Garrison Keillor – Tourists

Fans of the more esoteric music featured on Garrison Keillor ‘s public radio show will drool over Tourists, a Prairie Home Companion CD featuring klezmer, balalaika, country, bluegrass, French-Canadian, and zydeco music. Prairie Home Companion staples Robin and Linda Williams also appear to give an American touch to this selection of music heard during the 1981-82 season. This CD proves music really is universal.A Prairie Home Companion: Tourists mp3 download version

Although there is no News From Lake Wobegon segment on this CD, there are a couple of funny commercials. Jack’s Auto Repair is a great ad telling folks the mechanics at Jack’s approach a vehicle much like a musician would approach a new piece. This is a really funny bit.

The other Prairie Home Companion ad here is for Bertha’s Kitty Boutique. It is not the best but has a decent jingle. More serious is Ode to Oregon, a poem by Lake Wobegon’s poet laureate.

>What really makes Garrison Keillor ‘s Tourists stand out though is the musical arc that makes this CD a great musical sampler, and a sampler it is with no track lasting more than 4 minutes.

A personal favorite on Tourists is Russian Intermezzo by the Odessa Balalaikas, an example of happy Russian music. Roanoke / Wheel Hoss with Stoney Lonesome is a great country tune that will make anybody want to jig a bit.

As for all Prairie Home Companion CDs, the live performances are recorded flawlessly. The only thing that reminds you these are not studio performances is the applause at the end.

A Prairie Home Companion – Tourists
Garrison Keillor, Klezmer Conservatory Band, The Odessa Balalaikas
Robin and Linda Williams, Stoney Lonesome
Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band, Joe Val and The New England Bluegrass Boys
Reissued HighBridge Audio 2008
45 minutes

Music on A Prairie Home Companion Tourists:
Lebedikun Freylekh and Rumenye, Rumenye; The Klezmer Conservatory Band

Powdermilk Biscuits;

Russian Intermezzo; The Odessa Balalaikas

Jack’s Auto Repair;

Lonely Street; Robin and Linda Williams

Bertha’s Kitty Boutique

Roanoke/  Wheel Hass; Peter Ostroushko and John Neimann with Stoney Lonesome

Ode to Oregon

Love Songs of the Nile; Odetta with the Butch Thompson Trio

Rosa Majeur; Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band

Iowa Songs; Garrison Keillor with Pop Wagner

When I Stop Dreaming; Joe Val and The New England Bluegrass Boys

The Hangman’s Reel

Ajua!; Garrison Keillor with Stoney Lonesome

Kill It Kid; Robin and Linda Williams and the Butch Thompson Trio

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