This was an era when you could have Lawrence Welk right next to Elvis in the Top Ten! Those were great years, all gone today. Everything blends into one big noise. The variety of music was astounding back then.
YES! For years I have been trying figure out who did this and where I could find it! WGN radio was playing it the other day and the radio show host was flipping out over it. He kept playing it after every commercial break and I was going nuts waiting for the name. A listener called in to reveal the mystery. Thank you times a million for posting this here! What a fun and catchy tune!
The pop charts had room for stuff like this back in the 60's...there was room for all sorts of music and the AM radio band was alive with pop masterpieces all day and night long...where did it go? Rap music is an oxymoron, and AM argument shows with Rush or whomever, are a waste of bandwith.....where did we go off the track?
@fmazzar Part of it was that FM was gaining listeners and had better sound quality. The other problem is that radio was deregulated without removing the FCC's tight control over licensing and acting as a traffic cop to make sure one signal didn't trounce on another. Had the airwaves been left to the private sector, technology would have advanced to the point where there could have been far more stations and variety. Thanks to the government, though, AM is the same as it was 90 years ago.
@MrTrashcan1 If that is the case, then why was there room for more variety back then on the same AM radio that has been the same for 90 years? There is plenty of room. What is wrong is that deregulation in the 1980s and 1990s has allowed giant corporations to own many stations and spew the same sensational commercial crap over and over again on each station.Whatever sells the most advertisement, not what people necessarily like.The Communications Act of 1934 was a wonderful thing,and it's gone.
@fmazzar But wait, what's wrong with Vanilla ice's Ice Ice Baby and Notorious Big's "Hypnotize"? Don't they have the calibre of quality songs like Calcutta? Hmmm???
Welk's first #1 Hit! The DOT Lp also made the top of the "Easy Listening" Charts too! BTW,was this tune the result of the Off-Broadway Play with the same same name,or not?
I agree video is the culprit, but I think it started long before that. David Bowie was probably the first to use weirdness to sell music back in the early 70's.
I just had to hear it today, because it was 50 years ago today that I heard it on a plane. The melody stuck in mind, and will always remind me of my first trip to Rome for the summer. Years later I learned the title and artist.
@IBMeddling One of my favorites. Really just a picture I found on the web, but it's so funny--a guy excited about a Lawrence Welk album. The irony of it is that back in the 90s when I was searching to find all the songs I had taped back in school I was probably just as excited to find that record.
It may not have anything to do with Calkutta, originally, but I envision the people of that city going down the street, walking, dignified or working, or : dancing .with bright colored clothes in the sun.
interesting, I just found out that this is the original of this song! I loved this for years on my Mom's "Telsar" by The Ventures LP, so I was thinking, let me find out who did the original, so I can get the 45,.. then after finding out it was Lawrence Welk and hearing it.. I changed my mind.. I'm going to look for my Ventures album right now.. lol.. sorry.. My Grandma loved the Lawrence Welk show and his music, sadly,.. I never did.
A #1 hit for the late Lawrence Welk in February 1961. Welk at the time was the oldest act to have a hit make it to #1 on the Top 40 charts. He was 57 at the time. Lawrence, you will always be one of the all time greats. We love you and will never forget you.
Growing up the sixties, us kids had a case full of 45rpm records. Included with all the rock records was Lawrence Welk with "Calcutta". I still remember how I hated having to watch the Lawrence Welk show as a kid. Now I watch it with my mom on PSB every Saturday night.
@KevinByrne2 The song is credited to Heino Gaze, but it was adapted from an old European melody that was known as something like "Galgut." The title was anglicized to Calcutta for modern public consumption. So you're right--it has nothing to do with India.
@MrTrashcan1 -- Thanks for your response. After some quick research -- following your lead -- I discovered that the tune originally had lyrics. The lyrics run roughly: I've kissed girls from Italy, Spain and France, but the girls from Calcutta kissed the best.
@KevinByrne2 Those lyrics were written in 1960 when the song was given the title, "Calcutta." So yes, they go with the song and support the title, but in reality they have nothing to do with the song's true origin.
@MrTrashcan1 -- You're right. Further research revealed that in 1958 Heino Gaze composed an instrumental piece "Tivoli Melody", which was retitled "Take Me Dreaming", which was retitled "Nicolette", which was retitled "Kalkutta liegt am Ganges", which became "Calcutta", to which Paul J. Vance and Lee Pockriss added lyrics.
MrTrashcan is correct. Welk's music director forever was George Cates. Cates also recorded under his own name. Cates loved "Calcutta" and wanted Welk's band to record it, but Welk was not taken with it, so Cates said he would record it under his own name. Wisely, Welk trusted Cates's judgment, and got his only #1 hit. I hope he paid Cates well!
I love the pingy sound of the Neupert harpsichord. Lawrence Welk got rid of it in the early 70's to make way for a new , trouble free "electronic" harpsichord. No tuning needed.
This was an era when you could have Lawrence Welk right next to Elvis in the Top Ten! Those were great years, all gone today. Everything blends into one big noise. The variety of music was astounding back then.
