A Champagne Medley from '63

From this 1963 black & white episode, here's the boys in the band with a medley of songs done in Champagne Style starting with Swinging Down the Lane, followed by Linger Awhile and finishes up with Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree.

And watch out for featured performances by Bill Page, Kenny Trimble, Bob Ralston, Dick Cathcart and Don Bonnee!

A Champagne Medley from '63

Frank Scott Plays Harpsichord

As plenty of us Welk fans know, Frank Scott was a multi-talented keyboardist and arranger for the Lawrence Welk Orchestra from 1956 to 1969.

The native son of Fargo, North Dakota was a natural playing the piano, harpsichord and the Vox.

Perhaps the greatest example of his work came from his 1962 Dot Records album Frank Scott Plays Harpsichord

Each and every of the tracks is a instrumental gem, like Boogie Woogie, Yankee Doodle Rag and Woodchopper's Ball just to name a few. You can find the album at a vintage record shop near you or search on ebay or any fine reputable online auction site.

In the meantime, here's two of the tracks from the album you can have a sample with.

CARMEN'S BOOGIE

KITTEN ON THE KEYS

Frank Scott Plays Harpsichord

Things go better with Skokiaan

From 1968, here's the boys in the band with their rendition of the instrumental piece known to music lovers everywhere as just one word.

Skokiaan.

Your featured musicians are Frank Scott at the Vox, Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on bass guitar, Bob Davis and Dave Edwards on clarinet, Johnny Klein on drums and Jack Imel at the marimba.

Things go better with Skokiaan

Buddy's Boogie

Straight from the Silver Champagne Era, here's Buddy Merrill on his Fender Stratocaster playing the ever-popular "Buddy's Boogie".

 

Buddy's Boogie

In a Persian Market

Here's the boys in the band from 1956 as they all put on their Sunday best and go shopping in a Persian Market!

 

In a Persian Market

This Day in Welk History: Lawrence Welk Tops The Charts

It was exactly fifty years ago today on February 13, 1961 that one of the greatest milestones in Welk history took place.

The Maestro's instrumental version of Calcutta became the Number One song in America for the week according to the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

And it played an important role in Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan getting on the show, where they became important members of the Musical Family.

And here's Bobby and Barbara from '61 dancing to Calcutta!

This Day in Welk History: Lawrence Welk Tops The Charts

Play Misty for us Dave

On this date, Dave Edwards...Welk's fine first chair saxophone player was born

Let's celebrate his birthday by watching him in the solo spot playing "Misty"
 

Play Misty for us Dave

Makin' Whoopie with One Huge Sax

From 1958, here's Bill Page out from the reeds section playing "Makin' Whoopie" with one gigantic saxophone.

Man, that thing is huge!

Makin' Whoopie with One Huge Sax

Galveston was never a pain in the brass

Galveston was one of the first Lawrence Welk albums I bought and to this day, it's still one of my favorites

 

It's got that big brassy sound provided by the Champagne Music Makers, especially from the horn section plus some great guitar and keyboard work as well.

Several of the songs covered are just a few of the many hit songs that Glen Campbell made famous.

 

Here are a few cuts from the album for your listening pleasure....

 

Galveston....the title track (Glen Campbell)

 

Honey....first made famous by Bobby Goldsboro

 

And finally....Gentle On My Mind (Rhinestone Cowboy Glen again)

Galveston was never a pain in the brass

Love Is Blue

Here's the Champagne Music Makers performing those beautiful sounds that is the instrumental known as "Love Is Blue"

Love Is Blue

Play Misty for me

Courtesy of our friends from YouTube, here's Dave Edwards with his saxophone solo of "Misty" from 1973.

Play Misty for me

Ghost Riders in the Sky

Here's another classic B&W musical number that's a real treat! From 1961, Neil Levang plays "Ghost Riders In The Sky" on his guitar along with some nice vocal backing by the singers.

And I betcha you never knew that Sinclair Oil also was a sponsor of the Welk Show too!

Ghost Riders in the Sky

Learn the Three B's of music

Do you know what the Three B's are? It's not the Boss, Beatles and the Beach Boys...nor is it Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult and the B52s.

Gail Farrell in this 1973 clip from "Themes From The Classics" will explain and demonstrate!

Learn the Three B's of music

Apples and Bananas

Anyone want some fresh apples and bananas? I don't mean the fruit, but instead this nice Welk instrumental from 1965, courtesy of YouTube, performed by Jerry Burke at the organ along with the rest of the Champagne Music Makers.

Apples and Bananas

Wabash Cannonball

Here's one of my all-time favorite instrumentals by the Welk orchestra, Wabash Cannonball from 1966 with Dick Cathcart on trumpet, Neil Levang on guitar, Frank Scott at the harpischord with some great backing by both the string and trombone sections!

Wabash Cannonball

Calcutta

Calcutta, as Welk fans know, became the Welk Orchestra's first very big hit single which reached Number One on the music charts in 1961. It has a really great beat that everyone can dance to!

From 1964, here's the Maestro, with a rare early appearance by George Cates, in the recording studio ready to record the song.

Calcutta

If Lou Reed met Lawrence Welk...

This particular video I found is really trippy. It's alleged that Lou Reed's Velvet Underground made an "guest" appearance on the Lawrence Welk Show.

See it for yourself, it's rather interesting and a bit of fun!

If Lou Reed met Lawrence Welk...