WUN'ERFUL, WUN'ERFUL! Stan Freberg Comedy

[mjpk6269]

Those of you from Chicago: listen to the Lemon Sisters sing their song- do you picture the Son of Svengoolie?

[Rockulaproductions]

Another Dr Demento gem. I would never have known about any of this stuff if it wasn't for him

[Batenrouge]

Memories! My grandmother used to make the whole family sit down to watch Laurence Welk in the early 70s. When she wasn't home during the week we'd put this song on to spoof her as much as Welk.

[Garrison446]

LAWRENCE WAS VERY POPULAR IN HIS DAY AND SUCCESS DID NOT COME EASILY OR QUICKLY TO HIM. PEOPLE OF GERMAN EXTRACTION WERE OFTEN DISLIKED IN AMERICA AFTER WWII. I THINK PEOPLE WERE EMPATHETIC TO WELK AND ED SULLIVAN AS THEY STRUGGLED SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE TV CAMERA.

[dwtpa97]

Yes, Welk was around for quite awhile before success came to him. He "paid his dues", as they say. But he became a beloved figure to his many fans. Thanks for your post, Garrison446.

[TheCheezhead15]

Gee dad it was a Wurlitzer

[ritasid]

My dad had the album ...I remember him playing it when I was a little kid - 1970's ... "Turn off the bubble machine" stuck in my head for all these years!!!

[dwtpa97]

This record is such a classic, and Lawrence Welk was very popular during those years. Stan Freberg did an incredible job, and created something that has had lasting appeal. Thanks for your post, ritasid.

[dumpstermower]

I have been looking for this for years!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting this! I haven't heard this since the '80's when I would hear it on the Dr Demento show. I love this.

[dwtpa97]

It's a great record! Thanks for your comment, dumpstermower.

[luv2cuswallow]

i satill have original 45rpm...so worn out it plays both sides on side a

[dwtpa97]

That is truly well-worn! But it deserves it. Thanks for your post, luv2cuswallow.

[music1831]

@luv2cuswallow what a comical genius Stan was & such a great musician.

[JCJasion]

Supposedly Welk loved this spoof except that he said that he wished at least that the band should have been rescued from floating away entirely at the end.

[dwtpa97]

Didn't know that, JCJasion.  Thanks for your post -

[psplayer89]

three people got lost on their way to televisionlant....and stuck their heads in da bubble machiene

[dwtpa97]

wunerful, psplayer89 - that's what happent!

[cecrod]

"For the first time in 25 years my popping finger is a-caught in my cheeka...can you give me a hand there Alice? Can you pull my arm?...no, the other arm...."



[dwtpa97]

You got it, cecrod! Thanks for your post -

[MrFrontrowkid]

I'd forgotten about the song, but just recall the phrase "Wunnerful, Wunnerful." Having the video as accompaniment makes the song a whole lot funnier, particularly for those who never saw the show. I used to go over to an old girlfriend's house to watch color TV on Saturday nights. Her parents and grandmother always had this on. Just watching Lawrence Welk's bouncing up and down as he plays the accordian still makes me laugh.

[dwtpa97]

Great memories, MrFrontrowkid! Thanks for your comment -

[crow1938]

Nice video. Haven't heard that for nigh on to sixty years...I recollect one night off Singapore....

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, crow1938. Stan Freberg's great parody brings back some great memories -

[MeiLinMiranda]

Oh bless you. Bless you.

[dwtpa97]

Thank you, MeiLinMiranda.

[ftsjr]

That boat clip looks like a scene from "Route 66."

[dwtpa97]

Sharp eye, ftsjr - You are right! If my recollection is correct, that was from one of the Route 66 shows filmed in Tampa. Thanks for your post -

[uncutblond36]

@dwtpa97 Just a little aside about that boat clip and Route 66... Guy Lombardo served as a consultant about the boat racing on that episode. He was there for the winter, playing at his Port O'Call resort...in case anyone is interested...;)

[dwtpa97]

Great information, uncutblond36 - Thanks for your post.

[nam9506]

For years I have been telling my 2 sons that things are

"Wunnerful Wunnerful" and every so often use 'Stop the bubbles".

Now I have found this.Thankyou.

The 1st. 45rpm I ever bought was Stan's "Day-o" (Banana Boat Song).

You are "wunnerful" for posting.

[dwtpa97]

Thanks for your post, nam9506. This recording brings back "wun'erful" memories for all of us!

[Rivverrrun]

Gee, Dad, it WAS a Wurlitzer ...!

Love this - I grew up listening to this album - thanks - great job!

