Lake Wobegon Loyalty Days

Garrison Keillor

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 1993)
• Original Release Date: November 13, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002SNB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #126,432 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Most Lutherans aren't musicians; they're choir members," says Prairie Home Companion creator Garrison Keillor. In "The Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra," he further comments, "Cellists seem like such nice people. The way they put their arms around their instruments, they look like parents at a daycare center, zipping up snowsuits." Such is the droll National Public Radio humor he embodies; listeners either adore or disparage him for his pedestrian slice of Midwestern nostalgia. Here in 1989, in front of a hometown audience with the majestic Minnesota Orchestra, Keillor holds court, bearish baritone intermingling with French horn and strings. He dishes on everything from patriotism to Powdermilk Biscuits to orchestral instruments in the context of Christianity and good Christians, particularly that ever dry hot-dish-eating Lutheran sect in the Minneapolis region. Keillor is like big brother home from college, poking fun at his family upon seeing them with fresh eyes. Delightful. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC! HILARIOUS! DELIGHTFUL!, May 21, 1999

By	Victor Bloom MD (grosse pointe, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have always enjoyed the unique humor of Garrison Keillor, and especially his poking fun at his severe Lutheran background. I especially enjoyed his take-off on Benjamin Britten's "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." Keillor did a Lutheran guide, ingeniously suggesting what kind of people choose particular instruments. There is an impressive real symphonic accompaniment, highlighting each instrument, which in itself is serious and accurate enough to help a young person actually recognize the instruments of a symphonic orchestra.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great Garrison Does it Again, June 23, 2004

By	Danielle Bennignus - See all my reviews

After shuffling this CD around for some time (I had sort of "inherited" it from my father, and just hadn't gotten around to listening to it), I finally gave it a go on the stereo...and was utterly delighted. Here is a wonderful example of Keillor's work - warmly poking fun at his home state, making his classic commentary on Lutheranism, and peeking a little into his past. It makes for great comedy, and wonderful listening.

Let's go through this sequentially, shall we? The "Whoopi Ti-Yi-Yo" piece is great - the song about a humorist's work, set to cattle-rustling music is such a clever concept, you'll have to hear it for yourself. Just the fact that he mentions his "hand-carved, hand-tooled ballpoint" makes it an instant Keillor classic. The "Sons of Knute", set to Grieg's Homage March is wonderful, as well - such silly lyrics ("Sons of Knute, marching to freedom...") set to such a noble composition - it's a marriage made in heaven. "The Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra" will surely go down as one of the great Keillor works - it's pure genius. His description of each instrument's sound, and what one should associate it with, is guaranteed to draw laughter from the stodgiest curmudgeon. And, of course, the analysis of each instrument's player - priceless. "The Radio Announcer" is classic Keillor nostalgia, touched with hilarity, and bittersweet memory - the outcome of his college radio career is absolutely knee-slapping. Finally, the "Song of the Exiles" shows Keillor at his best - almost hypnotizing in his ability to capture in words the character of a place, time and surrounding experience. Here is where his work truly shines, and it is the perfect way to wind up the album. Through it all, the Minnesota Orchestra accompanies beautifully, enhancing perfectly Keillor's written word. Everything falls into place seamlessly.

I can honestly say that this CD is among my top twenty, and is never far from my stereo. It fits my every mood, and I never tire of it. If you're a fan of Keillor, it's a must-have. If you're new to his work, here's a good place to start.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle, Tasteful Humor, April 17, 2003

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Heard "Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra" on the radio and just had to have it. Along with this great cut, discovered other material in the same great vein as Keillor's other stuff.

"The Radio Announcer" piece is but one such example, here his story of young college kid who wants to impress Renee, but finds future life's work in so doing. "And now, without commerical intervention, J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion" Off to the library! Hilarious and entertaining.

Neat stuff to share with all ages, from this classic storyteller who can also sing the blues as well as yodel.