America On The Move

Everyone is on the move, in all walks of life.

That is what America is all about, and it's also this past weekend's Lawrence Welk episode.

And here are the highlights!

Jack Imel fights Snoopy as the Red Baron.....

Dick Dale has gone bananas.....

......and the Orange Blossom Special runs thru a suburban residence.


AMERICA ON THE MOVE - November 1, 1975

1. GOTTA TRAVEL ON - Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Ken, Gail, Jimmy, Anacani, Tom
2. STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Henry Cuesta on clarinet
3. LEAVING ON A JET PLANE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
4. FLY ME TO THE MOON - Tom Netherton with Myron Floren on accordion, Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on bass and percussion work by Jack Imel and Bob Lido

  
5. WHEELS - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
6. LAZY RIVER - the orchestra
7. ON THE ATCHINSON, TOPEKA and SANTA FE - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Anacani and Tanya Falan
8. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM "THE BAND WAGON" - the orchestra
9. CUANTO LA GUSTA - Diane, Donna, Valerie, Jo Ann, Audrey and Michelle Semonski

10. CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - sung and danced by Mary Lou Metzger and Jack Imel with Sandi, Gail and Ken
11. RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
12. TIJUANA TAXI - the orchestra
13. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE - Larry Hooper

14. TAKE THE A TRAIN - tap danced by Arthur Duncan with Sandi, Gail, Ralna and Norma
15. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - Ava Barber
16. THE BANANA BOAT SONG - Dick Dale with Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou
17. CHARLIE ON THE M.T.A - Ken Delo
18. THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THOSE FLYING MACHINES - Larry, Arthur, Bobby, Anacani, Joe, Tom, Tanya, Jimmy, Gail, Guy, Ralna, Mary Lou, Cissy, Norma with Bob Havens on trombone, Jack Imel with percussion work, Richard Maloof on tuba, Russ Klein on saxophone and Charlie Parlato on trumpet

If you're one of the fellow Americans that are on the move, remember the enjoy the journey even with all the traffic and high gas prices.

The Maestro and his Musical Family have been on the move plenty of times over the years, by plane, train and car they toured the country on their concert tours to places across America where they are greeted by loyal fans.

More proof that an America that's on the move is a very good thing.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and keep your feet on the move!

America On The Move

Salute to Jerome Kern '75

As I write, looks like the NCAA tournament's Champagne Region is taking a beating.

Kathie Sullivan's Wisconsin Badgers lost to Cornell, which leaves just Jim Turner's Tennessee Vols going to the Sweet Sixteen.

So let's take our mind off the basketball and onto this week's Welk classic, a Salute to Jerome Kern from 1975!

Highlights from this week's episode include.....

Tom Netherton audtioning to be on The Dating Game

Barney Liddell taking no prisoners with his trombone action.....

.....only to realize that Bob Havens is taking it one step further.

SALUTE TO JEROME KERN - January 11, 1975

1. WHO? - Mary Lou (Metzger), Gail (Farrell), Sandi, Anacani, Arthur, Jimmy (Roberts), Tom, Ken and Joe
2. I WON'T DANCE - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
3. YOU COULDN'T BE CUTER - orchestra with Larry Hooper at the piano 
4. OL' MAN RIVER - orchestra featuring Bob Havens on trombone, Russ Klein on saxophone and Henry Cuesta on clarinet
5. MAKE BELIEVE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English

6. THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME - Tom Netherton with Bob Smale at the piano
7. I'VE TOLD EVERY STAR - orchestra
8. A FINE ROMANCE - Tanya Falan
9. THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT - danced by Bobby & Cissy
10. CAN'T HELP SINGING - Sandi Griffiths on lead vocals with Gail, Mary Lou, Anacani and Ralna

11. LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY - orchestra
12. PURE LOVE - Clay Hart
13. MY BILL - Ralna English
14. SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES - orchestra conducted by George Cates
15. THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS - Ken Delo

16. THIS SONG IS YOU - Joe Feeney
17. YESTERDAYS - Bob Ralston at the Thomas organ
18. LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING - Ava Barber
19. GRANADA - Anacani
20. ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE - the orchestra
21. PICK YOURSELF UP - danced by Arthur Duncan with vocals by Mary Lou, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby, Clay, Sandi, Ken and Gail

Did you know that Lawrence Welk's estate holds all the publishing rights and royalties to Jerome Kern's work? I guess the Maestro really liked Mr. Kern's music so much that he pulled a Victor Kiam.

Also, Mary Lou mentions at the start of the show that on the day they taped the show, it was her birthday so I'm guessing that tape day was November 13, 1974 and aired about two months later on January 11th of 1975.

So until next week, keep a song in your heart and if you get knocked down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again! 

Salute to Jerome Kern '75

America On The Move

The year was 1975, America was crippled with gas shortages and a energy crisis...

Who cares? The Musical Family is on the move regardless, with a salute to transportation that first aired in syndication on November 1st of that year.