[dwtpa97]

So many of us did! Thanks, Rivverrrun.

[GregDad100]

Came out before I was born, but I first heard it in 1979 on the Dr. Demento radio show.

[dwtpa97]

Thanks for your comment, GregDad100! 

[TheFrontrowkid]

Lawrence Welk may not have seen the humor in Freberg's parody and he claims that he never used the term "Wunnerful, Wunnerful," but whenever people think of Lawrence Welk, they recall that phrase. Also, Welk used it as the title for his autobiography. Jack Webb supposedly never used the term, "Just the Facts Ma'm," but it is still associated with his character.

[dwtpa97]

Perhaps Welk was sensitive about his slight accent, but you're right - that phrase will be forever associated with him, thanks to Stan Freberg. I imagine that after all this time, Lawrence Welk would probably see the humor in it today. We certainly do! Thanks for your post, TheFrontrowkid.

[Livingni]

First heard this on the radio when it was released. I couldn't believe my ears because I wasn't sure if it were the real show, and I thought what the Hell's going on, and couldn't stop laughing as I pictured what was happening in my mind.

[dwtpa97]

It sounded so much like the real Lawrence Welk that I'm sure that Welk himself couldn't believe his ears! Great fun - thanks for your comment, Livingni.

[happymoogman]

"'Please, lend your little ears to my pleas' must have tickled the young John Lennon and Paul McCartney!"

Oh man! You YOUNG people. Lennon got the idea from Bing Crosby's "Please". Much before Stan Freberg was recording....

Yikes.

[dwtpa97]

Good point, happymoogman. Thanks for your post!

[sailin1934]

i don't believe that, lawrence had a great band and a lot of great jazz players were in his band, some of his arrangements were not to everyones liking, but the musical talent was always of the highest order and i don't believe that billy may would lower himself to that level. billy knew musical talent and he knew there was some great jazz players in that band.

[dwtpa97]

Yes, although not everyone liked the Welk style of music, certainly the musicianship itself was on a par with anyone's. Thanks for your comment, sailin1934. And thanks to TheOwnstube for his post, also.

[TheOwenstube]

I saw just enough Welk in my youth to find this funny. On the Freberg box set, according to the notes, Billy May and his band had to practice playing crappily so they could sound like the real Welk ork.

[MsBkirk]

'Please, lend your little ears to my pleas' must have tickled the young John Lennon and Paul McCartney!

[dwtpa97]

No doubt! Thanks for your post, MsBkirk.

[jkfan2005]

@MsBkirk Yes, they said it influenced "Please Please Me" but I'm sure they heard the Bing Crosby record, not a Freberg-Welk parody.

[PatrickRsGhost]

One of my favorites by Freberg. I also love his "recording sessions" for popular songs like "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Banana Boat (Day-O)".

[dwtpa97]

Me too! Thanks a lot for your post, PatrickRsGhost.

[Hawkeye752]

Stan is the greatest of all the satirests!

[dwtpa97]

He is indeed. Thanks, Hawkeye752, for your comment.

[cornermoose]

Beautifully done! My wife and I used to play Skip-Bo, and if we played a 1 and a 2, that play was called a Lawrence Welk.

[dwtpa97]

Thank you, cornermoose. I'll bet those were good times for you -

[brabazon10]

Lawrence Welk!!! was this guy for real?

[dwtpa97]

Lawrence Welk was one of those guys that people either loved or hated! Thanks, brabazon10, for your post.

[MrSammyReed]

Pt.1

I wonder how a version with "later" people would've been like?

Some ideas I have at the moment are:

20 years later, Larry FINALLY gets to sing "Thanks for all the cards & letters..."

Then we'd have Anacani with "Gracias por las Tarjetas y Letras".

Then Jack & Mary Lou do "Please" as a dance thing.

(cont'd)

[MrSammyReed]

Pt.2

Then Norma & Chimmy sing "Moonlight & Shadows" as a duet, about 50MPH slower than Alice did it.

After that, the show gets cut off. This is, after all, another pledge drive. And Mary Lou, with MIDI karaoke accompaniment, sings "Thanks, for all those tweets and E-mails, out there in television la-a-anT..."

[dwtpa97]

You got it, MrSammyReed! I think that's exactly what we'd see! Thanks for your post -

[thesagebrushkid]

Clean and hilarious humour. Been laughing every day since I have heard the bit. Cute video mix

[dwtpa97]

Thanks very much, thesagebrushkid. Stan Freberg was a clever guy! 

[BuddyNovinski]

I first heard this parody on Doctor Demento in 1978. I had to ask for the real names of some of the cast. However, I think this record came out in 1959.

