Take your best girlie
for a bike ride right on stage
Now ain't that a gas
Dick Dale and Gail Farrell thinks so....
....and so does Mary Lou Metzger and Ken Delo!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Champagne Five - Best covers of Top 40 songs
It's another edition of the Champagne Five coming right at you!
Today, the blogmaster picks his top five favorite Champagne Music Maker covers of Billboard's Top 40 pop songs.
And as Casey Kasem would say....on with the countdown.
No. 4 is Tanya Falan's version of "I Say A Little Prayer" which went to #2 for Dionne Warwick in 1967 and a year later, charted at #10 for Aretha Franklin
At Number 3....Sandi Griffiths' version of "And I Love You So" which peaked at #29 for Perry Como in 1973
Number two on the countdown is the Welk Orchestra's instrumental version of "Georgy Girl" a #2 pop hit for the Seekers which also garnered an Oscar nomination.
And the best Welk cover of a Top 40 pop song? No debate here that Number One is Gail Farrell and Dick Dale with their version of "One Toke Over The Line" which peaked at #10 for Brewer & Shipley in 1971.
Today, the blogmaster picks his top five favorite Champagne Music Maker covers of Billboard's Top 40 pop songs.
And as Casey Kasem would say....on with the countdown.
At Number 5: Ralna English's 1969 cover of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" which went to #3 by Glen Campbell in 1967
No. 4 is Tanya Falan's version of "I Say A Little Prayer" which went to #2 for Dionne Warwick in 1967 and a year later, charted at #10 for Aretha Franklin
At Number 3....Sandi Griffiths' version of "And I Love You So" which peaked at #29 for Perry Como in 1973
Number two on the countdown is the Welk Orchestra's instrumental version of "Georgy Girl" a #2 pop hit for the Seekers which also garnered an Oscar nomination.
And the best Welk cover of a Top 40 pop song? No debate here that Number One is Gail Farrell and Dick Dale with their version of "One Toke Over The Line" which peaked at #10 for Brewer & Shipley in 1971.
Just remember to keep a song in your heart, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars....or in this case bubbles.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Christmas in July
Even though it's still summer, get your Noel on with the Music Makers from 1979!
Just a reminder....only 149 shopping days left!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Champagne Five - Clay Hart fantasy playlist of cover songs
When it comes to carrying a tune with a guitar, nobody is better than the Welk show's own Rhode Island country boy Clay Hart
As a music lover, there are plenty of songs I heard in which one thought crossed my mind....Clay would do a great job if he had a chance to perform it.
Here's my list of the Top Five popular songs that Clay Hart hasn't (to my knowledge) covered but would like to see him do so.
1. Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
2. Taxi by Harry Chapin
3. Fire and Rain by James Taylor
4. Save the People from the Godspell 1971 Off-Broadway cast album
5. Lying Eyes by the Eagles
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Love Is Blue
Here's the Champagne Music Makers performing those beautiful sounds that is the instrumental known as "Love Is Blue"
Friday, July 24, 2009
To The Moon!
To quote a famous bus driver and philosopher known as Ralph Kramden
Looks like Ralna enjoys the view from above....
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Arthur Duncan on KABC from Los Angeles
Just click on the link below to read the article and watch the video!
Famed dancer, Arthur Duncan, shares his skills with the next generation
Shared via AddThis
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday Webpage Maintenance
So far today, I have been working on the main webpage....making some cosmetic changes and doing some much needed maintenance.
One of things I did was eliminated the WELK NEWS DESK section, face it...because of this blog and my presence on Twitter for all Welk news updates, that section just was rendered obsolete.
I also simplied the EPISODE GUIDE link on the main page, it should be easier to navigate.
And I will be adding new pictures in the coming days....stay tuned.
In the meantime, enjoy Buddy Merrill and the boys from 1955 with "Buddy's Boogie"
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Grow Up Love
From her album "Let It Be Me", crank up your speakers and listen to Tanya as she sings "Grow Up Love"
Monday, July 20, 2009
2009-2010 season of Welk
The 2009-2010 season of the Lawrence Welk Show on PBS is hot off the Oklahoma Network's presses!
It all starts September 5th, so far it runs through February 27th so there's more to come later in '10.
First, here's the 13 confirmed repeats from previous shows....
1. Big City USA - airs 9-26-09
2. Season Premiere '76 - airs 10-3-09
3. Farm Show - airs 10-17-09
4. Songs of Perry Como - airs 10-24-09
5. Thanksgiving Special - airs 11-21-09
6. Musical Memories - airs 11-28-09
7. French Show - airs 12-5-09
8. Winter - airs 12-12-09
9. Christmas '72 - airs 12-19-09
10. Tribute to Bing Crosby - airs 12-26-09
11. All Time Favorites - airs 1-23-10
12. Tribute to the Big Bands - airs 1-30-10
13. Fashions & Hits Through the Years - airs 2-20-10
And now what we are waiting for, the brand spanking new episodes!
1. Salute to the USA - airs 9-5-09
2. Salute to the Swing Bands - airs 9-12-09
3. Do You Remember? - airs 9-19-09
4. Highways and Byways - airs 10-10-09
5. Halloween Party - airs 10-31-09
6. Songs of the 70s - airs 11-7-09
7. Movie Songwriters - airs 11-14-09
8. Tribute to Disney - airs 1-2-10
9. County Fair - airs 1-9-10
10. Keep a Song In Your Heart - airs 1-16-10
11. Youman's Salute - airs 2-6-10
12. Love Songs - airs 2-13-10
13. Rhythm is Our Business - airs 2-27-10
From what I know, I think the interview segment is intact...don't know yet whom will be in the hot seat. But I do like the schedule setup, especially in the event of any possible pledge drives around Christmas.
Go to OETA's LAWRENCE WELK PAGE for full details
Now to get my DVR ready to roll!
Boys, let's have some of that Champagne Sound
Jerry Burke
Pete Fountain
Norman Bailey
Bill Page
Pete Lofthouse
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
A Square Dance Haiku
Grab your partner for this one...
All the guys and gals
Two steps forward, two steps back
Let's swing doesy doe
Hear that fiddle play
These kids wanna dance all day
Just have some fun y'all
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Just Walking In The Rain
From the magical wonderland known as You Tube, here's Tiny Little Jr, Larry Hooper and Jerry Burke at the pianos playing "Just Walking In The Rain"
I'm guessing from the streamers shown that this must be the New Year's Eve show from 1956.
By the way, nice hats fellas.
I'm guessing from the streamers shown that this must be the New Year's Eve show from 1956.
By the way, nice hats fellas.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Members of Club 41
All these following Champagne Music Makers were born in the year 1941...
Dave Edwards
Dave Edwards
Peggy Lennon
Bobby Burgess
Guy Hovis
Can you guess which of the four was born first?
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Lennon Sisters in Buckeye Country
My pictures from friday's concert are now online!
Just click on JB MEETS THE LENNONS for all the pictures that took place in Columbus, where Jim Tressel is king.
O-H-I-O!
