You'll never believe this video

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: PoppaGator
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:22 PM

I assume that I was mistaken and that "Sister Ray" is the correct title for that particular Velvet Underground song ~ and I also assume that every other word of Leej's highly entertaining message is a complete fabrication.

I sure sure wish that *I* had once slipped Larry Welk a dose of windowpane and hung around to observe!

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Feb 08 - 02:53 PM

Leej, you are truly a beautiful summabitch. I'd had thoughts along those lines but the real world showed up and I forgot about it. I'm glad I did cuz you know I always love your stuff!

Well stroked old friend........

Spaw

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 08 Feb 08 - 02:23 PM

Poppagator, that was in actuality the VU song "Sister Ray". The original was a much longer version, and it was pared down to fit into the requirements of Welk's commercial breaks. Welk was not a very passionate Reed fan, as Bill Berkey, the banjo player remembers in a TV Guide interview. "Lawrence had been a huge Doors fan, and was well known for his polka version of Celebration of the Lizard, but he claimed most of the Velvets stuff was 'too dark' for the show. I worked up several VU tunes with Tommy Baresky the organist including Venus in Furs and The Black Angel's Death Song and we played them for Larry at a cocktail party at his place in Minot, after slipping Welk a dose of windowpane. But the only tune he approved for the Show was Sister Ray, which he said had a 'lively, upbeat tempo'. We did perform it, and it went over gangbusters as you can see in the video. I don't remember much about the performance because I had packed in two enormous nose-loads of china white at the last commercial break, but I think my playing is not too bad. Of course, this went on to become our closing number during the 1970 American Legion Tour."

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: PoppaGator
Date: 08 Feb 08 - 12:10 PM

Thanks, GUEST. I had expected more of a reaction by now; you have restored my faith in humanity.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 08 - 01:36 AM

Sweet Jesus PoppaGator! I'm keeping my family in stitches sending them this stuff. Thanks. LOL

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Jim Lad
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 11:50 PM

You don't think that was "One Toe Over the Line" & recently doctored?

That show is still seen here on Saturday afternoons. I'll have to watch for that song.
If it's legit., those two have absolutely no clue what they are singing.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: frogprince
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 11:34 PM

I anyone ever asks me to define "irony", I think I'll just show them that thing. Do you think the performers were as clueless as L.W., or did they stage it, carefully planned custuming and all, just to pull that off? Hilarious!

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 11:02 AM

Well, my wife informed me...(after being amazed at the video and guessing immediately what it was gonna be)...that an old friend of hers told her about it years ago!

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 10:26 AM

Better yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i48BP1PUoFI

This is the Welk Orchestra's cover of the Velvet Underground song "Searching for My Mainline," with a decent impersonation of the Lou Reed vocal. Take special note of the old folks doing the foxtrot to this selection. (Well, not that old; not as old as they were back when we first watched the show!)

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 11:44 PM

Jo Ann Castle was the ragtime pianist and in that genre she's much like another woman, Del Wood. My Mom was a really great pianist but my Dad was always happiest when she "did" Del Wood. Gotta' admit I kinda' like rag myself.....sorta' happy and loud and fast and fun and............Anyway, Jo Ann Castle was Welk's ragtime girl. SHe did other stuff too but I remember rag best.

Spaw

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 11:01 PM

My parents watched it. We only had one tv station at the time and we all liked the music. There was only one person whom we didn't like, mostly because mom couldn't stand her, I think. It was that platinum blonde who pounded so hard on the piano with a big cheesy smile plastered on her face. I loved the dancing as dancing was a big part of my life when I was a kid. Since we were a singing/musical family we related in some ways, to the performers and Welk, esp. me as I was born in North Dakota and he was the only semi-famous person I knew of, at the time, who'd also been born there.:-)

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 10:24 PM

LOL Ted...........Ya' know, I keep having those kind of things happen to me too. I attribute it to the poor overall quality of picture on those old sets. I used to think that almost all the people on TV were adults much older and wiser, etc. But now I see that many of them were really much younger than I thought at the time. Had to be the picture quality.