[dwtpa97]

1959 sounds about right. Thanks, BuddyNovinski.

[westlock]

Unlike Jack Webb, Lawrence Welk did not see the humor in Freberg's parodies.

[dwtpa97]

Didn't know that. Maybe LW was sensitive about his accent, which Freberg parodied. Thanks for your post, westlock -

[zukelad]

Hit it! Stick your mouth piece it it there!

[dwtpa97]

Awun'erful, wun'erful, zukelad!  Thanks for your post -

[DeeAndDee]

This was a family favorite, and I lost the record when I moved. Now I have it with this video. Thanks for making this, its great.

[dwtpa97]

Thanks for your comment, DeeAndDee. It IS a great record - Stan Freberg at his best!

[cosycleaner]

splendid video edit to freberg's best send-up!

[dwtpa97]

Freberg was truly a genius on this one! Thanks, cosycleaner.

[scottmyers63]

Turn off that bubble machine.....please turn off that bubble machine....turn it off!

[dwtpa97]

In other words, it's not so awun'erful! Thanks, scottmyers63, for your post.

[savingbeauty]

No, it's "awunnerful... awunnerful". Get it right, will ya? Thankya vewy much!

[dwtpa97]

Hi, savingbeauty. You're absolutely right! You're imitiation is better than mine! Thanks for your post -

[coolsweetgroovy]

Too cool love Lawrence Welk

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, coolsweetgroovy, for your post. And thanks to PBS for carrying the Lawrence Welk Show!

[coolsweetgroovy]

@dwtpa97 I know i'm glad I love watching Lawrence Welk have been a big fan since I was little

[dwtpa97]

Yes, coolsweetgroovy, and it's the only program of its kind on TV anymore.  A real treasure.

[throovest]

Freberg at his absolute best. Way ahead of his time

[dwtpa97]

Absolutely ahead of his time, great comedy! Thanks for your post, throovest.

[dancebandleader]

Great parody. One minor error, Stan identified the Lennons as a trio

(oops!) the girls were a quartet until 1961, but then as a trio for only a few

years, then Dianne gradually came back and they were Four again.

[dwtpa97]

Great point, dancebandleader. That's something I never noticed! Thanks for your comment -

[Maestrojosh87]

@dancebandleader Of course, here they are not The Lennon Sisters, but the LEMON Sisters. An ap-pro-propriate-a pun, ehhm?

[Setebos]

My mother worshiped the dirt Welk walked on. If she'd heard this she would've skinned me alive.

[dwtpa97]

I hear you, Setebos! Fortunately, the parody is not mean-spirited. Since Lawrence Welk had a good sense of humor, I imagine that he rather enjoyed it. Thanks for you comment -

[GuinnevereB]

This is a big favorite of my husband's; he quotes it frequently: "Turn off-a the bubble machine"..."Thank-a you, Larry, that-a number has-a been taken-a..."

Classic!

[dwtpa97]

Good impersonation of Lawrence Welk, GuinnevereB! Thanks for your post -

[njbrucetx]

The visage of the Aragon ballroom bobbing in the Pacific has helped me off to dreamland all these years.Never seen the real one. Lived in the NJ and TX.

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, njbrucetx. Yes, they don't make buildings like that anymore!

[CuyahogaJoe]

Well done!

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, Cuyahoga.Joe. We have been fortunate to enjoy the great comedy of Stan Freberg.

[alicecullenrox8]

Thank you for posting! I had to look this up for a homework assignment and you helped me a lot!

[dwtpa97]

Hi alicecullenrox8. This Stan Freberg parody of Lawrence Welk was quite a famous one. Thanks for your comment!

[navydoll]

thanks for the memories ( with apologies to Bob Hope)...Stan Freberg was a genius and certainly ahead of his time, thankfully so "politically incorrect". As a young Aussie some American humour went over my head but not Stan's, Spike Jones and like ilk, they were universal funny men. Would like to recommend - " Incident at Las Veroces", it's another classic Freberg sketch.

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, navydoll. Stan Freberg was certainly all of that. He, Spike Jones, and a few others, were true geniuses. Appreciate your comment.

[cosycleaner]

Sure is a catchy littly ditty matey!

[dwtpa97]

Thanks for your post, cosycleaner!

[Ian16545]

Back when I first heard this when I got "Tip of the Freberg" one Christmas, I thought of this as "The Lawrence Welk Show that never was". Classic!

[dwtpa97]

I agree! It's so good it seems like a real Welk show. Thanks, Ian16545, for your comment.

[RoyFive]

Stan Freberg was a riot. Way ahead of his time.

