Who is your favourite yodeller?

Subject: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Paul Hazell
Date: 22 May 09 - 04:11 PM

Hi to everyone,

Back in March I contributed to several threads on the theme of yodellers. It occurs to me that it might be worthwhile to ask:

1). who your favourite yodellers are?

2).who do you think the best yodellers are?

3). what are your favourite yodel tracks?

There are of course many potential contenders from around the world but maybe someone out there has a favourite who is not one of the "big names". Also what is it about their style that makes them your favourite.

To start the ball rolling, Ranger Doug once told me that he idolised Roy Rogers and elton Britt but thought the best yodeller was Franzl Lang.

Kenny Roberts however said that elton Britt was his yodel idol, Slim Clark was the fastest he had heard but that Franzl Lang was the overall best yodeller.

I have also heard say that Jimmie Rodgers was the best - not because he did anything spectacular but because what he did was excllent and he always made it fit with the mood of the lyrics. I think Merle haggard said something along similar lines on his famous "Same Train A Different Time" album.

So what does everyone think - serious answers please.

PAUL

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Neil D
Date: 22 May 09 - 04:58 PM

Ranger Doug is a pretty fair hand in his own right, but I have to go with the old Blue Yodeler himself, Jimmy Rodgers. His yodels do fit right in not just the mood of the lyrics but in the rhythn of the song as well.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 22 May 09 - 05:14 PM

Ranger Doug was my first thought too, but then I remembered Roc LaRue and his Rockabilly Yodel, which I find pretty amazing.

Claire

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 May 09 - 05:34 PM

Well, after hearing Britt do "Chime Bells", it's hard to compare...but I have a morbid fascination with The DeZurik Sisters
   They are quite good at what they do.....

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Arkie
Date: 22 May 09 - 07:13 PM

Elton Britt was exceptional and as has been said about Jimmie Rodgers the yodel was integrated into the rhythm and emotion of his songs in a unique way. Other yodelers I enjoy for various reasons are Marge and Debby Rhodes of Nashville, TN for their harmony yodeling and Kerry Kristenson and David Bradley for the beauty of their yodels.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: kendall
Date: 22 May 09 - 07:24 PM

Wilf Carter (Montana Slim)

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 09 - 09:06 PM

Right now my favorite is Switzerland's Melanie Oesch of Oesch's die Dritten. She yodels wonderfully and her regular voice is very good. Also, she's a born performer. It is obvious that she enjoys singing and she genuinely likes her audience.

you can hear her sing by going to YouTube and copying Oesch's die Dritten in the search box.

She's so pretty, too. I enjoy watching her.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 09 - 09:15 PM

And then, at the opposite end of the glamour spectrum, there's Sourdough Slim. (but what technique!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEu5PUCWltQ&feature=related

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 22 May 09 - 10:50 PM

I second Kendall's nomination. Wilf was the best!

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 May 09 - 12:40 AM

Hawaii's Leo Ki'eki'e Singing

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 23 May 09 - 04:00 AM

I've always been fond of the yodelling of the Baka Pygmies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cATZe_jlc9g

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 May 09 - 11:03 AM

Thanks for the links, M Ted and Suibhne. That was interesting.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: olddude
Date: 23 May 09 - 06:16 PM

I also have to agree with the Captain on Montana slim

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 23 May 09 - 08:51 PM

Amen to the de Zurik (aka Cackle) Sisters.... :-)

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 May 09 - 08:57 PM

You people have favorites???? Yer weird.....

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 May 09 - 09:00 PM

Surrealist yodelling:

Nina Hagen, African Reggae

Georgian yodelling

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 23 May 09 - 10:23 PM

Many spoken of here are great, but for pure technical ability combined with real listenability, I have to give a slight edge to Bill Staines. --- 15 or 20 years ago, Bill was the best.

Art

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Melissa
Date: 24 May 09 - 04:16 AM

having just run across a pre-Rodgers recording of Riley Puckett, I'm enchanted by him for the moment.
Mary Schneider fascinates me for her apparent doublejointed throat.

