Vocal
Walt Johnson – Oulun Poika Laulaa
I’m a sucker for homemade album projects, so I was thrilled to stumble on this gem last weekend at a local church garage sale. They actually had a second album of Walt’s so I grabbed that one too. According to the album, Walt and his wife were born and raised in the Oulu area of northern Wisconsin. For those who aren’t familiar with the area, it’s beautiful country with the highlight being the nearby Bois Brule River. A world class trout stream and stunning canoe and kayak destination. And don’t miss Johnson’s Berry Patch around the end of June. An Oulu hot spot. I’m drooling just thinking about those sweet, plump strawberries.
I couldn’t resist adding this video. I’ve run the Brule a few times during the summer, but these guys are nuts. I don’t care if they’re covered head to toe in Neoprene, that’s gotta be cold.
Walt decided to make this record at the urging of his friends after spending many years playing at area dances. My concern was that Walt’s friends might be telling him how good he is just to be nice. So I spun this album up fearing the worst. Well let me just say this, Walt….you rock! With a minimal organ and accordion accompaniment, Walt does a beautiful job singing. Mostly in a language that I can’t understand. He moves back and forth effortlessly between Finnish and English, and he’s so smooth that I’d still listen if he was singing in Klingon.
The part I loved best about this album was seeing that my boiler repairman, Ernie, provided “instrumental assistance”. I had no idea that he was a musician too. Although I didn’t know him well, I always looked forward to every fall when Ernie would stop by to restore my heat for the winter. The man was a wizard with my 1970′s era boiler, so I’m really not surprised that he had other talents. Very cool.
If you’re interested, I did find Walt’s follow-up LP on eBay for $9.98. I haven’t listened to it yet but if it’s half as good as this one, I’d pony up the ten spot.
Tracks:
Side One
- 01_01 – Kultainen Nuoruus
- 01_02 – Onnemi
- 01_03 – Villi Ruusu
- 01_04 – Maailman Matti
- 01_05 – Tennessee Valssi
- 01_06 – Metsa Pirtti
Side Two
Zuhrah Shrine Chanters – Encore (1986)
When I hear the word “Shriners”, I think of a couple different things. The first being the 22 children’s hospitals that they operate in North America. There’s no arguing that it’s a great cause that does a lot to paint an image of Shriners as wholesome, God-fearing, businessmen. The other thing that I think of is a bunch of old, drunken guys riding around in little cars for parades or acting badly at conventions. Here’s the story of one of these car stunts gone awry: Drunken Rampage And here’s a video of another one plowing into a crowd:
I don’t want to spend time bashing the Shriners because I really don’t know much about them. I do, however, have a natural distrust for any club with secret rituals and funny hats. Here’s an interesting website that claims to expose the Masons and Shriners as worshipers of Satan. Masonbusters.com Ya gotta love free speech.
So whatever your opinion might be, here’s a bunch of patriotic, religious and Broadway musical hits to soothe your troubled soul.
Tracks:
Side One
- 01_01 – The Sound of Music
- 01_02 – Go Down Moses
- 01_03 – The Lord’s Prayer
- 01_04 – God Bless America
- 01_05 – Let There be Peace on Earth
- 01_06 – This Land is Your Land
- 01_07 – The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Side Two
The Citations – They’re Off! …and Singing (1975)
I’m not sure if I enjoy barbershop quartets or not. Some days I can hum along with “Sweet Adeline” and other days it makes me want to plunge foot long knitting needles straight into my ear drums. Generally I know what I like, but today I’m just plain confused……that is until I got to track three, “Daddy Sang Bass”. Now I’m wondering where the #$&% I left the knitting needles.
Most people know “Daddy Sang Bass” as a darn fine Johnny Cash song but it was actually written by Carl Perkins, another member of the Million Dollar Quartet. That’s a moot point, however. After listening to this version, I’m not sure that I can even stomach Johnny and June’s version anymore. The song is dead to me. I’m suddenly overcome with the urge to torch my neighborhood barbershop just for sharing the name of this form of music. Maybe I’m just in a foul mood. The singing isn’t that bad but the whole thing is like the proverbial nails on a chalkboard to me today. Maybe I need more fiber in my diet……I don’t know.
