The King's Singers - Circle Of Life (1996)

The fabulously musical Kings Singers visit the realm of popular music in this recording of "timeless songs from famous movies." Their stellar blend flourishes when the Kings apply their close-harmony arrangements to a cappella versions of "Kokomo," "Everything I Do," "The Rose," and "Groovy Kind of Love." The recording falls short, however, when the group tackles songs that highlight a solo voice. Songs like "Wind Beneath My Wings," "I Will Always Love You," and "The Time of My Life" demand the distinctive interpretive character of a Whitney Houston or Bette Midler to enliven the music's passion. The Kings Singers have spent so much time perfecting the art of ensemble blending, that they've lost the ability to be successful soloists. The weakest arrangement is that of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die." The soloist struggles with intonation and audibly battles the tessitura of the ascending line. (Who would've thought that the former Beatle was such a flawless lyrical tenor?) Still, when the voices embark on what they do best--function as a vocal orchestra--the result is delightful. -- Barbara Eisner Bayer