Category Archives: Standards

Midnight in Moscow

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Midnight in Moscow. I remember hearing this played in the old days. I always liked it and had it on my pile of music to play for quite awhile. I went to You Tube to hear it and all I found were big serious, Russian versions. Then – I found the 1961 version. That’s the way I wanted to play it. Did not need to be serious. Had fun with all the sounds and graphics which were free. Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen played Midnight In Moscow in 1961. Midnight in Moscow, also known as Moscow Nights (Подмосковные вечера), is a Russian song, and one of those best known outside its homeland. Created as “Leningradskie Vechera” (“Leningrad Nights”) by composer Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi and poet Mikhail Matusovsky in 1955 (when both had well-established careers), but at the request of the Soviet Ministry of Culture, the version… Read the rest

KUKU Oberek

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The KUKU Oberek is a song out of my thick Polka And Waltzes Book. Seemed like a fun song to play with the 2 accordions. Again, it is far from perfect, but I think it is interesting. It is for the Oktoberfest month. The DUDU Oberek was written by J. Durlak and M. Lush. Thank You to the wonderful artists for the graphics at Pixebay.… Read the rest

Edelweiss

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Edelweiss for the Oktoberfest month. Did you ever take a road trip to NY and end up in Florida? This was to be a Roland featured video with Mr. Weltmeister in the background. Roland never did do his thing right with many tries! The background track of the Weltmeister was very nice, so it became the main feature with a little singing. Still a nice acoustic accordion video. The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry! LOL “Edelweiss” is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. It is named after the edelweiss, a white flower found high in the Alps (Leontopodium nivale). … It was the last song ever written by Oscar Hammerstein II, prior to his death in August 1960.… Read the rest

OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA

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OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA A sing along for Sunday. A feel good song. Rainy day here, so I was looking for a happy song. Again, not perfect in any way – but fun to sing along with. I hope you enjoy it. The tag line “Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah” was an expression used by Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott-Emuakpor, an acquaintance of McCartney. McCartney wrote “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” in a cod Jamaican ska style and appropriated a phrase popularised by Jimmy Scott, a London-based Nigerian musician, for the song’s title and chorus.… Read the rest

Just Because

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This is a fun video for my friends. Certainly not perfect. There are excellent accordionists that play beautiful duos all the time, but I am not at that level. Let’s just pretend it is the 3rd hour of the Oktoberfest job and I decided to have several of the free beers offered to me. LOL It is not easy to accompanying yourself when the self is not disciplined to play what is on the page. Just having fun. Johnny Pecon introduced the song “Just Because” to Frank Yankovic’s bar. He had picked up the tune while serving with the Seabees in the Pacific during the war. It was an old country and western number which had been written and recorded by Texas’s Shelton Brothers, Bob and Joe, in 1935.… Read the rest

The White Cliffs of Dover

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The White Cliffs of Dover is one of my absolute favorites. It is such a beautiful song about faith and hope. With all the crazy stuff going on in our world – Covid-19, hurricanes, massive fires – I thought we can all use some hope. This is my 101st video. I thought I would start my second century of videos with a beautiful song. On to the polkas and hand clappers tomorrow.
“(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover” is a popular World War II song composed in 1941 by Walter Kent to lyrics by Nat Burton. The song was written about a year after the Royal Air Force and German Luftwaffe aircraft had been fighting over southern England, including the white cliffs of Dover, in the Battle of Britain. Nazi Germany had conquered much of Europe and in 1941 was still bombing Britain.… Read the rest

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

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Don’t Get Around Much Anymore seems appropriate during this Covid thing. I bought a great Jayco Travel Trailer in 2015 and had the joy of traveling around a bit. Liked to go South in the cold weather for a month or two. Since I am 76 and being precautious with Covid, I didn’t use my camper all this year. It is just sitting. At the rate things are going, it doesn’t look like next year will be a good camping year for me either. So I decided to sell my Jayco to someone that could use it. I am happy I sold it, but sad, too. I remember all the great times I had camping. So I sadly make a video to remember Mr. Jayco. Just a simple video with simple music. Goodbye Mr. Jayco.… Read the rest

Satin Doll

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Satin Doll. Just a slow dance from September to October. We always played this for dancing. Another of my favorites. So much good music in this world. It is just a simple rendition since the whole band wasn’t here with me! “Satin Doll” is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953 and its chord progression is well known for its unusual use of chords and opening with a ii-V-I turnaround.… Read the rest

Marianne

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Marianne is a request by my friend Shirley Ann. I make the videos for my friends to enjoy. They are not perfect, but hopefully they are fun and will get you singing and clapping your hands. “Mary Ann,” composed by calypsonian Roaring Lion (born name: Rafael de Leon) was popular with steelbands and revelers during a spontaneous Carnival celebration on V-J Day in Trinidad in 1945, at the end of World War II. The song’s lyrics alluded to Mary Ann’s occupation:… Read the rest

Swinging on a Star

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Swinging on a Star Cover by Pat Walter. Playing through some of my music books and came across this. I always liked it when I was younger. Decided I like it when I’m older. The USB drive did a couple strange things, but I just kept playing! Pretended I was on a job! A fun song to play, sing and create a video with. Thanks to Pixabay for the cute free graphics. “Swinging on a Star” is an American pop standard with music composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1944 film Going My Way, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.… Read the rest

I’d Do Anything

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I’d Do Anything cover by Pat Walter. Written in 1960 by Lionel Bart for the Musical Oliver. I have always liked this song. I think of it more as a good friends song if you leave out the romantic kissing part. LOL It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon and I thought I would get to know Mr. Weltmeister a little better. Learning to play more smoothly. Not perfect, but a nice song. For some reason I want to sing when I play the Weiltmeister. LOL Nothing fancy like the Roland, but still nice accordion music.… Read the rest

Mr. Lonely

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Mr. Lonely cover by Pat Walter. It’s a lonely, Covid Saturday night – what’s better than playing a lonely song? Nothing crazy, just nice mellow voices from the Roland. Words and Music by Bobby Vinton and Gene Allan in 1962 – the year I graduated from high school. Another oldie, but goodie.… Read the rest