Party Punch with The Ackerman Orchestra

 

King Of The Road

Party Punch

With The Ackerman Orchestra

Production and Engineering: R. Heineke

Photography by Unity Photo Studio

Additional Front Cover Photography: F. Dolezsar

Candiana Talent Series

Nicole Records - South Saskatoon, Sask. 

Nicole 6806

From the back cover: Party Punch is something all Ackerman Orchestra fans have been waiting for and if you are not a fan, "Party Punch" will make you one too.

If you don't live in Northern Saskatchewan or Eastern Alberta, you will never have heard of the Ackerman Orchestra, but let me tell you, you're missing something. Originally a 5 piece family group in Rutland, Saskatchewan twenty years ago, it now consists of twin brothers, Ernie and Don Ackerman, or actually it should be Don and Ernie Ackerman because Don is 20 minutes older.

Don plays guitar, saxophone and banjo and Ernie, piano, accordion and organ. Listening to selections such as "Lara's Theme" and "Stein Waltz", you will hear the versatility and beautiful arrangements these two have put together. Whether it is because they are twins or because they have been playing together since they were young does not matter, but the music is great.

Backing up on drums is Fred Fisher and Richard Gilles is on bass. They put the rhythm in the music and make that "can't sit still" beat that makes this record such a success at parties.

Of course that's not the end by any means. We also have Barry Beausoleil on rhythm guitar and trumpet. You can hear him in such numbers as "Spanish Flea" and "Tiuana Taxi" where the group gets the real Herb Alpert sound going.

The group plays for weddings, graduations and all types of dances and have perfected that special danceable style of music that makes a hit everytime. So there is "Party Punch" a record that has real punch for a party, so get out the punch bowl, add "Party Punch" and when the punch bowl is emptied, "Party Punch" will keep you going.

Stein Waltz

Dominique Polka

King Of The Road

Blue Hawaii

Duluth

Tiuana Taxi

Somewhere My Love

Magic Trumpet

Scandinavian Jump

I've Had It

You Can't Be True

Banjo Polka

So What's New

Edelweiss

Spanish Flea

Peanuts

You Asked For It - The Great Imposters

 

You Asked For It

You Asked For It

The Great Imposters

Doyle De Bolt, Bob Field, Kenny Malone, Harry Lyons & Nick Henschied

Produced and Arranged by The Great Imposters

Accent Photography, Cover Photo Design by Duane Straight

Recorded "Live" at The West Omaha Holiday Inn by Cherrywood Studios, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Engineer: Johnny Durham

A Triple Crown Production

STEREO GI 2027

From the back cover: WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE INIMITABLE "GREAT IMPOSTERS"? !! REALLY!!

Although their specialty is imitating the great hit artists of the fifties and sixties, they always manage to inject their own unique fresh enthusiasm and zest to each oldie they sing, making it seem brand new again. It's a magic mood they create; and it's inimitable!!

The first time I saw "THE GREAT IMPOSTERS" perform was in Harlan, Iowa. They were the opening act on a show starring Ray Stevens (who was riding the top of the charts with his recording of "THE STREAK" at the time) and I was the Master of Ceremonies. It's a night I'm sure none of us will ever forget because just 30 minutes before our show was to begin we all stood backstage watching President Nixon announce his resignation to the country. The sound was piped over the public address system in the auditorium so that the entire audience could hear. It was, needless to say, a tough act to follow. I, for one, was dreading going out on stage and facing what was certain to be a dreary audience. Well, to make a long story short, inside 10 minutes, "THE GREAT IMPOSTERS" had managed to make us all forget the troubles of the country and totally captured the audience with their infectious, happy songs AND great musical ability (vocally and instrumentally). That's what I would call the ultimate test of a performer, and they passed it with flying colors.

Ray Stevens and I stood backstage watching them and Ray remarked how grateful he was to have such a great group break the ice for him on such a "downer" night. Quite a compliment, coming from one of the best pro's in the business, I'd say! And I've been a "GREAT IMPOSTERS" fan ever since.

Their following grows every day they make a personal appearance and whenever they're on stage you can always count on a large, happy and responsive audience.

When I heard they were going to record an album live at the West Omaha Holiday Inn, my only concern was wondering if the sound engineers would be able to capture their special magic on tape. Sometimes artists who come off so great in person lose something in the electronic translation to tapes and vinyl. Well, I've been listening to this album while typing these liner notes and I'm extremely happy for them and for all of their fans, because it's all there in the record...just the way it is in person. All the people who have been asking "THE GREAT IMPOSTERS" if they had an album out obviously inspired the title, "YOU ASKED FOR IT". I, for one, am glad they asked, and I know they won't be disappointed. – Jimmy O'Neill, Program Director KOIL - Omaha, Nebraska - Jimmy Broadcasts Daily from 3 - 7 p.m.

Little Darlin'

Come Go With Me

Surfin' U.S.A.

Chantilly Lace

Kansas City

The Great Pretender

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Get A Job

Pretty Little Angel Eyes

Roll Over Beethoven

Rock Around The Clock

Peppermint Twist

Potpourri - Keith Pierce

 

Bacharach Medley

Potpourri

Keith Pierce

At The Hammond Concorde Organ

Lemco 74111

From the back cover: One thing 15 years in Lexington has taught me is that expecting superior talent in a Lexington night spot on a regular basis is a whole lot like expecting an oak tree to stay green through the winter. Not that there isn't some good talent from time to time.

