Category: Music

I think regular readers of this blog will agree my musical taste is wide-ranging. But every now and then even I have a hard time grooving with the tunes on a first listen. That’s the case with the Greek music from John Liatsis and his Meraklides Singers and Orchestra.

The album is called Recorded Live at a Greek Party (Volume Four) and I’m thinking that all the really accessible pop tunes were all on Volumes 1-3. That’s not to say they are not fine musicians. And if you could see the album art, there are a couple of hotties belly dancing.
(Sorry, my scanner won’t accommodate an LP cover)

If I haven’t scared you off yet, let’s tell a mini-story through song titles.

Hasapiko (Gypsy Dance)

Mour Moura (Nagging Wife)

Vasilim Tama Takiasou (William Your Eyes Are Roving)

I might be crazy, but I think a couple of these tunes would be good re-interpreted by a Doors cover band or serve as a good loop sample in a Hip-Hop tune. You’re right, I’m crazy.

Update: When I wrote the title of this post, I assumed that Hellenic Hoedown was a new coinage. Turns out there is a composition by that name and it is really cool -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zn5tlEIHeE

One of the perils of buying used albums at thrift stores is that the sleeve of the album might not match the contents of the LP contained within. When you are paying 10¢ for the record, it isn’t really a big deal that somebody pulled the old switcheroo.

That’s what happened to me when I thought I was buying 16 Great Square Dance Tunes by Canada’s Top Fiddlers. I got it home an realized I had 16 songs, performed by Canadians. However, the album is called 16 Great Barn Dance Tunes.  If you know the technical difference between a Square Dance and a Barn Dance, please do share in the comments section.

Since I’ve been sharing Polish polkas with you, I suppose this is a good time to mention that Irish and Scots also enjoy polkas. Since their music heavily influences Canadian culture, it is not surprising that a barn dance album from Canada would include the Canal Street Polka by the Rodgers Brothers.

Joe Murphy performs the Liberty Two Step (two steps are not the exclusive province of Texas, you know)

Let’s hear a reel from Joe MacIsaac – since we are talking about Canada, the Snowshoer’s Reel is appropriate.

I posted Hang On Sloopy in the polka style earlier. It was from an album of what at the time were modern popular tunes filtered through a polka lens. Larry Chesky and his Orchestra were responsible for that, for better or worse.

But Larry Chesky can also bring it old school Polish polka style. Tonight’s album has Larry and his crew backing Regina Kujawa on Hello Lalka. She toured the Midwest with the Orchestra and they cut the album Hello Lalka right afterwords.

Most of the album is what I must assume are traditional Polish tunes. I know virtually nothing about Polish heritage and culture. I liked Karol Woltya a lot. I admire their bravery in WWII. Polish sausage is good, too.

I need to learn more, I suppose. My children have Polish blood by virtue of Joyce’s grandmother. But for now, let’s polka.

Here is the title track Hello Lalka. To be honest, I think it needs Louis Armstrong’s help.

Here is the Pretty Girl (Piekna Dziewczyna) Polka

And let’s end with the  Mary Had a Little Lamb (Marysa Baranek) Polka. Because it doesn’t get much more old school than a lamb that follows a girl to school one day.

Part of the fun of my record collection is that I’m amused by songs that were made popular in one style, but were recorded in another style. Often the song is a chart topper, and the other artists seem to riding on the coattails.

I remember when I was in  grade school,  each class would perform some song or dance in an all-school program once or twice a year. Not many stand out. One that do recall was when I was in first or second grade the eighth-graders performed Age of Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In. I don’t know what kind of groovy mind blowing psychedelia they must of dropped on us. But it did make an impression.

I don’t think it sounded like Larry Chesky and his Orchestra. But this brings me back to a Catholic grade school auditorium in the early 70’s. I’m dragging you with me.

My random grab into the big record bin produced Hawaiian Magic by Ken Griffin.  This is a Columbia release from 1958. Another one of my thrift store finds, I’m virtually certain that I picked it up because it has a version of Harbor Lights, which my parents called “our song”.

What struck me most as I listened to this album was how strongly I associate organ music with roller rinks and carousels. At least Wurlitzer style organs. Pipe organs are associated with church, of course.

I’m guessing I’m among the last generation to remember skating to the sounds of this type of organ music. Walton’s Roller Rink in Mentor-on-the-Lake still played it when I was very young. Most folks my age probably remember better the disco and rock with neon lights and feathered hair at United Skates of America.

These days the only place you hear organ music is at carnivals or  amusement parks that have a merry-go-round. So grab some cotton candy or lace up your skates and enjoy some Island Magic.

The album I pulled from my big record bin today was released in 1980 and is called A Salute to John Lennon and the Beatles Greatest Hits. It is performed by the Now Sound Orchestra.

The back cover has John Lennon (1940 – 1980) with pictures of the man at various stages of his career. (Actually I’m not even sure they are all Lennon. There is a young boy that looks more like George Harrison or even Elvis). I’m wondering if this is less a salute than an attempt to cash in on Lennon’s tragic death.

Lennon was murdered on December 8, 1980. To record and release an album in less than three weeks seems unusual. I’m speculating that the album was already recorded and released as a Beatles Greatest Hits album with different cover art and was just updated and rushed to market as a “Salute to John Lennon”.

The performances on the album are basically dreadful. I’m sampling Yesterday for you. Partially because it is an instrumental and I don’t feel right about subjecting you to any of the vocals. You can play a game of “name the instrument.” There is either a harpsichord or perhaps a synthesizer or syn-clavier. I also detect a vibraphone. I can’t tell if the horn is a muted trumpet or a flugelhorn. Your guesses are welcome in the comments.

I’ve owned a USB audio interface for several months now and just finally hooked it up to the laptop. Through way too many fits and starts I was able to convert some vinyl record tracks to digital files. It still isn’t interfacing 100% correctly, but we have enough to start my series of posts sharing my eclectic music collection.

Disclaimer: I’m a strong supporter of intellectual property protection. I’m thinking most of the music I’m sharing is out of print. If the copyright holders drop me a note I’ll take it down in a heartbeat.

OK – I actually remember buying the album Music From Star Wars by The Electric Moog Orchestra with my allowance money. I’m almost certain I bought it at Lawson’s in Eastlake.

It is hard to say what I like most about this album. The big note on the front cover that says “not the original soundtrack” or the back cover notes that proclaim “We think you will find this album a stunning breakthrough in electronic music.”

Here we have cut number 3 on the A side – Imperial Attack. I actually thing the bass riff sounds a little like Billie Jean.  I can’t even begin to describe the guitar part other than to say I think it sounds like a guy playing a Moog and trying to make it sound like a guitar. In space. While under attack.

As I warned you, I’m going to share some of the hidden gems in my  music collection. I’m starting you off with a tune that I could relate to much more directly in my single days when I still smoked, still went out on Thursdays and still scavenged around my pockets only to find crumpled up singles.

It is by Monkey Biscuit, the former band of the talented Rob Ervin. Check out more here >> http://www.myspace.com/highstrunglifters (High Strung Lifters was the band Rob Ervin formed after Monkey Biscuit)