Country & Western '68

Grab your partners and let's Do Si Do with this week's Lawrence Welk episode, a salute to Country & Western Music from 1968!

Here are the highlights from El Rancho Escondido....

Lynn Anderson tells Larry Hooper to pull her finger

Joe Feeney teaches the boys and girls how to properly put a Stetson on Dick Dale's head....

.....and Bob Lido is the NRA

COUNTRY & WESTERN HOEDOWN - March 9, 1968

1. SQUARE DANCE - Jimmy, Andra, Bobby, Cissy, Bob (Ralston), Lynn, Dick, Norma and musicians
2. AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET? - Frank Scott at the harpsichord, Charlotte Harris on cello, Myron Floren on the PAN accordion and the string section
3. THE WAYWARD WIND - Norma Zimmer
4. THERE AIN'T GONNA BE NO ANOTHER TIME - Lynn Anderson with musicians and chorus
5. DON'T FENCE ME IN - Bob Ralston at the piano

 
6. GOODNIGHT IRENE - Joe Feeney with the whole cast with Myron Floren at the accordion and Buddy Merrill on guitar
7. MEDLEY: I'M A LONG, TALL TEXAN/TURKEY IN THE STRAW - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
8. THE TENNESSEE WALTZ - Natalie Nevins
9. SAN ANTONIO ROSE (Rose of San Antone) - Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang on guitars
10. THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with Neil Levang on banjo

11. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY - Jimmy Roberts
12. ANYTIME - Andra Willis
13. HERE COMES HEAVEN - Steve Smith
14. JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE - danced by Arthur Duncan
15. I'M WALKIN' THE FLOOR OVER YOU - Tanya Falan

16. IF I COULD SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD - Dick Dale
17. WABASH CANNONBALL - orchestra featuring Frank Scott on harpischord, Neil Levang on guitar. Dick Cathcart on trumpet and the string section
18. AUCTIONEER SONG - Larry Hooper
19. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE - Sandi Griffiths & Sally Flynn
20. JUST BECAUSE - Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on accordion with Richard Maloof on tuba
21. RAGTIME COWBOY JOE - Bob Lido

This is the last episode of the 2009-10 Welk PBS season, and it's also the last "new" episode for a year....so starting next week, it's all repeats.

When this episode was first aired on ABC, Lynn Anderson was beginning her ascent to Country Superstar as Lawrence mentioned that she was the recipient of the Academy of Country & Western Music's Top Female Vocalist of 1967 with hits such as "Ride, Ride, Ride" and "Promises, Promises".

  
Tonight's show was also bittersweet and heartfelt with Natalie Nevins' recent passing, I must admit that her rendition of The Tennessee Waltz left yours truly misty-eyed and with a heavy heart.

But on a happier note, it was neat to see the girls surprise the Maestro with a birthday cake and the singing of the Happy Birthday song. These impromptu and unscripted moments make the show worth watching.

And there will be more milestones and memories to follow in the seasons to come.

  
So as we get ready for a new season of Welk....full of repeats....keep a song in your heart and if you don't explain to your kids about square dancing, who will?

Country & Western '68