Great songs, such as "Red Sails in the Sunset", "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "The Banana Boat Song" will keep your toes a tapping as you gotta travel on.

And since it's a mid-1970s show, it does feature the Semonski Sisters....which by the way today is Michelle Semonski's birthday (Happy Birthday Michelle!)

 

1. GOTTA TRAVEL ON - Bobby, Cissy, Mary Lou, Ken, Anacani, Tom and Gail

2. STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with orchestra

3. LEAVIN' ON A JETPLANE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English

4. FLY ME TO THE MOON - Tom Netherton with Myron Floren on accordion, Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on bass and percussion work by Jack Imel and Bob Lido

5. WHEELS - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King

6. LAZY RIVER - the orchestra
7. ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Gail Farrell, Sandi Griffiths, Tanya Falan and Anacani
8. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM THE SHOW "THE BAND WAGON" - orchestra
9. CUANTO LE GUSTA - The Semonski Sisters
10. CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - sung and danced by Mary Lou Metzger and Jack Imel with Sandi, Gail and Ken

 

11. RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts

12. TIJUANA TAXI - the orchestra featuring Jack Imel and his horn

13. THE RAILROAD COMES THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE - Larry Hooper with comedy assist by Tanya and Anacani

14. TAKE THE "A" TRAIN - danced by Arthur Duncan with Sandi, Gail, Ralna and Norma

 

15. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - Ava Barber
16. THE BANANA BOAT SONG - Dick Dale with Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
17. CHARLIE ON THE MTA - Ken Delo
18. THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES - Larry, Arthur, Bobby, Anacani, Joe, Tom, Tanya, Jimmy, Gail, Guy, Ralna, Mary Lou, Cissy, Norma with Bob Havens on trombone, percussion work by Jack Imel, Richard Maloof on tuba, Russ Klein on saxophone and Charlie Parlato on trumpet

 

EPISODE FACTS: Joe Feeney does not have a solo number, which is rare during his tenure on the show, he only appears in the show's closing number.

 
Hoopie's number, "The Railroad Comes Through the Middle of the House" is a very cute and interesting number. As a youngster, I had dreams of if such a thing ever happened where I lived....most of the time as a nightmare.

It's very doubtful such a thing would happen today, the closest I would think if one would call a subway station his or her home. 

Maybe they can actually give Charlie that nickel so he can finally get off that damn train.

America On The Move

Musical Masterpieces

This week, it's "Musical Masterpieces" from October of 1975 and here are a few highlights from the show!

Here's Tanya Falan and Ken Delo teaming up for "Glow Worm"

Also, here's Tom Netherton singing "Stranger In Paradise"

Always in top form, Anacani with her rendition of "Guadalajara"...

...and here's Johnny Zell with a trumpet solo of "It's All In The Game", he was also the featured interview afterwards as well.

And finally, The Trio with "Bubbles, Baungles and Beads".

Next week is back to the new stuff, "Fashion Hits Through The Years" and from what I hear.....Mary Lou Metzger will be interviewed!

And no, I don't think Mary Lou will conduct the interview this time....although it would make for very interesting television.

Until next week, keep a song in your heart and stay cool!

Musical Masterpieces

Picture of the day (2-21-07)

Dont feel so blue, it's really pretty cool!

From 1975, it's Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Norma Zimmer and Mary Lou Metzger singing "Blue Skies" from the "This Colorful World" episode.

Picture of the day (2-21-07)

This Colorful World

This week, the good folks from public television land gave us "This Colorful World" straight from the Land of Champagne and Polkas. Let's just say it is a colorful show; here's the opening number, "There's a Rainbow on my Shoulder".

Originally aired on January 25, 1975; Sandi Griffiths and her family hosted the wraparounds. She talked mainly about her kids and her husband Brent's carpet business, I wonder what's the name of the company? It's time for me to put a new carpet in my house.

Anyway, back to the show; there were plenty of colorful numbers such as Norma Zimmer's "My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown" and Tom Netherton's "Blue Velvet". Clay Hart did a terrfic job with his acoustic rendition of "Little Green Apples" and Tanya Falan dazzled the studio audience with "Mountain Greenery".

The orchestra instrumentals were terrfic, such as "Deep Purple" and "That Old Black Magic" which was always one of my favorite pieces. As always, one can't get enough of the group numbers...like when the girls got together for "Scarlet Ribbons" with Sandi on lead vocals, Larry Hooper leading Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou for "When the Red, Red Robin comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along" and an exciting "Blue Skies" with Bob Havens on trombone with the girls providing vocals.

Anacani sang "The Moon Was Yellow" and while she sung it well....I always thought the moon was more grayish in color. And of course, Arthur Duncan dancing to "Golden Slippers" in which he actually wore golden slippers!

It was a colorful show filled with a tapestry of clothes made possible by costume guru Rose Weiss, and the songs in the show accented the colors perfectly!

That's all for this week, next week....my PBS station will go into pledge mode while some may get "Hooray for Hollywood", hope you have a chance to polish off the rest of that Thansgiving Turkey and keep a song in your heart.

This Colorful World