Which puts me in mind of one of my old favorites. Hard not to sing to it.

Mars - I agree that it's hard not sing along, when you listen to this song.  I love the lyrics, and the story they tell.  A sad and plaintive song about what used to be, but no longer is.

"Good morning, America, how are ya?
Say, don't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans
And I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done"

I love that song as well.

Here's a great old gospel song from Boxcar Willie. This one dates back to the late 19th century - a baptist preacher by the name of M.E. Abbey wrote the poem and it was set to music by Charles David Tillman in 1890.

A classic from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I first heard this as a kid listening to my dad's NGDB albums. This was also a big hit for Sammy Davis, Jr.

Stumbled across this tonight. Sam Taylor was apparently quite well known in his day and recorded this in Tokyo in 1961. He died in 1990 at the age of 74.

In 1973, Bobby Vinton wrote English and Polish lyrics to a German tune called "Herzen haben keine Fenster" ("Hearts Have No Windows") and ended up with his biggest hit in 10 years. This hit #3 on the charts in the US and was his last top 10 hit. He did manage to score one more Top 40 hit after this with "Beer Barrel Polka" but had no further chart success beyond that. Despite this, he continued recording until the early 90s, with one final studio album in 1998. He's now 89 years old according to Wikipedia.

Found this last night. It was written to imitate what English sounds like to non-English speakers and also apparently prove that Italians at the time would listen to anything if it sounded English. The actual lyrics are complete gibberish and were supposedly improvised during the recording session. Your brain will go nuts trying to make sense of this

That was pretty clever, I must admit.   Gibberish  Indeed!  

Heard this gem on my way out of HersheyPark tonight (currently on vacation - will be heading home Saturday).

What? What! You were just across the river from me?



 

I've been in the area since Friday night. Heading off to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey today and tomorrow

My very, very favorite amusement park ride was the Carousel at Hershey Park. Of course it didn't look it looks like it got a complete make-over since I was a kid. You would find me there on the moving horses or making my rounds on the real deal. Do they still have the pony rides?


Appropriate title, don't you think?

Yes they still have pony rides. That carousel got moved when they built the Chocolate Town area and new entrance back in 2019, but it's still going strong. I rode it last night

Michael - This video is for you!  Hoping you had a great time on your Roller Coaster vacation.  Someday, come on out to Santa Cruz, and ride the Giant Dipper Wooden Roller Coaster!  Built in 1924, so celebrated its 100th Birthday this year.  Only about 15 miles from where I live.

I've heard great things about that park and coaster. I definitely want to make it out there at some point.
I am having a great time. I'll be riding more coasters each day through Thursday as I slowly make my way back west.

A classic Billy Joel song about the city I'm near today.

Does that mean you stopped at Dorney Park? I lived near there for six or seven years, but never went there. Passed it lots of times.

Michael - From the opposite side of the Country from Marilyne.  Our local Amusement Park Is Playland, Rye, N.Y.  It had a couple of coasters made in 1938. One since demolished. Some links that may be of interest below.
The two coasters were the "Dragon Coaster", still there, and the "Calmer" of the two. There was also the "Airplane Coaster" - a bit wilder. I rode it once as a young person. Very fast, very rattling. Once was enough for me. I have been on the Dragon coaster a few times - even though I'm not a big fan of coasters (don't like high places).

The (reported) best one around here was at the "Palisades Amusement Park" (in New Jersey ). Named "CYCLONE".  I only rode it once and scarcely remember it. But at one point, and I think at the beginning of it, the rider got the feeling he would shoot out over the Hudson River. I believe that one is now also gone - even the Park may be gone. But I'll bet Google has something on it.  Found good Wikipedia article.

https://playland.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6g2jlgTtBY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane_Coaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkQlay9t76c
https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoasters/comments/xuj2dh/interested_in_roller_coaster_history_too_i_wanted/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amLldcXWf8E

Quote from: MarsGal on July 17, 2024, 09:38:11 AMDoes that mean you stopped at Dorney Park? I lived near there for six or seven years, but never went there. Passed it lots of times.

