Champagne Covers #1

In all the years the Lawrence Welk Show has been on the air, the Musical Family have done covers of very popular hit songs of any genre.

Our crack research team has uncovered some musical gems. Their own unique covers of today's hit pop songs the kids like!

See if you can recognize anyone of them.

 

Champagne Covers #1

By The Time I Get To Phoenix; Tanya's version

We all know that amongst the staple of contemporary pop songs covered on the Lawrence Welk Show, By The Time I Get To Phoenix (written by Jimmy Webb and made famous sung by Glen Campbell) has been one of the more popular songs featured, covered by a good number of the Music Makers.

Tanya Falan is one of them...

Here she is from 1971's Salute To The U.S.A (the very first syndicated Welk episode) giving that song her treatment.

By The Time I Get To Phoenix; Tanya's version

Call Me

Back in the day before cell phones, smart phones, Bluetooth, Blackberry and all that high tech stuff, Americans used old fashioned landlines to make phone calls.

And to help them is the operator, many of whom are attractive young girls who can sing!

Like Tanya here....

While were on that subject, here's our lovely singing operator from Ma Bell with her cover of Chris Montez's hit song "Call Me".

Call Me

Champagne Satellite Survey - April 19, 1969

I was thinking of doing something different to put on my blog, to keep it fresh.

One day, and idea came to me when I listened to repeats of Casey Kasem's AT40 countdown show and I thought, I wonder what episode of the Lawrence Welk Show aired during the week of the featured countdown?

So tonight, I decided to choose a particular episode of a Welk show and also show who was on Billboard magazine's Top 40 list that same week.

It's kinda a neat trip down musical nostalgia, maybe it might bring back memories for you guys!

So my grand experiment begins with a random episode, April Showers which first aired April 19, 1969 on the ABC network

And here's the Top 40 most popular records on that same Saturday, beginning at #40 and counting down to #1....

40. ARBORS - The Letter
39. PEPPERMINT RAINBOW - Will You Be Staying After Sunday
38. BETTYE SWANN - Don't Touch Me
37. THE BEE GEES - First of May
36. SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET - Mendocino
35. ELVIS PRESLEY - Memories
34. TYRONE DAVIS - Is That Something You Got
33. FRANK SINATRA - My Way
32. THE BEACH BOYS - I Can Hear Music
31. CLARENCE CARTER - Snatching It Back
30. JAMES BROWN - I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing
29. THREE DOG NIGHT - Try A Little Tenderness
28. 1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY - Indian Giver
27. BUBBLE PUPPY - Hot Smoke & Sasafrass
26. NEIL DIAMOND - Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
25. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES & THE TEMPATIONS - I'll Try Something New
24. BOOKER T & THE MGs - Time is Tight
23. DAVID RUFFIN - My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)
22. DIONNE WARWICK - This Girl's In Love With You
21. JOE SIMON - The Chokin' Kind
20. SIMON & GARFUNKEL - The Boxer
19. CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - Proud Mary
18. PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS - Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon
17. THE VENTURES - Hawaii 5-0
16. CLASSICS IV - Traces
15. GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP - Don't Give In To Him
14. CRAZY ELEPHANT - Gimmie Gimmie Good Lovin'
13. WATTS 103RD STREET RHYTHM BAND - Do Your Thing
12. TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS - Sweet Cherry Wine
11. THE TEMPTATIONS - Runaway Child Running Wild
10. STEPPENWOLF - Rock Me
9. ZOMBIES - Time of the Season
8. EDWIN STARR - 25 Miles
7. THE COWSILLS - Hair
6. GLEN CAMPBELL - Galveston
5. TOMMY ROE - Dizzy
4. JERRY BUTLER - Only The Strong Survive
3. ISLEY BROTHERS - It's Your Thing
2. BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS - You've Made Me So Very Happy
1. THE 5TH DIMENSION - Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In

 

Champagne Satellite Survey - April 19, 1969

At last, Toledo finally got to see that Marvin Hamlisch special

You know, the one everyone was talking about....

In a nutshell, it was originally a made as a public television pledge drive special hosted by Marvin himself. 

Marvin Hamlisch Presents the 70s; The Way We Were featured some of your favorite songs from the decade performed by the icons from that era, such as Freda Payne, Marilyn McCoo, Bobby Goldsboro, B.J Thomas and Ray Stevens just to name a few.