Spaw

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: M.Ted
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 09:53 PM

I have had occasion to watch some of the old shows in recent years, and am deeply disturbed by the fact that a lot of the audience members who danced to the orchestra look a lot younger than I had remembered. Don't understand it.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 02:07 PM

"Toke" definitely refers to pot, not coke.

Lawrence Welk embodied "squaresville," but he had a nationwide audience for a weekly TV show and therefore could afford to hire the very best players for his band. It is extremely likely that at least a few band members knew very well what the song was about, and undoubtedly had a chuckle or two at their naive employer's expense.

New Orleanian clarinet prodigy Pete Fountain got a huge break when Welk hired him and immediately began featuring him as a soloist. Pete went straight from sustenance-level local club gigs to nationwide fame, including appearances with Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson. Pete has never been a counterculture icon but he's a jazz player, for crying out loud, and is still a very hip and notably fun-loving character. Did he ever inhale? Who's to say?

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: DonMeixner
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 01:32 PM

Allan,

Obviously it is your youth that betrays you. Most of us are of an age that Lawrence was the hot sound on Saturday nights.

I hadn't watched it in so long I had no clue that was Myron Floren.

Dob

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: AllanW
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 02:38 AM

Am I the only person who's rather pleased with himself that he didn't have a clue what Welk looked like? I couldn't pick Jimmy Shand out of a line up either. In fact before commenting earlier, I did google Welk and there was an old guy playing an accordion who could possibly have looked like the guy in the video, so I took the YouTube contributer's word for it. The other google pictures were of shell fish, who didn't really look at all like the announcer, but a couple of the guys in the background.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: M.Ted
Date: 06 Feb 08 - 12:02 AM

I finally found his fan club's page, and you're right--I thought he looked older then, but no--

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: M.Ted
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 11:54 PM

I was thinking of you when I posted it, Spaw.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 11:48 PM

Hilarious video Ted! My grandparents were faithful viewers and I was often stuck! I can guarantee you that it IS Myron Floren. Check out some other photos on the net but I know its him.

And Splott, Tom and others......There was never any innocuous meaning. Tokin was smokin (weed) and the singer has had one drag too many. I'm sure Bill D's info is also correct.   Welk was pretty naive about most popular culture.

Karen watched it with her jaw kinda' slack and one of those "You gotta' be shittin' me" looks on her face. Too much. I had never see it before......Thanks Ted!

Spaw

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 11:26 PM

No doubt in my mind it is the real show. I was stating it wasn't LW who did the intro as someone thought it might be in an early post.

Don

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: M.Ted
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 06:16 PM

No, something good happens--as with all music.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:57 PM

What happens if I "do believe the video"???

Does something bad happen to me?

Ed

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Brendy
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:52 PM

It's brilliant, M.Ted.

Thanks for that...

B.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: M.Ted
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:49 PM

I'm pretty sure that that's Bob Smale, not Myron Floren, and he does looks like he is choking something back as he introduces the number. And Lawrence Welk does the extro, and anyone who thinks that it's fake never watched the show. As I said, I remember seeing the number years ago on TV.

I am sure that the guys in the band all knew what the song was about--since they were LA studio musicians, and most had played in various of the famous jazz orchestras.

I've always enjoyed the show, because it is real, live music, with real live singing, without lipsynch or backing tracks. The big hair is a bonus.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Brendy
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:35 PM

Myron was decidedly uncomfortable, I thought.
Dale didn't really warm up until that first lead break of his.

Gail seemed on top of things at all times, however.....

B.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST,Mike in DC
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:24 PM

The intro was by Myron Floren, Welk's long time sidekick and backup accordion player.

Mike

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:06 PM

Surely smoking a little grass is completely innocent (illegal maybe, but that's something different.)

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: gnu
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 05:01 PM

Sweet Jesus, indeed! Um. Perhaps I am naive, but, does "toke" reefer to "coke"?

