The blogmaster's fantasy Welk episode: Songs from Godspell

Religious and Inspirational Songs have always been an staple of the Lawrence Welk Show. I'm sure that in popular culture, the fusion of religion, rock music and the hippie-youth counterculture of the early 1970s with Broadway Musicals such as "Jesus Christ Superstar" and pop sings like Ocean's "Put Your Hand In the Hand" would give the Maestro ideas of attracting the young viewers that televison coveted.

Which led me to this installment of this version of my fantasy Welk Show episode. By using one of the popular religious youth oriented rock operas from Broadway....Godspell!

If the Champagne Music Makers sang the songs from the stage show, and later on the big screen, the playlist would like this....

1. OPENING-PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD - orchestra with lead vocals by Jimmy Roberts and backing by Joe Feeney, Ken Delo, Dick Dale, Bobby Burgess, Guy Hovis, Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger, Sandi Griffiths, Sally Flynn, Ralna English and Cissy King
2. SAVE THE PEOPLE - Clay Hart on guitar
3. DAY BY DAY - Ralna English
4. LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL - orchestra with Bob Ralston at piano
5. ALL FOR THE BEST - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
6. O BLESS THE LORD - Guy Hovis & Ralna English

7. ALL GOOD GIFTS - Joe Feeney
8. LIGHT OF THE WORLD - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Cissy King, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel followed by guitar solos by Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang
9. TURN BACK O' MAN - Tanya Falan with supporting vocal by Jimmy Roberts
10. ALAS FOR YOU - Ken Delo
11. BY MY SIDE - Mary Lou Metzger, Gail Farrell and Sally Flynn

12. BEAUTIFUL CITY - the orchestra with Myron Floren on accordion
13. WE BESEECH THEE - Norma Zimmer
14. ON THE WILLOWS - trumpet solo by Johnny Zell
15. FINALE - lead vocal by Jimmy Roberts and backing by both male and female choruses
16. DAY BY DAY (REPRISE) - Ralna, Gail, Mary Lou, Cissy, Tanya, Sandi, Sally, Norma, Guy, Dick, Ken, Arthur, Bobby, Jimmy, Joe, Clay

Personally, I think an episode like this would be a winner. Day By Day is one of my favorite songs from the show and Ralna would be perfect singing it.

Keep a song in your heart and you are always the light of the world!