The Lawrence Welk Show: Ghost Riders In The Sky

[marksguitars]

I love watching Neil LeVang on youtube. But always come back to this vid. Everything about this is perfect!. Sublime guitar and the vocals and organ just put the icing on this cake! perfect!

[graupner45]

real musicians

[1883luvangel]

My ring back tone;-)

[a9323hj]

Good Song.....

[Glinkaism1]

Song goes back to 1949.

[mcyrus]

Wow....

[surethang27]

Dick Dale does it waaayyy better

[theadamnahas]

@surethang27 not in 1961

[surethang27]

@theadamnahas Dick Dale did "Riders in the Sky" in 1963. He later made an even better version with full title "Ghost Riders in the Sky".

[niflap]

Never knew horses could gallop in morse code.

[inkey2]

i'll bet he is playing on like 013. gauge flatwounds back then

[420weedking]

I KNEW NEAL LeVang PERSONALLY . HIS MOMAND DAD WORKED FOR MY DAD IN RIVERSIDE AT MY DAD'S THRIFT SHOP IN THE LATE 60'S EARLY 70'S !!

HIS DAD GAVE ME A FEW GUITAR LESSENS !!!

[momsfudge59]

@420weedking I remember that thrift shop as a boy when we would visit Grandpa and Grandma. It was on Main Street near a train overcrossing.

[QJby1Hod]

The guy with the maracas @ 1:40 cracks me up!

[pincmin]

Shake those maracas!!

[dylansg400]

Does any one know how to get this recording to put it on my ipod

[ABOSS302]

Very Duane Eddy.

[john6218att]

too bad we can't go back to those days, it was a better time for most

[twb176]

@john6218att Sure was. If you were white. Not so much if you were anybody else.

[madridista1902]

Thi is the best version!

[butcchmclovin]

This song needs more recognition, as does LeVang.

[Zombiekeks]

Sweet strat tone...

[RITMOSYESTILOS]

Nice version. Watch more here in my channel RITMOS Y ESTILOS (Rhythms and Styles) Thanks.

[mondoshrimpo]

that is just hte most amazing beautiful version of this song...i wish the world would love this music still today...im sad to see the world look to lady gaga and think she is as good as it gets,,we have entered such a crappy era of bizarre and worthless entertainment

[dirtyfuse]

Ο θεος στο 1:37 (με τις μαρακες). 1:37. The maracas guy gets the frontman award !!!

[TaterGumfries]

Fake.



[momsfudge59]

@TaterGumfries

Respectfully, Many of Lawrence's Dot Records recordings were side lined to on the show. "Fake"? Not so. Lip Synced is a more accurate description.

Mark LeVang

[JayBBluejay]

@momsfudge59 Back in the early days of television, the audio was not as good as it is today, thus on many shows it is a recording. That is why the guitars may be unplugged but the players are still playing as if they were. I remember seeing Neil Levang on the Welk Show (I was only 6 years old when his predecessor [and guitar partner from 1962-74] Buddy Merrill left the show) and he could play guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle very well. This clip proves the Welk band was the best!

[unclerojelio]

Awesome arrangement.

[dan51556]

Love the castanette man.....all playing so woodenly, but still great!!

[MrMegaFredzeppelin]

EXCELLENT!!!!!!

[Sparrowhawk155]

It's true the old players could play anything. I can just hear the convo between Welk and the band members

[KoeraNina2009]

Real Guitar hereo!

[militairedrummer]

The percussion instrument is a set of stationary castenets

[drksideofthemoon2001]

Love his guitar sound!

[heavymetalhighway]

Heeeelll, yes!!

[LPcustom76]

1:34 

[paulj0557]

What is that click clack percussion instrument? I've looked at it over and over with my pause/repeat, but can't tell what is creating the sound when it's being played.

Teens in the 70's really wouldn't be caught dead saying they enjoyed Lawrence Welk, but a great many of us who became musicians ( any style) look back in wonderment. My god, the musicianship was class A.

I'm finally getting my dream organ- the Thomas Palace III organ. Many months looking. A whopping $100.Good time 2be-organist.

