals, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

Details
Written by Shauna

February Release - "Playground in My Mind"

 "Playground in My Mind" was written by Paul Vance and recorded by Clint Holmes in 1973. It is most recognized for its nursery-rhyme chorus that begins, "My name is Michael, I've got a nickel..." After recently hearing this song on a 70's station, we were inspired to make a singing call adaptation.

We knew this song wouldn't be the same without the children's voices, so we reached out to our talented extended family and had our grandniece and grandnephew, 8-year-old Sara and 7-year-old Noah Jackson, record the intro and the chorus. They did a fantastic job and nailed it in both keys.

Tony Oxendine (courtesy of Royal Records) graciously returned for a second guest vocal for Chic Recordings. His voice was a perfect fit for this song and he gave us a fantastic vocal for the male key.

Patty Greene (courtesy of Royal Records) also returns for her second guest vocal for Chic. She delivered what many are calling the "best vocal of her career to date."

CHIC1023 in the male vocal range features Tony Oxendine's vocal, along with Sara and Noah Jackson.

CHIC2023 in the female vocal range features Patty Greene, along with Sara Jackson.

Both versions include additional background vocals by Shauna Kaaria.

To purchase, just head on over to the Chic Boutique for fast and easy mp3 downloads.

Introductory price is $7.50 and includes the music with and without melody and background vocals, and the vocal cut.

Both are being sold separately since they were produced separately.

Click on the youtube links (to the left) for previews!

YouTube Previews