CBSEye 3 hours ago in playlist Yesterday Once More Vol C
this has the definitive early 60's feel....
oLdSkOoLkisS 2 weeks ago
YES! For years I have been trying figure out who did this and where I could find it! WGN radio was playing it the other day and the radio show host was flipping out over it. He kept playing it after every commercial break and I was going nuts waiting for the name. A listener called in to reveal the mystery. Thank you times a million for posting this here! What a fun and catchy tune!
tomovox 2 months ago
I don't understand why Mr. Welk didn't want to record this song. It's simple, but great.
unwindzen 3 months ago
First time hearing this. I am 41 and love it!
mirandabsings 4 months ago
The pop charts had room for stuff like this back in the 60's...there was room for all sorts of music and the AM radio band was alive with pop masterpieces all day and night long...where did it go? Rap music is an oxymoron, and AM argument shows with Rush or whomever, are a waste of bandwith.....where did we go off the track?
fmazzar 5 months ago
@fmazzar Part of it was that FM was gaining listeners and had better sound quality. The other problem is that radio was deregulated without removing the FCC's tight control over licensing and acting as a traffic cop to make sure one signal didn't trounce on another. Had the airwaves been left to the private sector, technology would have advanced to the point where there could have been far more stations and variety. Thanks to the government, though, AM is the same as it was 90 years ago.
MrTrashcan1 5 months ago
@MrTrashcan1 If that is the case, then why was there room for more variety back then on the same AM radio that has been the same for 90 years? There is plenty of room. What is wrong is that deregulation in the 1980s and 1990s has allowed giant corporations to own many stations and spew the same sensational commercial crap over and over again on each station.Whatever sells the most advertisement, not what people necessarily like.The Communications Act of 1934 was a wonderful thing,and it's gone.
td1238 1 week ago
@fmazzar But wait, what's wrong with Vanilla ice's Ice Ice Baby and Notorious Big's "Hypnotize"? Don't they have the calibre of quality songs like Calcutta? Hmmm???
billboardnumber1 4 months ago
Welk's first #1 Hit! The DOT Lp also made the top of the "Easy Listening" Charts too! BTW,was this tune the result of the Off-Broadway Play with the same same name,or not?
mrmjb1960 5 months ago
Great!
Chezgee7 7 months ago
Great song from an era before musicians had to act like freaks to sell a song...
rasputinslovechild1 7 months ago
@rasputinslovechild1 You are so right about that. The slide started with MTV and the idea of using images to sell a song.
57highland 7 months ago
@57highland
I agree video is the culprit, but I think it started long before that. David Bowie was probably the first to use weirdness to sell music back in the early 70's.
rasputinslovechild1 7 months ago
I just had to hear it today, because it was 50 years ago today that I heard it on a plane. The melody stuck in mind, and will always remind me of my first trip to Rome for the summer. Years later I learned the title and artist.
LostHits54 8 months ago
Wunnerful slideshow of Lawrence Welk.
QBCNetwork 9 months ago
I have this on 45 yo, love this track.....
Djfumarski 9 months ago
Brings you back in time. Great song!
unwindzen 10 months ago
And now ladies & Gentlemen, here they are to sing Rolling In The Deep, The Lennon Sisters, and ah One and ah two and ah....
MrMotownmanny 10 months ago
for some reason this song reminds me of American life during the Red Scare in the 50's. I dunno.
TheWhitestPersonEver 10 months ago
At 1:03 there is a funny picture of a guy holding a "Calcutta" record album. Is there a story behind that?
IBMeddling 11 months ago
@IBMeddling One of my favorites. Really just a picture I found on the web, but it's so funny--a guy excited about a Lawrence Welk album. The irony of it is that back in the 90s when I was searching to find all the songs I had taped back in school I was probably just as excited to find that record.
MrTrashcan1 11 months ago
My Dad likes this song
TheRobertSkull 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This song was number #1 50 years ago today!
toptenonthisday 1 year ago
It may not have anything to do with Calkutta, originally, but I envision the people of that city going down the street, walking, dignified or working, or : dancing .with bright colored clothes in the sun.
That's what I see when I hear that music.
EarthaKit2 1 year ago
interesting, I just found out that this is the original of this song! I loved this for years on my Mom's "Telsar" by The Ventures LP, so I was thinking, let me find out who did the original, so I can get the 45,.. then after finding out it was Lawrence Welk and hearing it.. I changed my mind.. I'm going to look for my Ventures album right now.. lol.. sorry.. My Grandma loved the Lawrence Welk show and his music, sadly,.. I never did.