[icecreamforcrowhurst]

... with Michael Dukakis on the bass!

[Greasydawg]

@icecreamforcrowhurst

HA HA! CLASSIC!

[BirneyMontcalm]

Thanks, tvcollector71. This is one of the best versions I've heard, Vaughn Monroe's version being the best. And as a guitar instrumental! Good quality recording - video and sound!

[chengloki]

I watched Lawrence with my parents back in the '60's. I saw this LIVE!! Call me a square, but, "Lawrene Welk, and his Champagne Music Makers" made some damned fine music. (And no foul language). =Stefan=

[heavymetalhighway]

@chengloki ...'no foul language', hee...will try my best. My mom loved watching Lawrence Welk, also...who knew they were so rad...?

[Fignut666]

Wow!

[niflap]

Lawrence Welk & GRITS. I LOVE out-of-the-box combinations. Sounds like the Jonny Cash instrumental. Was this right after Stan Jones wrote GRITS?

[nanaslbkp]

He is good!

[order57]

How i wish i could play that Fender for just a minute.....

[leinadarecman]

this song + playing red dead redemption = ORGASM!

[gnativerson]

awesome organ sound from Jerry Burke !

[MrElkhunt4]

great song horrible show

[SambaMaquina]

4 people without soul 

[SambaMaquina]

EPIIC

[idontwantohurtnobody]

F'N GUITAR PLAYER WAS SHREDDIN , BLEW MY MIND , NO WAY.....JAINGO REINHEARTD AINT GOT NOTHING ON THIS DUDE !

[eislessthanpi]

@idontwantohurtnobody Oh, but it's not all about speed.

[tinangel909]

this is one of my favorite videos of all time

[ronniespraggs]

Great to hear the Lennon Sisters singing in German. Welk smuggled them into the USA with him as babies, when he fled Nazi Germany as a war criminal after the collapse of the Third Reich. He found sanctuary in Strasburg, North Dakota, with 100's of other fugitive nazis, and built the Lennon Sisters a pedophile sex-abuse cellar, just like back home in Deutschland - such a thoughtful man!

Why can't we have more traditional SS "Final Solution" music on today's TV? It's run by Jews, that's why!

[boatracer39]

@ronniespraggs Wow ! What an imagination !!!!

[IMmoreRANDOMthanYOU]

LeVang is one badass mother fucker

[pap4456]

Neil Lavang is one bad-ass guitar slinger!

[bassbob42]

I will bet this was a shocker to parents and a wake up call to the kids hehe!

[dbot66]

nice

[InIJah]

behold the whiteness of being!

[jonathonrempel1]

i just love the evolution of western music before the introduction of LSD. as i much as i love more recent music, i kind of wonder how music would sound today if it just had been allowed to slowly evolve through the twentieth century (instead of experiencing the branches of hyper-evolution which took place in the past forty years).

[MrBuc128]

Electric guitar on Lawrence Welk wow this is some risque stuff.All the blue hairs must be appaled

[cryptrider1]

What a wonderful rendition of a great old song!

Terry in Alexis, NC, USA

[jhohcable]

Damn nice.

[p666nz]

What a superb version and must check out more of The Lawrence Welk Show.

[ritchierich07]

Sublime.

[frankliln31]

I saw Levang playing spanish guitar on this weeks LW show. I think he could play anything with strings including shoes or spagetti if he had to.

I'm not sure what ronniespraggs problem is below, except that he's an asshole, at least every asshole I ever knew sounded just like him.

[kingggrick]

Slash looks like an ameture compared to him.

[Lesh4life]

watch the organ player...that is pure genius.

[oldies5161]

@Lesh4life  The organist is Jerry Burke and he was one of the best organists of this era.

[ronniespraggs]

I agree with all the Welk fan moron comments on here. This is real german Heimat music - music to commit mass murder by. Lawrence Welk himself would look great in an SS uniform, sloshing the old Zyklon B around, as like all real germans, he's got a head like a frozen turkey, that always looks best with a steel Wehrmacht helmet jammed down on top of it. Pity that Nazis like Welk never won WWII - we'd be listening to this cretinous garbage 24/7 now, and It's a mass atrocity in itself! Zeig Heil!!

