Category Archives: Old Rock and Roll

The Happy Organ

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

The Happy Organ. The sun is shining, it’s 53 degrees – time to rock it. I love playing this piece. I never play it the same way twice! You just get rolling and have fun – mistakes and all. The Roland organ does a great job for this piece. I hope it brings a smile to your face or at least gets your foot tapping. “The Happy Organ” is the name of an instrumental composition made famous by Dave “Baby” Cortez in 1959. Cortez co-composed it with noted celebrity photographer James J. Kriegsmann and frequent collaborator Kurt Wood. A significant portion of the tune bears a strong resemblance to the traditional “Shortnin’ Bread” tune.… Read the rest

Green Green

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Green Green is another song from my college days. We all liked to sing folks songs back then. I even traded my old accordion in at the pawn shop for a guitar! Accoridonless until 1981. My ex and I started to play as a duo then. This is just a little toe taping music to help you get ready to prepare your Thanksgiving meals! “Green, Green”, a 1963 hit single by The New Christy Minstrels.… Read the rest

At My Front Door – Knock, Knock, Knock

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

At My Front Door. Mr. Dino and I are getting acquainted. We’ve been practicing pretty musette songs, which sound great on him. Then, while turning pages, up pops At My Front Door. I was 11 back in 1955 and don’t remember this song. But, even Pat Boone did a version of it. Meanwhile, we had fun rocking it out. Usually Mr. Roland works best for that, but Mr. Dino needs to get a bit of exercise. It was just for fun. The 50’s and 60’s rock song are fun to play since they only have a few different chords. Favorites for us mature players! LOL “At My Front Door” is a song written by Ewart Abner and John Moore and performed by The El Dorados. It reached #1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #17 on the U.S. pop chart in 1955.[1] The song was featured on their 1957 album, Crazy Little Mama.… Read the rest

Lay Some Happiness on Me

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Lay Some Happiness On Me. 3 minutes of happiness for your Sunday. Love to play happy music and make fun videos. Hope all the happy critters and music bring a smile to your face. We all need something happy these days!! “Lay Some Happiness on Me” is a song that was first released by Eddy Arnold in 1966, on the album Somebody Like Me. The song became a hit in 1967, when it was released by Dean Martin and by Bobby Wright.… Read the rest

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Can’t Help Falling In Love. Love at first squeeze with Mr. Dino. Dino Baffetti that is. No, he is not replacing Mr. Roland. But, it is nice to play an acoustic accordion and feel the depth of the base and vibration of the sound. He is my new, slightly used, accordion. Trading Mr. Weiltmeister for him. Wanted an accordion with more quality sound and range. Just another instument than the Roland. Thought this was an appropriate song since I am sure the accordionship will go a long way. I have to get use to playing smoothly again. Great fun and pleasure to play Mr. Dino. His bass C button has a rhinestone in it instead of a cup. After 70 years of bass C with a dent, a bump sure is different. Will get use to it. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album Blue Hawaii (1961). It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss and published by Gladys Music, Inc. The melody is based on “Plaisir d’amour”, a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini.… Read the rest

Dream Lover

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Dream Lover. I was rocking it out this morning. Celebrating two good eyes via catarct surgery and having all 3 possible exposures to Covid be negative! The surgery center called me the next day to say they had an asymtomatic Covid Patient that did not know it the day of surgery. Suggested I stay home for awhile. They actually heavily taped our masks on. I still have scabs from pulling the tape off – but boy am I glad they did that. Then my friend that gave me a ride home found her sister that lives with her had become very sick. Went for Covid test. Then my neighbor that gave me a ride to go back and pick up my car had is son exposed in school. We both wore masks. Everyone turned out negative! I am very blessed!!! So I was rocking it out this morning in a very happy mood. Good eyes, good music and no Covid. I did the song in the Enoch Light version where the band did swing it in 1964. But “Dream Lover” is a 1959 song written by Bobby Darin. Darin recorded his composition on March 5, 1959.… Read the rest

Sealed With A Kiss

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Sealed With A Kiss. A very interesting song. I was playing thru my 50′-60’s book and came across it. I believe I remember it. It was done faster, but I felt like a slow beat worked. A little different than I usually do. Love the Sax, Clarinet and Organ sounds on the Roland. “Sealed with a Kiss” is a song written and composed by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It first became a hit in 1962 for Brian Hyland. The original recording of “Sealed with a Kiss” was by the Four Voices which was released as a single in May 1960 without becoming a hit. The lyrics are from the point of view of one of two lovers who have had to part ways over the summer. The narrator promises the lover who has had to leave that he will send his love and dreams in daily letters “sealed with a kiss”. The two also bind each other to a pledge, under seal of a kiss, that they will reunite in September.… Read the rest

All I Have To Do Is Dream

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Another favorite from Junior High School time. We all dreamed then – big dreams! We all had or wish we had our sweethearts! The old songs from that era play so easy and are so much fun to do. Memories! “All I Have to Do Is Dream” is a song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by Boudleaux Bryant of the husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and published in 1958.… Read the rest

My Special Angel

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

My Special Angel is another great song from 1957. Being in Junior High School at that time, I remember so many of the older songs from the 50’s and 60’s. This is from my Fake Book called “The Gold Hits of the Fabulous Golden 50’s and 60’s.” A fun book to play from. There are over 300 songs, so I guess I will have something to keep me busy all winter playing and remembering the songs from the good old days. I used all organ since I thought it would make a good orchestration. I don’t use the great organ sounds on the Roland enough. I hope you enjoy it. “My Special Angel” is a popular song by Jimmy Duncan, published in 1957.… Read the rest

Come Softly To Me

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Come Softly To Me. I remember this song from junior high school. I was walking down the hall and could hear a small group singing it acapello. It sounded very nice and I wished that I could sing like that. Strange what memories we associate with music. I have 2 good eyes now, having my 2nd catarac surgery Tuesday, and thought I would play a song. I did it very simply since that was how it was recorded. I could imagine it being done with big string sounds and orchestra sounds, but thought I would go the simple route using some sounds I haven’t used before. “Come Softly to Me” is a popular song recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, the three of whom also wrote it in 1959.… Read the rest

A Walk In The Black Forest

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

A Walk In The Black Forest is a fun song. I remember it well when I was in College. I had fun playing it and putting the video together. I hope it makes you want to walk or at least tap your foot. Horst Jankowski composed A Walk In The Black Forest in 1965. It was an Instrumental. The original German title is ‘Eine Schwartzwaldfahrt’, though nothing appears to have been released before the Mercury record with that title.… Read the rest