But for us Welk fans, it was that Guy & Ralna that was also featured amongst the roster of stars in the show, which was taped at Lindenwood University located just outside of St. Louis.

They sang "Just An Old Fashioned Love Song" which was a big hit for Three Dog Night in 1971. And by the way, our Favorite Singing Married Couple covered that same song some thirty odd years ago on the Welk show too.

That was not the only number they did, G&R also covered "Put Your Hand In The Hand", "You Needed Me" and "Lean On Me" in the show as well, but they were not included in the original broadcast. You have to get the companion CD and DVD for those numbers and much more bonus stuff as well.

Here they are, in all their glory....

And by the way, they were terrific as always!

At last, Toledo finally got to see that Marvin Hamlisch special

On this day, 40 years ago

In 1971, Brewer & Shipley's song One Toke Over The Line first entered the Billboard Charts.

It eventually would peak at #10.

But the song's real influence would go beyond just the pop charts.

 
Dick Dale and Gail Farrell made the song on the Welk show as a "Modern Day Spiritual".

And the world became a better place because of it....

On this day, 40 years ago

Bringing back suffrage.....a brand new poll!

Democracy has returned to Welk Musical Family.com!

Actually, for the first time in over a year....I have a new poll ready for your voice to be heard.

And here's the question....

Which of the acts from the Welk Show you like to see cover Beyonce's hit song "Single Ladies?"

Just in case you not familiar....here's the video for the song that is very popular with the young folks.

Now imagine that same song being performed on the Lawrence Welk Show, sung straight up, Champagne style.

Here are your choices......

1. Bob Lido and the Hotsy Totsy Boys

2. Jack Imel, Bobby Burgess and Arthur Duncan

3. The Trio of Gail, Sandi and Mary Lou

You can cast your ballot over on the right side of this blog.

Bringing back suffrage.....a brand new poll!

Winchester Cathedral

Hey kids, let's sing along with Bob Lido and his signature song!

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
YOU'RE BRINGING ME DOWN
YOU STOOD AND YOU WATCHED AS
MY BABY LEFT TOWN

YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
BUT YOU DIDN'T TRY
YOU DIDN'T DO NOTHING
YOU LET HER WALK BY

NOW EVERYONE KNOWS JUST HOW MUCH
I NEEDED THAT GAL
SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE FAR AWAY
IF ONLY YOU STARTED RINGING YOUR BELL

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
YOU'RE BRINGING ME DOWN
YOU STOOD AND YOU WATCHED AS
MY BABY LEFT TOWN

OH-BO-DE-O-DO OH-BO-DE-O-DO
OH-BO-DE-O-DO DE-DO-DUH

Winchester Cathedral

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Here's Jimmy Roberts with one of his most requested songs, especially among the ladies....

 

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Songs of the 1970s I would loved to have seen

Having watched this past Saturday's episode of the Lawrence Welk Show where they featured the popular songs from the 1970s, I thought that there were many more iconic songs from that decade that would have sounded great on the program.

Yes I agree that "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree", "Nadia's Theme", "I Write The Songs" and "It's Impossible" covered by the Music Makers are outstanding, but I would like to have seen them mix it up a bit.

So here's a partial list of the 70s songs I would love to have featured on the Welk Show.....

HOTEL CALIFORNIA (The Eagles) would be sung by Jimmy Roberts with acoustic guitar backing by Neil Levang

KUNG FU FIGHTING (Carl Douglas) sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Jack Imel and Arthur Duncan while showing off their Bruce Lee karate moves....

LOW RIDER (War) would give the orchestra a chance to show their funky side, especially Johnny Zell in the brass section

FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY (The O' Jays) I could see Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou singing that song, dressed as bank tellers

INSTANT KARMA (John Lennon) would be sung by Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston playing the Thomas organ and backed vocally by the mens and ladies chorus

SWEET HOME ALABAMA (Lynyrd Skynyrd) has to be sung by Ava Barber

BRAND NEW KEY (Melanie) perfect as a novelty song for Larry Hooper

GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES (Cher) is just tailor made for Ralna English as her next solo spotlight number

DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY (Thelma Houston) will give Tanya Falan a chance to go disco

SUMMER BREEZE (Seals and Crofts) just sounds right with the Aldridge Sisters and the Otwell Twins performing it.