CrisVangel 1 year ago
A #1 hit for the late Lawrence Welk in February 1961. Welk at the time was the oldest act to have a hit make it to #1 on the Top 40 charts. He was 57 at the time. Lawrence, you will always be one of the all time greats. We love you and will never forget you.
mkl62 1 year ago
Growing up the sixties, us kids had a case full of 45rpm records. Included with all the rock records was Lawrence Welk with "Calcutta". I still remember how I hated having to watch the Lawrence Welk show as a kid. Now I watch it with my mom on PSB every Saturday night.
dahsuerk 1 year ago 2
Thank you for that lovely tune. Thata funky music will drive us till the dawn. Let's go, let's bugaloo till we puke!!
davids8101 1 year ago
Stupid question: Why is this tune titled "Calcutta" ? It doesn't seem to have any connection to India.
KevinByrne2 1 year ago
@KevinByrne2 The song is credited to Heino Gaze, but it was adapted from an old European melody that was known as something like "Galgut." The title was anglicized to Calcutta for modern public consumption. So you're right--it has nothing to do with India.
MrTrashcan1 1 year ago
@MrTrashcan1 -- Thanks for your response. After some quick research -- following your lead -- I discovered that the tune originally had lyrics. The lyrics run roughly: I've kissed girls from Italy, Spain and France, but the girls from Calcutta kissed the best.
KevinByrne2 1 year ago
@KevinByrne2 Those lyrics were written in 1960 when the song was given the title, "Calcutta." So yes, they go with the song and support the title, but in reality they have nothing to do with the song's true origin.
MrTrashcan1 1 year ago
@MrTrashcan1 -- You're right. Further research revealed that in 1958 Heino Gaze composed an instrumental piece "Tivoli Melody", which was retitled "Take Me Dreaming", which was retitled "Nicolette", which was retitled "Kalkutta liegt am Ganges", which became "Calcutta", to which Paul J. Vance and Lee Pockriss added lyrics.
KevinByrne2 1 year ago
this song...
Celly by Stephen King its a great book!! =)
crystalandroid 1 year ago
Where's Bobby?
dahsuerk 1 year ago
@dahsuerk He didn't join until 1961. I saw his debut with Barbara Boylan. (Now, cut that out. LOLOL).
Juliaflo 1 year ago
CHA-CHA-CHAH!!!! Make's me want to get into my Sans-a-belt pants, support socks, drink a little Geritol, and go at it!
choirboyfromhell1 1 year ago
Old good time rides again..... thank you for sharing.
Andre1214 1 year ago
Xavier Cugat does a GREAT rendition of this tune.
SpeedyNeutrino43 1 year ago
MrTrashcan is correct. Welk's music director forever was George Cates. Cates also recorded under his own name. Cates loved "Calcutta" and wanted Welk's band to record it, but Welk was not taken with it, so Cates said he would record it under his own name. Wisely, Welk trusted Cates's judgment, and got his only #1 hit. I hope he paid Cates well!
MelosAntropon 1 year ago
Calcutta was Lawrence Welk's sixth entry into Billboard's charts. It was one of nine #1 instrumentals in the 1960's
tigermark64 2 years ago 6
KTUC and KCEE play this song frequently
frankd1965 2 years ago
Soul music for honkies ! Enjoy and dance your pink asses off 'til the cows come home. Lov y'all crackas!!! YEAH , I love Lawrence Welk too!!!
leftfootlouie 2 years ago
Wonderful, wonderful! thanks for sharing.
Andre1214 2 years ago
Yes, I remember hearing it performed for the first time on The Lawrence Welk show which we saw from its KTLA days c.1955 on.
RetiredInKalifornia 2 years ago
@RetiredInKalifornia Do you watch PBS? They rerun the Lawrence Welk Show
frankd1965 1 year ago
Fun song. I remember it well, even though I was just a kid. I watched Larry's show fairly often.
Quizcoot 2 years ago
This ranks among my instrumental favourites, together with Henry Mancini's "Just For Tonight". Masterclass!
kidmeisterz 2 years ago
Ah 1 ah 2 ah I kissed the girls of paris...la la la la lal la la ... hand clapping [ henry mancicni appeared on the lawrence welk show too ] ..
spacepatrolman 2 years ago
Was #1 on the pop charts for two weeks in 1961. Who can forget the lovely Lennon sisters singing?
jlgood50 2 years ago 5
@jlgood50 I certainly can't. I saw it on TV at that time.
Don't figure out my age, LOLOLOL.
Juliaflo 2 years ago
I know how old I am. Let's put it this way, you should be elgible for Social security benefits yesterday!
jlgood50 2 years ago
@jlgood50 Now cut that out, LOLOL. I am a long way from that.
Juliaflo 2 years ago
@jlgood50 Or the late Myron Floren on accordion.
bheffley2002 3 months ago
Mr.T, it's wunnerful,wunnerful to see you back and get my copy of this great song again!
nanajanamike 2 years ago
I love the pingy sound of the Neupert harpsichord. Lawrence Welk got rid of it in the early 70's to make way for a new , trouble free "electronic" harpsichord. No tuning needed.
Takemyjobpleez 2 years ago
Very-very excellent classic instrumental song, which is also happens to be: "Wonderful, Wonderful dance music!"
dalabaso428 2 years ago
I can feel the champagne bubbles floating by my computer screen!
peeterpoon 2 years ago