Search - Lawrence Welk :: 16 Most Requested

Early Welk

C. Wilson | SCAPPOOSE, OR USA | 12/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is just terrific early stuff by Lawrence. Don't expect his modern band sound with this one. This has gotta be from the 30's.Quite frankly,when my sister first heard it,she didn't even recognize it as Lawrence.If you like the fast music from the 30's..this is for you."

Rare and only example of early Welk

Tom Andrews | West Chicago, IL United States | 09/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lawrence Welk initially achieved fame as a big band leader starting in the late 20s, even achieving some notoriety for a few rare jazz sides on the Gennett label. This 16 track CD serves as an overview of his period recording for Columbia during the late 30s/early 40s. It highlights the genesis of the Champagne Music style that he was most associated with, Welk's accordion in the forefront. Parnell Grina, Welk's bassist of the time, gets a few vocals including Start The Day Right, a duet with Champagne Lady Lois Best on The Umbrella Man, and Comin' Thru The Rye. Best also is featured on Sing For Your Supper. Champagne Lady Jayne Walton is featured on 1,2,3 Kick! and Joan Mowery is the vocalist on Seems Like Old Times. While the commercial sweet band style is prominent throughout, it is enlivened by the organ filigrees of Jerry Burke, Welk's accordion and an occasional solo, such as the swinging tenor sax on Linger Awhile and the clarinet solo on the 1920s standard You're the Cream In My Coffee. There are two polkas on the disc, done in a very clean cut style. The sole chart hit is Welk's theme song, Bubbles In The Wine from 1939. Given that a more thorough sampling of his 1940s and 50s big band hits are not yet available on CD, this serves as a decent sampler of what initially appealed to Midwestern ballroom audiences."

Requested By Who (or is it Whom)?

David L Hutchins | Mesa, AZ | 07/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Always kind of enjoyed Welk's music, but didn't want to admit it. This was my parent's music; very corny and square. I couldn't take the dancing on the TV show or some of the vocalist acts, but if you strip away all that and just listen to the music, it's very listenable (bubbly like champagne). Still, I preferred Guy Lombardo's sound over Welk's. I don't think any Welk fan would be disappointed over this nice selection of songs, but I doubt these are the "most requested" songs. If I was doing the requesting, I would ask for Calcutta and a Joann Castle number and definately a Lennon Sister's song or two. While Welk's band was a big part of the show, so were other performers who are not represented at all here. There are a few vocals here, but I can't identify who is singing; most of the songs are instrumental. It's a nice collection, but just not very representative of the overall Welk sound. Other reviewers say it's early Welk, so perhaps it was before the heyday of the TV show."