[dwtpa97]

He certainly was. Still sounds good, after all this time. Thanks, RoyFive.

[missusmoon]

I can't believe this is here! I still have the 45 rpm record from my childhood. My sisters and I loved to harmonize on "Thank you for all those cards and letters you folks in television land." Thanks!

[dwtpa97]

You mean "folks in television LENT", don't you? (just joking). Thanks, missusmoon, for your post. We cherish those old good times!

[missusmoon]

LENT.

[dwtpa97]

LOL !  : )

[dwtpa97]

I didn't enjoy Welk growing up, but after all these years I have learned to appreciate him as representative of a gentler time in music and culture. I admit that a lot of people would agree with you! Thanks, chas63, for your post -

[chas63]

This is painfully funny. Painful because Welk was the most painfully schlocky crap ever. My mum & dad were from the WW2 generation and they loathed him. Yuck.

[OregonRuthie]

What fun! I just happened to think about Stan Frieberg and look him up on YT. Your video is very clever and a real joy to watch. Do you happen to know where one might find his "interview with the abomitable snowman" sketch? Thanks.

[dwtpa97]

Freberg was truly clever! There is a video on YT called "Stan Freberg meets Abominable Snowman". You might try performing a YT search using those words. Thanks, OregonRuthie, for your post -

[Cool2BCeltic]

Lawrence Welk was cheesy and it's fair to say he was C-in-C of America's counter attack on the rock and roll revolution.

[dancebandleader]

@Cool2BCeltic

[dancebandleader]

@Cool2BCeltic Welk was just doing his own thing, and

becoming a survivor in the process. What's this

"counter-attack" nonsense? There was no revolution

just a gradual domination of the business. I know I was in'

the business,

[Cool2BCeltic]

@dancebandleader What I meant about a "counter attack" was that as far as music was concerned, TV from the 1950s to the 1970s seemed to only cater to the older generation and there seemed to be a deliberate policy of only broadcasting so-called "easy listening" to drown out pop music.

[dancebandleader]

@Cool2BCeltic Just saw your comment from a few weeks ago. The idea that TV was

deliberately broadcasting a narrow range of music is nonsense. and I was around'

then. These things tend to get distorted by pop music writers whose knowledge

doesn't go back any forthur than 1960.. On US TV at any rate, there was a tendency to

feature perrenially popular things, and not songs going out of style the following

month. Hardly a conspriracy ! Jazz and classical were seen as well

[Cool2BCeltic]

@dancebandleader I'm from the UK and in the 1970s the only pop music you got on TV was Top of the Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test. But anyway, let's enjoy Stan Freberg's great parody.

[PhiloPharnsworth]

Dude, you nailed it with the video clips!  A worthy embellishment to Freberg's genius! And speaking of genuis...with great respect to Freberg and company, may I say to SpikeJonesEstate that Spike and the City Slickers were the most brilliant musical satirists of the ages! Are you by any chance Spike Jr.?

[dwtpa97]

Spike Jones was indeed another genius. It's too bad that these great comedic musicians don't get much airplay nowadays. Thanks, PhiloPharnsworth, for your post.

[dancebandleader]

@PhiloPharnsworth Spike did a send-up of sorts about

Welk on his 1960 album "Omnibust" now available on CD

[SpikeJonesEstate]

@PhiloPharnsworth Yes and sorry I got this post late. Thanks for the kind words.

SJ2

[dkfelix]

for the first time in 25 years my poppin'a finger isa caught in my cheek" Hahaha.

[Jercro39]

That brings back memories

[dwtpa97]

It sure does! Thanks for your comment, Jercro39.

[hourlynewscaster]

Freberg was a perfectionist and surrounded himself with some of the most talented people in radio and music. Too bad what is on radio today pales by comparison.

[dwtpa97]

Freberg was so good that you'd almost think you were watching or listening to the original program. Thanks, hourlynewcaster, for your comment.

[Statick1]

I have to agree. Stan, along with June Foray and Daws Butler were indeed some of the great voice artists ever. The best, of course, being the late, great Mel Blanc.

[SpikeJonesEstate]

This is genuinely one of the funniest and best produced comedy records... ever.

[dwtpa97]

It certainly is. And it never seems to get old! Thanks SpikeJonesEstate for your comment.

[PrimaDonnaBass]

Thanks for bringing this to you tube, dw! I have just shared it around on facebook as well! I first heard this a young child in the 60s. Along with much of Freberg's classic stuff!