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Amos
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:58 PM

Brewer and Shipley tell the tale even better!! LOL!


A

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Brendy
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:56 PM

It is indeed kat..., you could still do a lot with that song. It would fit a few different approaches.
... giving me ideas.... ;-)

Either way, Gail & Dale are winding their way to selected friends on Facebook. It'll be all over the place in an hour...

.. who knows..., perhaps a 'Gail & Dale Revival Tour'...

B.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Metchosin
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:55 PM

huh? 'Cause it is.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Brendy
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:47 PM

Interesting article HERE!

B.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:46 PM

Thanks for the link, Brendy. Still a great song!

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Brendy
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:41 PM

There is a Brewer & Shipley video of the song in the same collection as the one MTed posted, and they do refer to the programme: Click Here...

B.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:34 PM

so...some are suspecting 2 videos have been mixed to make it look like that was 'on' the Welk show? Hmmmmm...

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Anne Lister
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 04:34 PM

I'm sure Chris Guest must know this clip....without wishing to revive the discussion on "Mighty Wind"!

Anne

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 12:45 PM

Why say it's the Lawrence Welk Show? That's not Lawrence Welk.

Why assume that somebody's being overly cute or deceptive? If by 'toke' they are referring to cocaine, cocaine had been around for years. The song sings about knowing the pain, getting past it and going back home. A lot of people wish they could do that.

While the costumes are not to be believed, the premise is not that untrue to other traditional music I've heard.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 11:17 AM

Lawrence Welk was famous for his 'innocence'. One time, he was gonna have someone do a cute little song he had discovered called "Roll Me Over in the Clover"....but one of the staff said.."Ummmm...Lawrence, I don't think that's one we should be doing."

"Oh? Why not? It's cute & funny."
"Ummm..Lawrence, what do you think "roll me over, lay me down and do it again" means?"

"Why, I suppose it means "roll me over again"."

"Trust me, Lawrence... that's not what it means, and it isn't appropriate for the show."

They aren't sure he ever understood exactly why.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: john f weldon
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 10:34 AM

That song was never innocent. It was a hit in the sixties by Brewer & Shipley. It was always about drugs.

By the way, I note that the Andrews sisters never "got" "Rum & Coca-Cola" either.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 10:27 AM

Oh, I am sure it was completely innocent at the time, at least on Welk's part. Equally as sure there were at least some band members who had no doubt about what was being sung.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: topical tom
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 10:07 AM

I agree with Splott Man, probably an innocent meaning at the time but who knows for sure? Fun, though! LOL!

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 09:57 AM

It may have been the show but that clearly isn't Lawrence Welk with the Accordion doing the intro.

Don

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: oldhippie
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 07:29 AM

cool, man.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Splott Man
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 03:44 AM

Of course, it could have had a quite innocent meaning at that time.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: AllanW
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 03:27 AM

...or was that Easy Rider?

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: AllanW
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 03:25 AM

Watch again. Welk's introduction has classic tell tale signs of swallowing the evidence before the cameras were turned on. They don't fool me.

In fact, just after this song I distinctly remember seeing the famous clip where Welk says to a fellow band member..

"No, man, like hey, man. Wow. I was watching this object man, li-like the satellite that we saw the other night, right? And, like, it was going right across the sky, man, and then... I mean it just suddenly, uh, it just changed direction and went whizzin right off, man. It flashed..."

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Metchosin
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 03:15 AM

I think there would be some that believe he got that right.

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: GUEST,KT
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 02:51 AM

"a modern spiritual" he says!

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Metchosin
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 01:18 AM

LOL

Subject: RE: You'll never believe this video
From: Amos
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 12:22 AM

It's two sweet young people in their finest 1950's era getups with earnest clean looks on their innocent faces, singing "One Toke Over the Line, Sweet Jesus". On the Lawrence Welk show...It is clear from the context that either the expression is a mile above Lawrence Welk's head, or else Lawrence and the two sweet young performers are a mile over the American public's head...what a den of irony!!

Thanks for the grin!


A