Frankie Yankovic - Early Columbia LPs

Not too long ago I posted one of Slovenian polka king Frankie Yankovic's Columbia 45s on my singles blog - a cover of one of Malcolm Arnold's tunes from The Key. Reader Mitch responded, "This is such happy music that is needed in this much too serious world today."

Well, I won't go so far as to say that Yankovic's music will solve the world's problems, but I agree it is happy music - polka lovers are fond of calling it "the happiest music on earth."

I will admit I am biased because this music is intensely nostalgic for me. Yankovic and his band were from Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, where both my parents were born and near where I grew up. My folks were not of Slovenian descent (and didn't even like polka music), but these sounds were inescapable when I was young. I literally just had to open the window to hear it - the guy across the street played the accordion.

This package includes Yankovic's first and fourth Columbia LPs ("All-Time Hits" from 1950 and "Polka Parade" from 1951, both 10-inchers), along with an EP, "America's Polka King" from circa 1952. All compile songs recorded earlier. I've also included a transfer of the "Blue Skirt Waltz," one of Frankie's greatest hits, which doesn't appear on the LPs or EP.

When was the last time a polka was a national hit? Maybe 50 years ago with "Peanuts" by Art Perko (also from Cleveland). In the 1940s, however, polkas were popular. The first big hit may have been the "Beer Barrel Polka" as recorded by the German bandleader Will Glahé and covered by the Andrews Sisters (and included here in Yankovic's version).

In the years after the war, the best-selling records were Yankovic's. His biggest seller was "Just Because" in 1948 (actually recorded in late 1947). It was a country tune that virtuoso accordionist Johnny Pecon had brought to the band, after hearing it when he was in the armed services during the war. The song had been written in the 30s, but Pecon was familiar with a version from circa 1941 by the Shelton Brothers, a country duo from Texas. (The Sheltons' effort is included in the download.)

The Yankovic group didn't content themselves with a straight version of the song. They added an astonishingly catchy instrumental break based on an old Italian motif. You will hear this famous break (played here by Pecon) in many polka songs.

The unit's second big hit, from 1949, was completely different, but had an equally eclectic background. The "Blue Skirt Waltz" was originally the "Red Skirt Waltz," written by Bohemian composer Vaclav Blaha. Yankovic's producer, I believe, brought in the tune to him, and then had Mitchell Parish ("Stardust") add lyrics. As with "Just Because," a spectacular instrumental break adds to the appeal of this superb record.

So in these two big hits, we have country and Bohemian songs and an Italian tune, played by Slovenians from Cleveland. Assisting on the waltz were the Marlin Sisters, who were actually Goldie and Gittile Malavsky, daughters of Cantor Samuel Malavsky. Yankovic's music was more cosmopolitan than it might appear on the surface.

The musicians on these early records, besides the leader and Johnny Pecon, were Georgie Cook, the hyperactive banjo player who was an important element of the sound, Al Naglitch, the keyboards player who usually was heard on a Hammond Solovox, and Adolph Srnick, bass (Stan Slejko on "Blue Skirt Waltz"). The arranger was Joe Trolli.

The band on "Just Because": front from left, Cook, Yankovic, Naglitch.
Rear, Srnick, Pecon.

This lineup only lasted until 1949. On some of the later records heard here, the musicians were possibly Tops Cardone, accordion, Carl Paradiso, banjo, Buddy Griebel, keyboards, and Al Leslie, bass - these personnel listings are according to Yankovic biographer Bob Dolgan.

Yankovic's success led to other record companies rushing to sign Cleveland polka bands - Johnny Pecon by Capitol, Johnny Vadnal by RCA Victor and Kenny Bass by Decca.

The sound on all these sides is very good. "Blue Skirt Waltz" and the Shelton Brothers record are not my transfers, but I have refurbished the sound.

I originally transferred these records years ago for my own amusement - perhaps they will captivate a few of you as well.