Customer Reviews

Greatest Polka Hits Of All Time

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Bobby Vinton's association with the polka began in 1974 with the realease of "My Melody of Love" a song written by Vinton and sung partially in Polish. The song went to number one and relaunched Vinton's career as "The Polish Prince" His follow-up song "The Beer Barrel Polka" a top forty 1975 release is included here although touched up from its original version. Listen close and you'll hear "A lot of sweet romancin'" replacing "a lot of Polish people" from the '75 version. Also included here is a lot of material from the 1976 release "Bobby Vinton Party Music" which was released on Bobby's own Rexford label and sold through television and retail. Bobby recieved his Platinum album award on his TV show that same year, and the album remains his best selling of all time. A couple of new songs round out the set "Polka Radio" was a hit on the Polka circuit and "Polka Memories" is great for those strong enough to survive a seven minute polka. This album brings a happy contemporary flair to its material and is a great party CD.

Bobby Vinton is to polkas what the Boston Pops was to classical music. If, by being popular and performing polkas pop-style, he can increase the public's awareness of the polka arena, more power to him. The last track, Polka Memories Medley, is mostly the Barbara Polka, a fact not mentioned on the jacket. Once you've heard this artist, you'll want to graduate to the real stuff -- Joey Miskulin, Frankie Yankovic, Jimmy Sturr, and a few others. This one is a good introduction.

Bobby Vinton wasn't called The Polish Prince for nothing! He sang beautifully and made his Polish countrymen so proud that he was recently traveled to Poland as a guest of the Polish government. This budget priced album gives us eleven of Bobby's polka hits and there's hardly a dud in the bunch!

"The Pennsylvania Polka" sounds very energetic and Booby never misses a beat! The upbeat polka melody helps to make this number charming; and the lyrics rhyme at just the right times. "Tic-Tock Polka" is a similar number but it has its own beauty; Bobby's backup vocalists help to make this number memorable and the like the musical interlude very much. Love how Bobby cries out "woo woo!" during the musical interlude!

Listen also for "Just Because;" Bobby sings a beautiful song about how he can't stand his girlfriend any longer "just because." Bobby uses this number to celebrate his character's joy at being free of a woman who never appreciated him. There is another awesome musical interlude that blows me away with its energy and the high quality control of the number.

"That's Amore" features Bobby with a female backup chorus singing "That's Amore" to the beat of a rich polka melody; Dean Martin would be proud! This excellent, creative rendition of "That's Amore" scores a huge goal in my book. I think you'll like it, too.

The "Beer Barrel Polka" is more of a classic polka but it sounds fresh and exciting as ever when Bobby sings this in both English and Polish; the percussion adds to the arrangement and the melody is quite catchy as always with a well written polka. The "Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka" is a number that was performed earlier by the great Perry Como; but when Bobby sings this he puts his own stamp on this number with his singularly fine interpretation of the lyrics. "Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka" uses the percussion much more than Perry's version did; and this works well for this number.

The album ends nicely with "Polka Memories Medley." Bobby sings this to perfection without a superfluous note. I love that polka sound!

Overall, if you want some great, invigorating polka numbers to enjoy and maybe even dance to, you can't go wrong with this CD. Diehard polka fans will want more albums from the huge names in polka music; nevertheless I still highly recommend this album for polka fans. People who appreciate Bobby Vinton will be thrilled with this CD.

Nothing like a lively CD on any day. And this one can change a gray day full with sunshine. What more can you ask for ? Bobby Vinton is simply the greatest.

I bought this for my Mom who is in a nursing home and restricted to a wheelchair............she loves it!! Before I leave from my visit, I put her earphones on her, put this CD in her player and watch as that smile comes on her face as she enters her own world of memories and I feel happy, not sad, that she is where she is.

Good selections of songs. Fun and toe tapping polka music to dance and listen too.

If you want to be happy, here is an album, that will make you feel good, I defy anyone to listen to a polka and be depressed, Bobbie Vinton does a good job taking the polka to a broader audience.

You have to love this CD. I am of slovak heritage and a lot of these songs reminded me of my past. Its a good source of comedy also.

My father and I both Love Bobby Vinton! His tapes were not to be found in any local music stores. I had attended a concert of his over a year ago and wasn't aware of him having any tapes for sale. Well, my father's birthday was approaching along with a recent diagnosis of cancer. I wanted to get him something really really special. I found Amazon on line and found 3 CDs that Bobby Vinton has made over the years. I purchased these three and sent them to my father! As I said HE WAS THRILLED! He has played them over and over............even hoping his cancer treatments will be over so he can see one of Bobby's concerts coming up this spring. THANKS TO AMAZON FOR HELPING ME FIND SOME REALLY GREAT MUSIC that otherwise couldn't be found in the stores. I will use amazon for other music interests.

very good listening CD, brings back a lot of good memeories