[devoid2]

I think it's lip-synced--the audio of the bass is a picked electric bass, and we're seeing a plucked stand-up bass. The vocals are too perfect. Sure is great to see electric guitar on Welk!

[mysticjaz]

This is pretty damned good. Back then, the musicians had to pull everything off live, one take, when they were on TV.

And the arrangement is pretty interesting too.

[mysticjaz]

@mysticjaz There's something about this that just hits me. Probably because it reminds me of my early childhood. I was born the year this was aired.

[Antic64]

Were they lip-syncing???

[rockman399]

at 0:20, is that a guy playing a telegraph?

[MishaG9]

@rockman399 Those are castanets (castañuelas, from Spain)

[Juraro58]

que gran banda en sus tiempo

[LLJtbone]

Ok this sounds like something from a Clint Eastwood movie lol. Cool sounding though!

[taximan55]

My Only Problem with this is it's not live! I know he's a great Player let him Play for real!!

[frankliln31]

momsfudge59: You're Neil's son? If so, let him know, as a new Welk Junkie-I never watched it when I was a kid..for old people, I am awed by his talent on so many instruments- banjo, fiddle, electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, I think that's everything with strings except a piano or a harp, and he could probably tear those up to. I love this era when he was playing through that white tolex, oxblood Fender Showman w/JBL. One of the most beautiful amps ever. Neil did it justice!

[momsfudge59]

@frankliln31 Thank you so much for your very nice comment. I will give dad your message. I am awfully proud of him and strive hard to match his professionalism in my musical career!

[g79c]

This music is very peaceful and soothing to me for some reason...a world gone by...glad people are keeping this music alive.

[steventhestudent]

there was something better about black and white. something more haunting.

[jexplink]

I love that beautiful Fender tone.

[bobbygoode]

This was the band I grew up with with - since my grandma ruled the TV.

[raross3950]

This is a wonderful rendition of the song that was a big hit by the Ramrods in 1960. I have that 45 and this version, performed on The Lawrence Welk Show of all places, is every bit as good as the Ramrods' version. I love the sound effects of the "horses hooves" and the background vocals. Nice job on guitar, Neil.

[dancebandleader]

Thanks Mark. I should have remembered

looking at the show all those years!

[dancebandleader]

Someone suggested that Neil never played another instrument. Not quite

correct.  On a couple of shows Neil

played country fiddle.

[fordman4444]

He also played the Mandolin quite often.

[momsfudge59]

Dad played all stringed instruments. Fiddle, Banjo, Mandolin, Ukulele, Cavaquino, etc.

Mark LeVang

[disturbet212]

Famsa! xDDD #LOL

[stalzz]

The song was made popular by Vaughan Monroe, Bing Crosby and others, including the Outlaws in the 1970's. It was composed in 1948.

[erod1944]

If you look closely you'll see a very lovely Fender Showman Amplifier with a single JBL 15. It's the only time I've seen him use a piggyback. Maybe it was just for the "twang" on Ghost Riders.

[streetrace442]

And I thought the Out Laws released that song in the '70's.

[benbur69]

Wow! Thanks for posting this! Excellent!

[SpeedyNeutrino43]

This song is done very well by Frankie Laine too.

[patentpumps]

This was a Hot 100 hit on Billboard by the Welk crew.....sadly never on an LP or a CD as far as I know.

[unklewink]

OMG, I remember watching this broadcast! Neil was one of my "guitar heroes".

U.W.

[gsdotgs]

I envy you.

[rentatrip1]

most of all Welks performers

would double-up

and have to perform second duty -

play an instrument & dance -

or sing dance and play instrument-

Neil LeVang is one of the rare

Welk bunch who "ONLY" played one instrument and no other tasks--- True

Trivia

[grannydyess]

this is good.

[harponercam]

symphonic castanets. Great rendition!

[estelle715]

Perfection..as always. The guy is sure keeping in rhythm w/ that device. What is it? Telegraph keys? A great job!