It does 😀

Quote from: RAMMEL on July 17, 2024, 11:42:48 AMMichael - From the opposite side of the Country from Marilyne.  Our local Amusement Park Is Playland, Rye, N.Y.  It had a couple of coasters made in 1938. One since demolished. Some links that may be of interest below.
The two coasters were the "Dragon Coaster", still there, and the "Calmer" of the two. There was also the "Airplane Coaster" - a bit wilder. I rode it once as a young person. Very fast, very rattling. Once was enough for me. I have been on the Dragon coaster a few times - even though I'm not a big fan of coasters (don't like high places).

The (reported) best one around here was at the "Palisades Amusement Park" (in New Jersey ). Named "CYCLONE".  I only rode it once and scarcely remember it. But at one point, and I think at the beginning of it, the rider got the feeling he would shoot out over the Hudson River. I believe that one is now also gone - even the Park may be gone. But I'll bet Google has something on it.  Found good Wikipedia article.

https://playland.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6g2jlgTtBY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane_Coaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkQlay9t76c
https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoasters/comments/xuj2dh/interested_in_roller_coaster_history_too_i_wanted/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amLldcXWf8E

I've heard of Rye Playland as well. If I ever make my planned trip through Canada I may stop by on the way home from the falls.

The park I went to today, Kennywood (in West Mifflin, PA, which is near Pittsburgh) apparently has a set of several older songs they play at the end of the night right before the park closes. This is one of them.

Got home from my vacation this morning, so now a classic about my city

Michael, Good to have you back home again in Cincinnati.  I'm sure you had a wonderful vacation, doing what you like best . . . riding Roller Coasters!  That's a cute song about your city, by Connie Smith.  I hadn't heard it before, but I'm sure it was  mostly a regional favorite?

Uh, oh, Michael, you may have started something again. I was looking for a song about my local area, but found this instead. I have never been to Pittsburgh, but I did like the Steelers. This song reminds me of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Quote from: Marilyne on July 20, 2024, 11:49:44 PMMichael, Good to have you back home again in Cincinnati.  I'm sure you had a wonderful vacation, doing what you like best . . . riding Roller Coasters!  That's a cute song about your city, by Connie Smith.  I hadn't heard it before, but I'm sure it was  mostly a regional favorite?

I guess so. It regained popularity here about a decade ago after the Reds started playing it at all home games. They even brought in Bill Anderson, who wrote and originally recorded the song, to be honorary captain of the game one time (I found a video of his interview on a local TV station's morning show from around that time on YouTube). Either way it was a big enough hit at the time that it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Country charts.

Here's another local favorite. This was also recorded by Vic Damone and Tennessee Ernie Ford among others. (If you're wondering how pigs are associated with the city, we were a major pork producer at one time)

I remember Cincinatti Dancing Pig. It was moderately popular when I was in high school.

Mars - Lots of  pop songs about Pennsylvania in the 40's and 50's. 
The Pennsylvania Polka, was recorded by many bands and vocal groups. I think I still have the 78, by The Andrews Sisters?  There was also a novelty song that was quite popular - In a Pawnshop on a Corner in Pittsburg Pennsylvania.  Another one I thought of earlier, but now can't remember what it was?   

Marilyne...add to your list...Glen Miller's  most popular - Pennsylvania 6-5000 - sung by The Andrews Sisters...

I grew up hearing lots of polkas curtesy of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Polish communities. Frankie Yankovic "The Polka King" was often played. Here is his Pennsylvania Polka.

I don't think Frankie ever lived in PA, but he did pick up his love of Polka in Cleveland, where he grew up. Interesting note: He served in WWII as a flame-thrower during the Battle of the Bulge and nearly lost his fingers to frost bite. Dr. wanted to amputate, Frankie said no.

"Pennsylvania Polka" is probably one of the more well-known polkas thanks to its use in the movie Groundhog Day. Here's another Pennsylvania-themed song I found. This one was apparently pretty popular in 1952.

A nice powerful soul rendition of a Beatles classic

An obscure novelty tune that was used as the flip side for a cover of "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago" released on the Columbia label in the UK in 1966 or 67. Co-written by prolific British composer Phil Green.