But, on the other hand, it isn't Basin Street or Music City, either. There's good talent sometimes, but there's a lot of Joe Blow and Hot Air, and the result is that if you want a little more than dance music, you haven't always got it on tap.

Which made the pleasant surprise even more pleasant one night in 1972, when I'd wandered into the Phoenix Hotel's Firebird Lounge.

Even out in the lobby I'd heard the new sound and asked Norman Tice who it was. "A friend of mine," he said. "I knew him in Carbondale, his name is Keith Pierce.

It was an understatement.

I suggested to Keith that he sounded "sometimes like Ethell Smith, if you don't take offense at be- ing compared to other artists." Not at all, he told me. In fact, he said, they were old and dear friends. We chatted for a while; I learned he was a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, had played professional for several years, though not at too many spots. Seems he likes to settle into one lounge and stay as long as possible. He had been taught by Wes Morgan, now in the music depart- ment at the University of Kentucky. And he had bought a new organ, the Hammond Concorde, in which he took justifiable pride.

I was impressed. So impressed I began to write about him in feature stories and in a column I was doing then for the Sunday Herald-Leader. And thereby did myself a disservice.

I'm one of those types who likes almost empty bars, where there are lots of dark corners and emp- ty seats, where aloneness is a positive asset, where you can sit for hours without anyone butting in on your conversation with yourself. The bar isn't making any money, you know, but it's a great place to be.

The Firebird wasn't that way for long when word got out on Keith. For the first time they served lunch to a standing-room only crowd for two, sometimes three hours a day. Keith was playing for lunch, you see. Cocktail hours got to be just as full of people. He really is that good an entertainer-- alone he could pack the lounge area.

Then the Phoenix closed, and Keith moved to the Continental Inn, where Keith Plus Four came in- to being, featuring the talents of Hank Adams, Dusty Paling, Dick Hughbanks and Lorraine Moodie. "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer" on this album feature Hank at drums, Dusty at guitar and Dick on clarinet, as well as Keith at the Concorde.

Last April, Keith resumed an interest he has had most of his life--playing church music. In addition to the regular chores at the Continental, he is regular organist for the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

Earlier this year, his influence brought Miss Smith to town for a concert. Not only were her words about his talent extremely good--and sincere as well--but she furnished him three arrangements for this album.

If you suspect you've heard the arrangements of "Nola," "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "Maple Leaf Rag" before this album came out, you're probably right. They are the same arrange- ments Miss Smith has been doing for years.

There's also a "Sound Of Music" medley, a "Fiddler On The Roof" medley, a waltz medley and a Bacharach medley, all of these original arrangements and among those most requested at the Contin- ental.

As a package they are designed to show off three things--the amazing versatility of the Concorde itself, the extreme talent of an artist who understands its potential, and the depth of repertoire Keith Pierce possesses.

Rate it excellent on all three and then add one more.

People who heard him at the Phoenix always agreed on one thing--his was a "happy sound,".. bright, joyous, vibrant.

The album captures that mood as well. – John Alexander

The Entertainer (Theme from "The Sting")

Medley from "The Sound Of Music"

  The Sound Of Music

  Do-Re-Mi

  Edelweiss

  My Favorite Things

  Climb Ev'ry Mountain 

Bacharach Medley

  Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

  Close To You

Parade Of Wooden Soldiers

Maple Leaf Rag

Waltz Medley

  Around The World

  Somewhere My Love

  Fascination

Medley from "Fiddler On The Roof"

  Fiddler On The Roof

  Matchmaker

  Sunrise, Sunset

  If I Were A Rich Man

  Fiddler On The Roof

Nola

Take Me Along - Friendship

 

Take Me Along

Take Me Along

Friendship

Produced by Billy Strange

Engineers: Dave McKinley, Rex Collier, Neil Wilburn

Photography: John Guider Studio / Ben Spaulding

Album Design: Don Huffine

Records at Woodland Sound Studio, Nashville, Tennessee - American Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

Multi-Media MM-1-LP

Nationwide Sound Distributors NSD

1977

The Golfer

Songs For Lovers

Bernard The Mule

Keeper Of The Spring

Bill Bailey

Take Me Along

Here's To The Love We Once Knew

A Maiden's Prayer

Livin' Not Lovin'

Don't Blame Him

Everything Nice - Spice

 

Rock Flight

Can I Stay

Everything Nice

Spice

Ecips Records SO 16040

Rock Flight

Musical Interlude

Gotta Get Hold

Number One Musician

The Rain

Family Reunion

Be My Love

Some Summer Night

Normal Man

Can I Stay

Portrait Of The Graduates Very Much Alive!

 

Summertime

Pieces Of April

Portrait Of The Graduates

Very Much Alive!

Cover Design by Noel Gouveia

Recorded and Produced by Tinory Productions

Mad-Grad Records 21673

Sea Cruise

'Til There Was You

Mustang Sally

I'm Sorry

Donna

Honky Tonk

Jailhouse Rock

Burnin' Love

Summertime

Pieces Of April

Dialogue

Johnny Lester Trio Plus One

Johnny Lester Trio

Johnny Lester Trio Plus One

RK Records - Chicago, Illinois

16802-LP

San Antonio Rose

Home Coming Waltz

You Can't Be True Dear

My Baby Polka

South Side Gallop

Lillie Marlane

You'd Be Surprised

Maybe It's Because

I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder

To Each His Own

Beer Barrel Polka

Cold Cold Heart