This week we begin a two-part feature focusing on the accordion. Back in those pre-cable days, we had very few TV stations to choose from, so, frequently, all through our neighborhood almost every homes was tuned to The Lawrence Welk Show. We found ourselves exposed to the accordion on that program as well as every wedding reception and ice cream festival I attended as a kid. It was years until I realized how very cool and versatile the accordion is. For the next two weeks we’ll sample the many voices of the accordion as a lead and accompaniment instrument. We’ll hear Maria Kalaniemi, Jimmie Shand, Steve Riley and of course Frankie Yankovic … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist / “Title” / CD / Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle /
              Smithsonian Folkways
Lydom, Bugge & Hoirup / “Tretur-Furmandsrill-Rigel” / Gangspil / Go Danish Folk Music
The Subdudes / “Angel to Be” / Annunciation / High Street
Maria Kalaniemi & Sven Ahlback / “Polska After Johan Erik Taklax” / Airbow / Northside
Jimmie Shand and his Band / “The Marestand Twostep” / Jimmie Shand Plays Jimmie
              Shand / Delta

Sourdough Slim / “Roaming Cowboy” / Contagious Fun / Roundup Records
Tango-Orchestri Unto / “Juno” / Dark Wings of the Night / ARC
The Occasionals / “The Baden Powell” / Back in Step / Greentrax
Jody Kruskal / “She’s Got the Money Too” / Concertina Valentine / Self Produced
Frankie Yankovic / “The Pennsylvania Polka” / America’s Favorites / Columbia
Lydom, Bugge & Hoirup / “Springdans-O hejsa, min kone er tyk” / Gangspil / Go’ Danish
              Folk Music

Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys / “Tout le Temps en Temp” / Live / Rounder
Joseito Mateo & Louis Kalaff / “Los Budegueros” / Republica Dominicana / Putumayo
Yale Strom / “Young Forces Grow” / “City of the Future-Yiddish Songs from the Former Soviet
              Union” / ARC
High Neighbor Boys / “Zeke Terney’s Stomp” / Okeh Western Swing / CBS Special Products
La Famille Leger / “Tunes from Lucy Johannes” / L’Etoille Nord / Self Produced
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle /
              Smithsonian Folkways