Songs of the 1970s I would loved to have seen

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Let It Be The Curly Me

This week, she's gone back to the curls as she sings one of the songs from her Let It Be Me album.

 

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Let It Be The Curly Me

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Hamill Will Keep Us Together

Looks like Tanya has jumped on the bandwagon with the latest fad, the Dorothy Hamill hairdo....

....and is also a serious Captain & Tennille fan by the way she sings "Love Will Keep Us Together"

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Hamill Will Keep Us Together

The Champagne Five - Bruce Springsteen covers by the Musical Family

What's more American than the flag, mom, apple pie and heartland rock?

Yeah, you heard me right, and that's the subject of today's Champagne Five where we combine two American Institutions, Lawrence Welk and his Music Makers....

.....and The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen

As a music fan, I have always wondered what would it be like if Lawrence Welk and his Musical Family had the chance to do their cover versions of Bruce and the E Street Band's songs?

I present to you, after much exhaustive debate, the top five covers!

5. BORN TO RUN - performed as a barbershop quartet by Bob Lido, Kenny Trimble, Charlie Parlato and Larry Hooper

4. NEBRASKA - sung and performed on guitar by Clay Hart with Bob Ralston providing the harmonica sounds

3. TUNNEL OF LOVE - Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou

2. THUNDER ROAD - sung by Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the organ

1. HUNGRY HEART - Dick Dale with the Lennon Sisters

Regardless of which song made the list, one thing is for sure....a jam session featuring the Welk Orchestra and the E Street Band is one concert event I would pay good money for!

The Champagne Five - Bruce Springsteen covers by the Musical Family

Champagne Cultural Synopsis: Ya' Got Trouble (Right Here in River City)

"Friends, either you're closing your eyes to a situation you do now wish to acknowledge, or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated...."

These are the opening lines to the song "Ya Got Trouble" from Meredith Wilson's musical "The Music Man".

....and the caliber of disaster that was described? A pool table.

It was also one of the songs featured on last Saturday's Lawrence Welk episode with Jack Imel and the gang performing it....in fact, the Music Makers sang that same song several times before and after.

Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent, charming and wonderful tune but that being said....it's also kinda dated, even for 1974.

Seriously, has anyone now or then has ever heard the jokes from Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, let alone who Captain Billy was?

Perhaps some of the cultural references from "Ya Got Trouble" can be updated to be more relevant....by early to mid 1970s standards that is.

For example....pool table is still relevant, but I would also consider pinball machine.

Captain Billy's Whiz Bang? How about either National Lampoon or Mad magazine....

Are certain words creeping into his conversation?

Instead of words like "Swell"......consider "Dy-no-mite!"

also "So's Your Old Man!" would be replaced by "Jive Turkey!"

Does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee?

Those kids today with their Glam Rock, Pet Rocks, Sea Monkeys and Lava Lamps don't care about knickerbockers....but they do wear those platform shoes to go with their bell bottom pants!

Add such changes in there, you'll get a Music Man production courtesy of Soul Train.

Champagne Cultural Synopsis: Ya' Got Trouble (Right Here in River City)

Sitting On The Dock of the Bay

Clay Hart, meet Otis Redding....

Otis Redding, say hello to Clay Hart.

From 1969, here's Clay singing Otis' famous hit song "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay"

Sitting On The Dock of the Bay

Sandi & Sally - If He Would Care

Here's another audio treasure from the far reaches of the internets right onto this fine blog!

Here's Sandi & Sally with the song "If He Would Care"

It was recorded and released as a single by Capitol Records in 1967, a year before they joined the Welk Show. They showcased the harmonies and sound that would soon make them famous.

It's quite catchy, like many of the 1960s pop songs. And the Maestro would approve!

Sandi & Sally - If He Would Care

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

From 1967, here's Lynn Anderson with Buddy and Neil as she does her cover version of Nancy Sinatra's hit song "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'"

 

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

Knock Knock, Who's There?

That's the title of a single recorded by Andra Willis on the Paramount Records label.

Written by John Carter and Geoff Stevens, this catchy little pop diddy was covered by several artists. Andra's version was released in the summer of 1970, about a year after leaving the Lawrence Welk Show.

It was a regional hit, and it even made the hit parade on radio station KXOK 630 AM in St. Louis that August.

So have a listen for yourself, it's catchy and got quite a beat!

Knock Knock, Who's There?