Customer Reviews

World's Greatest Polkas

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like other productions by Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren, this one is professionally performed, but it really doesn't generate a lot of excitement. It could use a little more variation in tempo from track to track. There are no lyrics anywhere, even though most of these songs come with them. This is the first time, for example, that I have heard Just Because without the words. This CD just doesn't have the pizazz of a Frankie Yankovic or a Joey Miskulin or an Eddie Blazonczyk. It's several cuts above elevator music, however.

The irony of this CD is that Lawrence Welk himself only appears on one track: Just Because. That is the only track where there is an accordion duet between Myron and Lawrence with the backing of the Champagne Music Makers, Lawrence playing the accordion "lead". The rest are all drawn from Myron's solo output for the Ranwood label from the 60s and 70s. Very polished performances, they are happy music that can sometimes suffer from a bit of a homogenized production. Still, very good music and excellent accordion work from Floren. For a more thoroughly dynamic overview, check out the 22 Greatest Polkas CD by Myron Floren first.

Say what you want about Welk and Floren, but they can come up with some pretty darn good music. Great songs and great sound!

Last week, my wife slapped me with those nine words you pray your spouse will never say:

"My mother's coming to stay with us this weekend."

I was told to make the mom-in-law feel 'comfortable' during her stay with us -- but how should I know what the over-50 crowd is into these days? Short of getting a haircut and staying offa her lawn, I wasn't quite sure what to do for the old girl. Luckily, Amazon was there for me, like a trusty set of choppers soaking on the bedside table.

I got tabbed to pick my mother-in-law up from the airport, and figured some nice soothing music from her generation would be just the ticket. Never mind that I was a couple of decades off on 'her generation', or that she says she's into current pop -- all old people like Lawrence Welk, right?

I thought she might be hard of hearing by now, so I turned the volume way up on the polkas. I don't know what passed for dancing back in the old days, but she sure jerked and gyrated around in the passenger seat, all the way home. If I hadn't known any better, it almost looked as if she was screaming and clawing at the window, trying to get out. Maybe that's what they called the 'Charleston'.

I didn't get to hear any of the polkas myself -- I had earplugs in to dampen the noise -- but after her jitterbugging in the car, I told my mom-in-law that if she wanted, I'd take her for a long ride every day to hear some more of those tunes. She nearly collapsed just at the thought of it. I guess a little dancing really takes it out of the old folks.

Less than a week prior to a Wisconsin State Fair job, I learned several unsettling details about the engagement: 1. It was for the "Polka-Mania" tent; 2. My keyboard was the only melodic instrument and my left hand the only bass; 3. the job went for 4 hours. Originally I had accepted, counting on a mix of old-time music with a few polkas thrown in and an accordionist in the band. I figured I was good for being an "oom pah" functionary but not much else. But suddenly I knew I was in over my head.

At best I could play 4 legit polkas. From there, it became the "Pennies from Heaven" polka and "God Bless America" polka. Fortunately, I was able to get this recording just in time, with tunes ranging from the "Julida Polka" to the "Jenny Lind Polka." I put them on an iPod and, when the request came in for the "Julida Polka," made a quick exit to the porta-station for a quick refresher. Upon return, I made sure it was the first number we played, because I knew it wouldn't lodge in memory for long.

Thank you, boys, for sparing me the embarrassment of playing the "Stella By Starlight" or "My Foolish Heart" polka (which would have been a grave insult to their composer, Victor Young).

I purchased this CD for my 91 year old mother for Christmas and she loves it!

nothing like listening to some Myron Floren and Lawrence Welk after a long day of work. it always puts a smile on my face!!!!

Whenever I feel down,depressed or just under the weather I turn on Myron Floren and his Polkas,helps a lot.I can Polka but as age starts to slow you up some I find it harder to keep up but I can listen to a good polka for a long time.

A lively, happy ,entertaining cd.It'll put you in a good mood, and of course it is great to hear these polkas performed by two of the very best.

I enjoy listening to the selection of polkas on this cd but I find they are a bit too fast to dance to.