Top Tunes Karaoke Introduction
Here is a collection of karaoke discs that would be very expensive to collect. That is because there are so many. What a fantastic effort by the Top Tunes Karaoke people!
With so many karaoke discs produced, loads are up for sale online. Indeed, they are abundant and reasonably cheap.
However, you need to know how they perform before you take the plunge and buy any. Hopefully, our information and reviews will help you decide.
Before we start, do you think they would have made so many discs if they were no good at their job? Read this info and reviews page carefully, and at the end, you’ll understand this karaoke label better. Like most firms producing numerous karaoke discs, song duplication is rife across the series.
Top Tunes has more dupes than most other labels. However, the solution to this is changing to digital. For example, we see Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow on the disc list eight times. Our digital books list the song twice (one version has guide vocals).
Turn your collection into a digital one, eliminate dupes, and save hard disk space. You can also save on printing paper and ink.
Karaoke Glory Days
When karaoke first became popular in the nineties (1990s) and the noughties (2000s), many firms started to produce CDGs (compact discs plus graphics). Karaoke discs flooded the marketplace, and while some firms fell at the first hurdle, some continued.
With a catalogue as massive as theirs, they continued to make discs. Their effort was decent, of course. But like most other karaoke firms from that era, they bit the dust. However, their legacy remains in the number of CD+G discs under their name.
The Top Tunes Karaoke discs are no longer in production since the bubble burst during the golden age of karaoke. However, let’s crack on with the information and reviews.
Top Tunes Karaoke Discs
Be aware that there are many duplications in this TT collection. This sometimes happens when karaoke firms release various series or ‘packs’. Our list of discs and songbooks can help eliminate dupes. Thereby helping to save you time, money and space!
There are a few series in the Top Tunes collection, as follows:
- 60s Pack (TT60P)
- 70s Pack (TT70P)
- 80s Pack (TT80P)
- Country Pack (TTCP1)
- Fun Pack (TTFP)
- Main Series (TT001 – TT272)
- Multiplex (TTM)
- Rock Pack (TTRP)
- Teen Pack (TTTP)
- Tune Pack (TTTUP)
- Wedding Pack (TTWP)
Before you see the songbook for this karaoke label, we publish a list of the Top Tunes Karaoke disc ID numbers (prefixes). However, some karaoke jockeys (KJs) list these CDGs differently. Most have the prefix ‘TT’, but many KJs still use ‘TU’. For our listing, we chose ‘TT’. That is because everyone who sent us their lists used TT, not TU.
You may download the list of discs above, but the songbooks are available to members only. So, why not join us? Using our songbooks and the list of discs above will help you avoid the dupes in this series. So, why not join us?
Top Tunes Karaoke Review
With a boatload of CDGs available, we decided to sample songs from the 1960s for reviewing. To begin with, we noticed that the splash screen is bright and bold. That screen has the name of the karaoke label. It also shows the song title and the key with which to start singing.
The backing music chosen was excellent in our samples. The on-screen lyrics lag slightly, although they are perfectly legible.
In our opinion, on-screen graphics on karaoke songs should be slightly ahead rather than behind a little.
The splash screen, backdrops, and on-screen lyrics vary in colour and are perfectly acceptable. The artwork on the sleeves and CDGs is slightly different. Some are decent, and we liked what we saw.
Top Tunes Karaoke MPX Anomaly
Top Tunes Karaoke has some discs with guide vocals. Of course, the Multiplex (MPX) discs are clear enough, with half traditional karaoke tracks and the other half having guide vocals.
However, the main TT series has a scattering of MPX tracks on some discs. Indeed, you will see two or three tracks with guide vocals at the end of some discs, sometimes classified as bonus tracks.
We can’t recall any other manufacturer doing something similar. So, that makes Top Tunes unique in that way. The ‘B’ discs appear to have MPX tracks, but not all. Indeed, there is a scattering of guide-vocal tracks where the leading singer is central. In those cases, the singer stays prominent. In other words, the lead vocals can’t be turned off.
Of course, a suitable machine will have a switch to turn off the MPX vocals. However, we recommend using the traditional karaoke track. We say that because, in most cases, switching off the Multiplex track will result in a mono playback.
Karaoke Sample
Although we may use numerous songs for the review, we only provide one sample video to represent the label. So, the song sample for our video presentation is TT221-03 – Sam Cooke – Cupid.
Videos are subject to change!
Our Verdict
- On-screen Lyrics: 3.5
- Music Content: 4.5
- Splash Screen, Graphics, Video: 4
- Cover Art: 4
- Overall Average: 4
- Music And Lyrics Average: 4
We gave this collection 4 out of 5 in the rating system below. You can also vote for these, even if you don’t have the discs or tracks. Indeed, all you need to do is watch our presentation video above and judge that.
Desirability Factor
Karaoke Info staff can think of better collections, but these are average. The main series runs in sequence, and that is great for collectors. For the casual collector, they are acceptable for gigging and home use. Remember also that complete sets hold their value. So, if a whole set comes your way cheaply, grab it.
Of course, we cannot possibly test every song from all the discs in this collection. So, if you have any, please leave your opinions below.
To Sum Up
We never rest on our laurels here at Karaoke Info. That is why we allow you to post your thoughts and opinions. We didn’t particularly like this collection, but what is your view?
If you have any Top Tunes Karaoke discs, please consider telling us about your experiences using them.
Your input will help future karaoke collectors, of course. For instance, do you agree with our review? Alternatively, do you disapprove of our assessment?
When we checked the internet in 2014, these Top Tunes Karaoke discs were still flooding online auction websites. Besides, they were very cheap as well.
In conclusion, the above list of karaoke discs looks mouthwatering, but we didn’t get overly excited when we sampled them. However, they do have a beautiful sequence of prefixes. With this in mind, some karaoke disc collectors would love to own the whole lot. Even though we believe that the on-screen lyrics lag a little, a good karaoke machine can remedy this.
As with all other karaoke labels that release ‘packs’, be aware they will be from the main series. An avid collector may go for these packs just for the sake of it, but for the majority of us, they will be a waste of space.
Top Tunes Karaoke Songbook (Discs & Digital)
Now that you have the Top Tunes Karaoke disc prefixes above, you also need the tracklist. Indeed, we list the disc ID, artist and song title for you to cross-reference in our comprehensive songbook.
Furthermore, at over 100 pages long, the Top Tunes Karaoke songbook shows how fruitful the firm was at releasing CDGs. However, there are many dupes across the series. Therefore, changing to a digital format makes sense. Where possible, we use the original manufacturer’s prefix.
Our digital karaoke songbooks eliminate dupes. They will also save your resources, like paper ink and hard disk space. In short, click the link below to access the songbook.
Rate This Karaoke Label
Finally, if you have any experience with discs or tracks from this Top Tunes collection, please leave a review here or in the Karaoke Forum. You can also use the star rating system below, even if you only use our presentation video as a guide. Indeed, by doing this, you can help others decide whether these discs are worth buying!
Overall Rating
The ratings here represent your score and our score combined. So, make sure you have your say.
Independent Reviews
The following reviews are independent and not necessarily the views of the Karaoke Info staff. However, they may help you decide whether to buy or avoid them.
Official Review By Julie: Top Tunes Karaoke.
Hi, my name is Julie, and I conducted the original karaoke review above. Whether you agree or disagree, you can leave your review below.
These are on my wishlist.
I wish the whole lot would come available all at once on the cheap!
A tasty sound collection!
Leave A Review
Leave your thoughts and opinions about this karaoke label here. Before doing that, please use the yellow star rating button and give marks out of five. There is also a comments section below for other remarks.