Great anecdote about this I heard years ago. As a courtesy (and perhaps to fulfill some legal obligation) Freberg did a "listening" with Mr. Welk to get his final blessing on the parody. The one in the room laughing the hardest was Lawrence Welk himself! Funny when good humor is produced with lack of guile!

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, PrimaDonnaBass! Stan Freberg did some great stuff. It's nice to hear that anecdote about Mr. Welk, as well!  A truly clever recording.

[SpotterOz]

Stan and Bob Newhart are two of the greatest comics of the era.

Thanks for sharing, and even more, thank you for bringing back so many good memories

[dwtpa97]

Thank you, SpotterOz. Those were good times.

[fromthesidelines]

You're quite welcome, 'dwtpa'. Incidentally, in order to use Welk's [then] theme, "Bubbles In the Wine", Stan had to agree to use several other tunes published by Famous Music in this parody- "The Funny Old Hills" (one note!), "Louise", "Please" and "Moonlight and Shadows"...all featured in Paramount movies of the '30s [Famous Music was also their song publishing division].

[dwtpa97]

Great information! Thanks, fromthesidelines.

[fromthesidelines]

Stan originally presented this parody on his CBS radio show in the summer of 1957; he re-recorded it for Capitol, without the audience, but it's just as potent. He thought Welk and his brand of variety were too...as in "why DO people just sit there in their living rooms and WATCH this every week?". Peggy Taylor, Stan's vocalist on the radio show, sings all the female parts; Daws Butler and Stan are the "seamen" at the end. Billy May does an excellent job of "interpreting" Welk's arrangments...

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, fromthesidelines, for the interesting information. It's nice to know a little of the history of this great recording. With great humor, Stan Freberg really captured the Welk "sound" !

[bvwbvw02]

This is a great video! Many thanks -

[dwtpa97]

Thanks for your comment. Stan Freberg is truly clever on this recording!

[bvwatcher]

I know I'm dating myself but I remember watching Larry and the champaign music makers every Saturday night on the B/W TV. Also listening to Freburg on the Beanie and Cecil puppet show. And the BIG stink from Coca-Cola (among others) when Green Christmas came out. I doubt that Jack Webb was thrilled either. SF's Jenos pizza roll comm'l was hilarious as was the prune comm'l. A true genius that Madison avenue had major problems with. That alone would be worth the whole exercise. Thanks for this.

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, bvwatcher.  Stan Freberg was indeed a true genius.

[cagy701]

I had heard rumors of this being done and read about it recently and now, years later....ahh yeah! Here it is! Thank you SO much for uploading this! :)

[dwtpa97]

I apologize that my video-making skills are not the greatest, but thanks very much for your comment! There'll never be another Stan Freberg.

[cagy701]

No lol. NOTHING was wrong with it, just the opposite....I thought it was wun'erful. Just glad that you uploaded it. Have been wanting to hear it for years :) Thanks again!

[idiotic76]

Whoops. Sorry. I meant to give it five stars; I was careless, and I guess I clicked the wrong star! I LOVE this stuff.

FIVE STARS!

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, idiotic76. Stan Freberg was truly a comedy genius!

[idiotic76]

He still is. However, I heard "part 2" of what I felt was his greatest album, "Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America", which came out in 1961. They finally recorded a "Part 2" to this album about twelve years ago, and it's horrible. And I am a BIG Stan Freberg fan. It didn't have any of the sharp satiric wit of the one that was recorded in 1961.

[alshouse]

Jeez, nobody could be THAT happy playing the accordian LOLOLOL

[dwtpa97]

Maybe Lawrence was listening to Stan Freberg!

[Yourmomisnthere]

Maybe Weird Al.

I wonder if this was the inspiration to the SNL Skits?

[alshouse]

I used to hear this on Dr. Demento's Show all the time when I was a kid but I didn't really appreciate it until seeing this. Now if you could only get it to stop skipping every 15 seconds...

[dwtpa97]

Thank you, alshouse. The skipping is something new. Today is the first time I have heard it. I think it is a problem with YouTube's wideband transmission.

[Kind67]

I absolutely love this! I have this on cd but you're visuals make this even better. Stan Freberg was great! And so is your video!

[dwtpa97]

Thank you, Kind67. And Stan Freberg was indeed great!

[brabon1]

he aint dead...so he is still great

im still waiting for madmen to bring on a stan freberg character....the man made the most brilliant commercials

[dwtpa97]

I fully agree! Thanks for your comment -

[Iggysville]

With a little tightening this could win some awards at festivals. Great idea, and some excellent footage. Work on it - it's worth it!

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, Iggysville. It was done just for the fun of it -

[Howlinblind]

Great work

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, Howlinblind !