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Hello World? Goodbye World!

My first album

Status: Released! Woohooo!

Album Cover - Front Album Cover

Whew… it’s done! I can’t say that it was really on my bucket list. In fact, not too many years ago, it was probably on my list of “top things I would never do”. I have never liked singing for people by myself but I have enjoyed singing and harmonizing within groups. I had some great times singing with my college quartet but after graduating, I never found the time, or three more guys with which to sing. So, I had to resort to singing songs with myself (I know… that’s so sad). Over the next couple of decades, I would grab the church hymnal, or songs that I had arranged, and record all four parts by myself which was very satisfying. I, of course, didn’t let anyone listen to those recordings.

Fast forward to 2016... I directed a small chorus in Greenville and helped the guys with the tough songs by making audio learning tracks. In other words, I was recording and singing with myself again. This was also a big step for me because it was the first time I let others listen to my 4-part recordings.

With this new interest in recording, I started obtaining and arranging tougher music to sing and started using better recording equipment. At this point, I had a few songs completed and I said to myself, “Your stuff isn’t totally awful. You could make an album.” I was hesitant about people hearing me sing, but I was also intrigued by the thought of completing an album. Well, I finally talked myself into it. I went online and learned about licensing, mixing, mastering, etc. Next step: What kind of album did I want to create.

When I was in the Texas A&M Singing Cadets in college, we sang both religious music and secular music in each half of our show. Since I have always liked that format, I decided to do something similar and create an album whose theme transitioned from worldly to heavenly, to represent people that live their life in, and of the world, but later turn to God and spiritual things; Hence the album title: Hello World? Goodbye World!

Part 1 features a light-hearted opener, “The Muppet Show”. The rest of Part 1 symbolically (humorously) represents themes of a cruel (“Cruella De Vil”, “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park”, “After You've Gone (I'll Find Out Where You Are)”) and materialistic world that can let you down (“1927”).

Part 2 of the album shows the transition of deciding to leave the things of the world
behind (“Goodbye, World, Goodbye”), to live a life of good works, and love (“Love Is
the Key”), with the goal of going to heaven (“Heavenly Mix”, “Ride the Chariot”),
and ultimately getting to heaven (“Your First Day in Heaven”).

I hope it entertains and encourages you.
Ritchie Thompson

Song Type

Notes
Hello, World?    
The Muppet Show Theme Uptune An arrangement spanning 3 complete octaves. Anyone remember this old televised program? It was... "like a kind of torture to have to watch the show"
Cruella De Vil Uptune From Disney's 101 Dalmations
Poisoning Pigeons In the Park Comedic Waltz Disturbing song.
After You've Gone (I'll Find Out Where You Are) Comedic Uptune

I wrote a second verse and a couple of additional choruses to this 100-year old song (After You've Gone - 1918) to make it a parody. No, this was not a personal experience.
1927 Uptune

From that iconic year of 1927... things were going great that decade... until 'it' happened.
Goodbye, World!    
Goodbye, World, Goodbye Religious Uptune An awesome arrangement by one of the best arrangers in the business, David Wright. I will have to get someone to play this at my funeral.
Love Is they Key Religious Uptune A moving (as in upbeat), catchy tune that I originally wrote for a small kids' church chorus, but then adapted to four-part harmony. This arrangement also spans 3 octaves with a rumbling bass note towards the end.
Heavenly Mix Religious I arranged this song to be a mix of songs about heaven that each of my family members could perform on the album. It's a variation of the traditional devotional tune with more songs (9 individual songs). Artists: Ritchie Thompson, Toby Thompson, Susan Thompson, Sarah (Thompson) Jay, Tanya (Thompson) Murrow, Corbin Murrow, Drew Harris
Ride the Chariot Religious Uptune Few lyrics in the song itself but the upbeat arrangement keeps it moving.
Your First Day In Heaven Religious Uptune Another great arrangement (and another song to play at my funeral).

To order this album, use the contact link to email Ritchie and specify your format of choice:

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