I'm with Art on Bill Staines for listenability. He and Ranger Doug are two I can think of offhand that don't wear me out quickly.
For listenability, Jimmie Rodgers is low on my list..but I sure do like him--in very small doses.

Patsy Montana impresses me for her early success and ability to still yodel well after so many years.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 24 May 09 - 05:58 AM

Jimmy Rodgers, still some footasge on youtube.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Leadbelly
Date: 24 May 09 - 02:49 PM

Louis Armstrong did a wonderful vocal version of "Erzherzog Johann Jodler". It's on an extreme rare record I bought in Vienna in the 60'.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 May 09 - 06:13 PM

Jimmie Rogers made it sound natural and part of the songs - he was excellent. I'm not a great fan of yodelling, but Rogers was good.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Arkie
Date: 24 May 09 - 07:03 PM

Patsy Montana certainly belongs on any list of favorite yodelers and she was also an influence on many and going strong up until her death and a fine, gracious lady. I've also enjoyed Slim Whitman, Kenny Rogers, and Frank Ifield who could create interest in a song by inserting a falsetto note or two.

And then there is:


Yodeling Bill Haley

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 May 09 - 08:45 PM

Bill Haley!? Who'd a thunk it? Thanks for the link.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 May 09 - 07:22 PM

Wow - Bill Haley. I'm impressed!

My (revised) list in no particular order.

On any given day I'll listen to one more than others.
OK, OK, Frank Ifield, Roy Rogers and Rex Allen are my biggest influences.

GUYS: Roy Rogers, Rex Allen, Frank Ifield, Elton Britt, Slim Whitman, Bill Staines, and now Bill Haley,Kenny Roberts, Ranger Doug Green, Wilf Carter, Montana Slim, (although I'm not sure which of the last two I like better!), Merle Travis and Marty Robbins.

GALS: Carolina Cotton, Patsy Montana, Rosalie Allen, the De Zurik Sisters,Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.


Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 May 09 - 07:41 PM

Just found this on YouTube:


Rosalie Allen

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 May 09 - 07:42 PM

One of those questions like "who is your favourite bodhran-player" which might tend to invite unkind responses.

I'm rather encouraged that this thread hasn't worked out that way.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 25 May 09 - 08:27 PM

Oi Seamus, what's wrong with Jimmie Rodgers? ( Don't worry, I won't do a Lizzie Cornish on him)

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: pdq
Date: 25 May 09 - 08:38 PM

Did someone really mean Kenny Rodgers, the gravel-voiced pop singer from the 1980s?

Roy Rogers and Jimmie Rodgers could yodel. So could Kenny Roberts.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 May 09 - 09:32 PM

Tug - nothing wrong with Jimmie Rodgers; I found his yodeling to very plain and unornamented, just not my cuppa joe.

I really enjoy the yodelling pyrotechnics of a Frank Ifield or Rex Allen or all the others I mentioned.

However, I love Jimmie Rodgers' songwriting and singing.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 May 09 - 09:34 PM

As a quick follow-up: JR did pretty much the same yodel in his songs.

If you listen to Rex Allen singing 'Yodeling Crazy' he does 4 or 5 different yodels in the song.

Unfortunately, I can't provide a link.

Let me go look on YouTube.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Arkie
Date: 25 May 09 - 10:10 PM

Actually, I meant Kenny Roberts, not Rogers. My fingers don't always type what they are told.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: topical tom
Date: 25 May 09 - 11:28 PM

I agree with those who named Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) as the best, although for a blues yodelling style Jimmie Rodgers is right up there with Wilf. Great ones both!