[rentatrip1]

@estelle715

Tablete CASTAGNETTES TOCA a table mounted pair of castanets

[estelle715]

@rentatrip1 LOL! Mounted castanets! OK,I guess they don't really look like telegraph keys{maybe, a little}! Thanxs!

[TheOwl1970]

Then music then was the best. Such super talented musicians in the 60's,70's and 80's compared to the high-modern techno stuff you hear today. Lawrence Welk was awesome.

[Logicfray]

@TheOwl1970 there are still incredible musicians , just as much as back then, be more open minded.

[PsyLiq]

@TheOwl1970 hey now i listen electro music.... u cant judge peoples taste of music... music was made to progress itself into time... not that u are not right but every music genre has its own qualities.

im not listening strictly electronic stuff, i listen good music and thats what fills me up.

i think a true person is the person who will free his heart to music regardless to its genre.

[MetulManiac]

@TheOwl1970 There are skilled musicians in every era. The 60's, 70's, etc. all had crappy music that no one remembers so it seems like all it was was good music.

[mattwittman1]

Stuff like this is why I dug Lawrence when I was a teenager.

[kevingra]

thats dude sending morse code!..... help.... me... the people behind me... scare me!.. but seriously this is awesome

[monarkman1957]

I don't think it it gest much better than this!!! I am trying to learn guitar now, but am finding it hard to find someone who can teach me that is into this kind of music...I am on 43 years of age, but just love this music so much, the Lennons were amazing, and my friends think I am a real square when I tell them I watch LW on YouTube, LOL Just great stuff!! Thanks for sharing

[fordman4444]

@monarkman1957 You keep right on loving this music ,I assure you that you have many many friends that feel the same way,esp. about the Lennons !

[LadySierraSays]

Nice !!!

[discobritches]

Wow...a 1961 Strat

[Lunariouse]

Jerry Burke never would've tried that!!!:(

[aldichiara]

I think that guy on organ tried to give me candy in 1963.

[Lunariouse]

Hey sfrgrn, how is Jerry Burke creepy?

[TheTulsaBoyz]

This is what got me started playing guitar, saw Neil play this at my first concert, LW in Tulsa OK when I was 5, 1960

[fordman4444]

And I see the lovely Lennons singing back up ! Perfect !

[dancebandleader]

On the Welk show, there was usually something for everybody, and on the

records too, check out title song on the

Scarlett O"Hara album, and another cut

"Breakwater".  Guitar buffs who liked this

cip should enjoy.

[specialedd13]

no not the golden age of america the golden age of man...and north dakota

i love you lawrence!

[oohmy14]

Very cool bit. Could never handle Welk though, just too damn wholesome.

[Nick0L]

The Golden Age of America.

[peariverbirddog]

5outa 5

[srfgrn]

Great Strat -- but the organist is a little creepy!

[ledfingers1]

That was Grandpa from the Munsters.

[srfgrn]

Ha! That's a good one!

[antzzy1]

For more videos of that "creepy" organist, search Jerry Burke.

[srfgrn]

Thanks -- just when the nightmares were getting less severe!

[rjr1227]

Man, i really never realized how old this song was.Back in late 70s, i saw The Outlaws Perform this Live in Lincoln Nebraska and fell in love with the song. This was a pretty cool version of it ....

[j43ms]

f*ck me ragged, a strat on the lawrence welk show!

bet he got loads of complaints the next day

[DIOGUINHOist]

puta que pariuuuuu.... muito massa. flw...

[donnacheer11]

Leave it to the Lovely Lennon Sisters to give grace and beauty to an already great song. 5*****'s thank u 4 posting :-)

[polontinybb]

what is that thing the guy is playing in the background?

[ledfingers1]

dunno, but it makes good horse sense

[CaptainCarthex]

Yes!

[12stringsforme]

This is a really good arrangement and performance. I love the vocalists and the Wurlitzer. Thanks for posting!!

[buttfaceheadear]

Did you guys know that Welk got his mortgages from Marvin Von Renchler in Tigard Oregon?