“The Lord’s Prayer” had me flashing back to the 5:30 Saturday night contemporary mass that we’d periodically get dragged to as kids. You know, the one where the hippies would break out the acoustic guitar, tambourine and auto-harp and then proceed to turn “Kumbaya” into the longest 10 minutes of my life…..(shudder) They sound nothing alike but for some reason The Citations “Lord’s Prayer” has stirred up my repressed childhood memories. Ah…the joys of growing up Catholic.
At least the cover art is good and cheesey and the photo on back is fantastic. If I had a suit like that I’d wear it to the 5:30 mass and sing “Kumbaya” at the top of my lungs just so people would wonder what the hell was wrong with the crazy man in back. Maybe that would cheer me up.
I am concerned that if I flip over to side two, I’ll start having flashbacks from repressed memories of Boy Scout camp…… Please don’t make me listen to side two.
Tracks:
Side One
- 01_01 – Dixie Medley
- 01_02 – I’m Sorry I Answered the Phone
- 01_03 – Daddy Sang Bass
- 01_04 – Where or When
- 01_05 – That’s Life
- 01_06 – Nevertheless
- 01_07 – Lord’s Prayer
Side Two
- 02_01 – Mame
- 02_02 – Phoenix
- 02_03 – Brand New Gal
- 02_04 – Don’t Cry, Sonny Boy
- 02_05 – Boardwalk
- 02_06 – This is a Lovely Way
- 02_07 – Softly as I Leave You
Continue reading The Citations – They’re Off! …and Singing (1975)
The Bohemians – After Ski at Timberline Lodge (1959)
It wasn’t a difficult decision to snag this grab this gem from the Goodwill record bin. First of all, the condition of both the cover and the vinyl are very good. Someone actually kept this baby stored in plastic. Secondly, the group picture on the back cover is fantastic. I mean, now bad can an album really be when the songs are performed by 13 white guys all sporting the same black suits and crew cuts? As an added bonus, the back cover even appears to have been autographed by one member of the group. Hello eBay!
The recording came out a little scratchy but the digital filters I tried all cutoff the top end so I left the recording “as is”. Personally, I’d rather listen to the hiss than the filtered version that left a tinny ringing in my ears. I know that you audio purists would rather listen to a .flac recording but I converted this to 320kps .mp3 to make it iPod friendly. Please don’t turn me in to the Society of Audio Snobs 
The back cover provides an extensive history of both the Timberline Lodge and The Bohemians. Here’s a snippet:
“These are Portland’s Bohemians….thirteen business and professional men who, at day’s end, become one of America’s finest singing groups….who have taken time away from their jobs to delight audiences in New York, Paris, Munich….and who sing because it’s fun”.
After one listen I came to the conclusion that these guys are really pretty good. The yodeling on several tracks is fantastic. The Bohemians combine a nice mix of traditional German folk songs with a few originals. Track 6 on side one, “Evolution”, is a real stand-out. Especially when they break into Big Mama Thorton’s “Hound Dog” near the end. Side 2 starts off with a great version of “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady” that I was humming for the rest of the day. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I did.
Tracks:
Side One
- 01_01 – September Song
- 01_02 – Switzer Boy
- 01_03 – Studentleben
- 01_04 – Moonlight in Vermont
- 01_05 – Bin a Lustiger Bua
- 01_06 – Evolution
Side Two
- 02_01 – Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
- 02_02 – Muss i Denn
- 02_03 – Miss Otis Regrets
- 02_04 – Matin Bell
- 02_05 – Autumn Leaves
- 02_06 – When I Sing My Yodel
- 02_07 – Dream
Continue reading The Bohemians – After Ski at Timberline Lodge (1959)
