Deep Polka: Dance Music from the Midwest

by Deep Polka: Dance Mu

Overview

This is a 26-song compilation of polka from the upper American Midwest, recorded in the 1980s and 1990s. Seven outfits -- Karl and the Country Dutchmen, the Norskedalen Trio, Norm Dombrowski's Happy Notes, Vatra, the Steve Meisner Band, the Oulu Hotshots, and the Clete Bellin Orchestra -- all get three or four cuts. They're all from Wisconsin, but each represents a regional tradition, be it Norwegian, Polish, "Dutchman," Slovenian, Finnish, Czech, or Tamburitza. This has an advantage over many other polka records you could acquaint yourself with in that it's well-recorded, and that there is some variety. The Norskedalen Trio, for instance, has a more rural, folky sound than the norm, incorporating a fiddle; Vatra has Croatian vocals; and the Clete Bellin Orchestra has a deeper, more bottom-heavy oom-pah feel. The liner notes are very thorough, with explanations and descriptions of the performers and the styles. If your interest in polka is mild, though, the disc is likely to really wear on you over the course of an hour. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/1998
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074008829

Tracks

1. Minnesota Polka  -  Karl & The Country Dutchmen
2. Karl's Bad Schottische  - Karl Hartwich  -  Karl & The Country Dutchmen
3. Fleeting Memories Waltz  -  Karl & The Country Dutchmen
4. Gary's Polka  -  Karl & The Country Dutchmen
5. Remmem Valsen  -  Norskedalen Trio
6. Fylke Dans  -  Norskedalen Trio
7. All Smiles Tonight  -  Norskedalen Trio
8. Ed Quall's Polka  -  Norskedalen Trio
9. Dorothy's Oberek  -  Dombrowski
10. Mountaineer Polka  -  Dombrowski
11. Chicago Waltz  -  Dombrowski
12. Happy Fellow (Jestum Chlopak Wesoly)  -  Dombrowski
13. Gde Su Oni Lepi Cajti? (Where Have the Good Times Gone?)  -  Vatra
14. Bunjevacko Kolo/S One Strane Dunava (Bunjevac Kolo/On the Other ...)  -  Vatra
15. Jeste Li Culi 'Judi (People Have You Heard?)  -  Vatra
16. Bijeli Slapovi (White Waves)  -  Vatra
17. Jammin' Polkas  -  Meisner
18. Meisner Magic  - Steve Meisner  -  Meisner
19. Jump River Polka  - Steve Meisner  -  Meisner
20. S¿¿kkij¿¿rven Polka  -  Oulu Hotshots
21. Maailman Matti (Matti, Man of the World)  -  Oulu Hotshots
22. Orpopojan Valssi (Orphan Boy's Waltz)  -  Oulu Hotshots
23. Finn Polka  -  Oulu Hotshots
24. Owl Polka  -  Bellin
25. Little Vagabond Waltz  -  Bellin
26. Around the Moon  -  Bellin

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Clete Bellin Orchestra   Primary Artist
Vatra   Primary Artist
Karl & The Country Dutchmen   Primary Artist
Steve Meisner Band   Primary Artist
Oulu Hotshots   Primary Artist
Norskedalen Trio   Primary Artist
Norm Dombrowski's Happy Notes   Primary Artist
Myron Meulbauer   Clarinet,Saxophone,Trumpet
Tonyh Kaminski   Tuba
Joyce Cielecki   Keyboards
Ivo Gretic   Berde
Glenn Lahti   Accordion
Marie Matteson   Violin
Holly Johnson   Drums
Anthony Seeger   Director
Michael Hager   Trumpet
LeRoy Lahti   Accordion
Marty Nachreiner   Trumpet,Clarinet,Saxophone
Jeff Langen   Drums
Joe Jerabek   Tuba
Laurie Moran   Keyboards
Jerry Minar   Keyboards
John Wiedow   Trumpet
Doug Young   Tuba
Eleanor Bagstad   Piano
Frank Galewski   Tuba
Don Burghardt   Trumpet,Trombone (Valve)
Carl Hartmann   Banjo
Bill Kangas   Drums,Vocals
Don Hunjadi   Clarinet
Rick Hartmann   Drums
Steve Meisner   Bass,Piano,Vocals,Accordion,Button Accordion
Karl Hartwich   Concertina
Clete Bellin   Piano,Vocals
Mike Cielecki   Banjo
Bill Jerabek   Drums,Vocal Harmony
Tilford "Tip" Bagstad   Fiddle
Boris Kuzmanovic   Brac,Vocals

Technical Credits

Tom Adams   Engineer
Amy Horowitz   Production Supervisor
Clete Bellin Orchestra   Performer
Pete Reiniger   Sound Supervision
Vatra   Performer
Karl & The Country Dutchmen   Performer
Norm Dombrowski's Happy Notes   Performer
Oulu Hotshots   Performer
Norskedalen Trio   Performer
Anthony Seeger   Production Supervisor
Steve Meisner Band   Performer
Charlie Pilzer   Mastering
Mary Monseur   Production Coordination
Carla Borden   Editing
Steve Meisner   Composer
Karl Hartwich   Composer
Michael Maloney   Production Coordination
Peter Seitel   Editorial Assistant
Richard March   Producer,Annotation