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Cats
Date: 26 May 09 - 07:58 AM

If you go onto Youtube and put in Cat yodeling you will find an excellent piece that puts a whole new slant on it.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GLoux
Date: 26 May 09 - 09:08 AM

John Lilly is a wonderful yodeler. He wrote a song, A Little Yodel (Goes A Long Way), that is great.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: pdq
Date: 26 May 09 - 09:17 AM

Don Edwards ain't too bad when it comes to yodelling. Puts on a good show, too. Not bad for a boy from New Jersey.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 May 09 - 01:45 PM

Wylie Gustafsen quite literally wrote the book on yodeling.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 May 09 - 02:03 PM

Arkie mentioned Kerry Kristensen' upthread. That should be Kerry Christensen.   

http://www.kerrychristensen.com/about/index.html

Kerry is a present-day American who learned to yodel in Europe. He's great, and he does both Alpine and cowboy yodeling. His regular voice is warm and beautiful and his yodeling is fantastic. You can search for his name on YouTube and hear a number of his songs.

He sells a CD on how to yodel and freely admits that grandparents buy it for grandkids so as to get revenge on the hapless generation in-between.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,CupOfTea, no cookies
Date: 26 May 09 - 02:07 PM

Just for the sheer fun and silliness of it: Lou & Peter Berryman doing their "Double Yodel"

It's a tour de farce in the yodeling sweepstakes

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 26 May 09 - 03:11 PM

I`m no expert but I must one of the great funny men Chick Murray

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 26 May 09 - 03:20 PM

Captain Farrell - do you mean Chic Murray, the old time Scottish comedian?
If so, I've gotta check him out.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: gnu
Date: 26 May 09 - 03:27 PM

Ye Old Lady Whoooo...

Sorry... sometimes, I just can't stop myself.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 26 May 09 - 03:46 PM

Got it in one Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 27 May 09 - 02:17 AM

Captain Farrell - I hope you get Whiskey in your jar.
I went to YouTube and found a bunch of brilliant Chic Murray comedy routines, but no yodeling.
Can you suggest a recording that may have some of his yodeling onit, please?

BTW, his comedy is seriously brilliant with lots of wordplay and surreal bits.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: GUEST,MeadowMuskrat
Date: 27 May 09 - 06:28 PM

I'm surprised no one mentioned Bill Staines. I think he won a national championship one year.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: kendall
Date: 27 May 09 - 07:27 PM

In his day, Yodeling Slim Clark was among the best.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Arkie
Date: 27 May 09 - 08:31 PM

There are still quite a few exceptional yodelers who have not been recognized. Bill Staines has been mentioned, now, four times. Janet McBride of Mesquite, Texas certainly should be on the list if one is being compiled. She has been an inspiration to many of the younger singers attracted to yodeling and was recognized by Leann Rimes for her influence when Rimes recorded her unique version of "Blue". Janet has deservedly won a number of awards.

An oldtimer who is rarely mentioned among artists who excel at the yodel is Goebel Reeves, the Texas Drifter. I have only heard a couple of recordings by Reeves, and he is a little quirky for my tastes, but I would be interested in what others who are more familiar with him might think.

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 27 May 09 - 08:58 PM

For sheer yodeling fun try this. Watch a Seamus Kennedy festival audience do a double-take as they discover 1.the Irish guy yodels, and 2. he is very good at it. Priceless.
- Phil

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 27 May 09 - 11:41 PM

Has anyone listened to Bob Bovee? A great yodeler. Also Paul Siebel used to do the best versions of Jimmy Rogers and Hank Williams.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 28 May 09 - 12:17 AM

Phil - you mean like this:
here

Seamus

Subject: RE: Who is your favourite yodeller?
From: Paul Hazell
Date: 28 May 09 - 03:16 AM

Chic Murray was a nice, easy yodeller. His best known recording was the country classic "Satisfied Mind" which had a gentle, tyrolean style yodel in it. The recording was included on EMI UK's compilation "Yodelling Crazy" released around 1992 if I remember correctly.

The set might be worth checking out as it has recordings from US, Australia, UK, Germany, etc and ranges from 1990s back to 1920s. Do not confuse with a current budget collection with the same title that is currently doing the rounds. This on EMI UK but was also distributed by EMI Australia and EMI Europe.

Keep yodelin'....this is fascinating!

By the way, I agree that Bill Staines is / was great by why doesn't he do it on his recordings? I have several LPs / CDs and only about 3 or 4 with a yodel

PAUL