[davidkiplingknox]

I never thought I would say that one of the coolest things I ever saw was on the Lawrence Welk Show-but this performance is stunning. The combination of the Strat, the Hammond, the bass, the percussion, and the vocals is utterly timeless. Thanks.

[Joyvinyl]

The closet ol' Lawrence ever came to smoking a doobie. My grandparents would have been freakin' out over this one.

[maui7000]

Need more cowbell!

[sharpclay]

This is perhaps one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

[Pickinbuddy]

This is one incredible arrangement in every way--guitar, hammond organ, bass and vocal chorus. Welk had some awesome players...and arrangements!

[Krehyv]

Slick :)

[QJby1Hod]

OK who put something weird in my weed bowl?! This is too strange even for internet standards, something this good and happening on Lawrence Welk!

[rfester]

have been playing since the fifties. Neil was a big influence. His "Calcutta" was great too.

[pedenphoto]

I could be wrong but isn't that an anodized pickguard on that strat? Most unusual on a maple neck sunburst strat right? That would be a Showman with a single JBL 15 behind him all just way too cool

[momsfudge59]

My dad was the featured artist at the 1960 Music Merchant show in Chicago for Fender. He spotted that curly maple neck hanging in the booth and told Leo that he had to have it on his Strat. Leo obliged. That is why it is so unusual. Thanks for posting!

Mark LeVang

[Pickinbuddy]

I loved your Dad's playing...he was so ahead of his time. Are there any of his own albums out and/or reissued?

[momsfudge59]

Hey PB,

Dad did not record any albums under his name. He was mostly a session player. Thanks for your nice comments! Everyone should read the December issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine. Rich Kienzle did an awesome job capturing dad's career. From Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa!!

Mark LeVang

[Pickinbuddy]

Is dad still living?

[momsfudge59]

Hey Bill,

Yes, dad is still alive and well here in Santa Clarita, CA.

MLV

[alex3212321]

balogna!

[earlscheibe]

That Strat is gorgeous and your dad is a true guitar God.

[ShebaJo]

Awesome, love this song.

[blogward]

Fantastic - is it Lawrence's flubbed intro that's making them laugh? How the guy on the Acme Hoofomatic kept a straight face I don't know. And as for Grandpa Munster on the eeriphonium..! Utterly brilliant, thanks.

[kapacon]

This is pretty rockin for Lawrence Welk! I'm mean, come on, electric guitars?!

[1stCornet]

I love it. How beautiful and elegant, and the Lennon Sisters look and sound like angels singing from the heavens above.

[mybotoitchi]

makes me want to watch a western

[beersandbabes]

This would have been sweet in the original horror film Carnival of Souls! Has a creepy look and sound.

[Discfiend69]

The Ventures do a swell cover of this party fav ; )

Check out the organ player-SMOKIN'

[mamamurray]

That was awesome!

(But the guy playing maracas at 1:38 makes me chuckle.)

[surfinjohnnyq]

love the blonde fender rig in the back . Thats killer

[stephaniebrugel]

Awesome! Tanks!

[aucksmix]

well, we mostly thought LW's band was dorky to the max back in the day. BUT this version of Ghost Riders is fabulous. What great tone he got from his Fender Strat.

[FuhQTube]

Yikes, I was waiting for Lawrence's head to burst into flame, and his accordian to morph into a Hellish squeezebox.

[NRAforlife67]

that was good

[SgtRock57]

Partying like it's 1965!!

[lpp911]

They were wailing down that nite

[robcat2075]

wow, that was pretty far out for the Lawrence Welk Show.

[WittoWed]

Wow! That was on the Lawrence Welk show? They must have all had an extra dose of Geritol that night!  Five stars!

[BillyVaughnMusic]

That's funny.

[Enigma758]

Trippy!

Only now seeing all the Neil LeVang videos on YOUTUBE I dont remember LWS ever being so Fenderiffic! COOL! Neil is my new (old) guitar hero! You must take a look at the Green Hornet Theme with Neil and Buddy, Also St. Antoinio Rose and others. Prepare to be dazzled!