If you’re in Madison, read on to see where I’m playing polka music. Bring dad to a vinyl takeover in McFarland on June 16, and join me for a polka street party at Prost on June 22!
Sing-A-Long: Captain Stubby’s Pennsylvania Polka
A standard for polka bands, the Pennsylvania Polka was written by Lester Lee and Zeke Manners in 1942. You’ve likely heard the Andrews Sisters version. Frankie Yankovic had a successful hit with the song as well.
You may already know the words and recognize his recording of the song if you’ve seen the movie Groundhog Day even once. Here’s a supercut of only-polka scenes from the movie to either delight or annoy you.
What you’ll want to know about the Pennsylvania Polka — besides the lyrics — is the clap during the chorus. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a recording among my polka records that has the claps in it. It’s not in the Frankie Yankovic version you hear in Groundhog Day, nor is it in the Lawrence Welk recording. The Andrews Sisters did do the claps and it will remind you of “Deep in the Heart of Texas.”
On Sunday’s show, we’ll hear the version by Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers, a country-comedy band from the 1930-60s that was led by Tom Fouts from Indiana. It’s a peppy number that I can’t find digitized online.
Lyrics: the Pennsylvania Polka
Strike up the music, the band has begun
The Pennsylvania Polka
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
The Pennsylvania Polka
It started in Scranton, it's now number one
It's bound to entertain ya
Everybody has a mania to do the polka from Pennsylvania
While we're dancing, everybody's cares are quickly gone
Sweet romancing, this goes on and on until the dawn
They're so carefree, gay with laughter, happy as can be
They stop to have a beer, then the crowd begins to cheer
They kiss and then they start to dance again
Polka Time: Where and when to listen
LIVE - June 16
Sunday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona
Streaming - last week’s episode’s rebroadcast
Saturday, 8 a.m. - WHYS-FM 96.3 Eau Claire - support WHYS
Saturday, 3 p.m. - WRJQ Goodtime Radio - support WRJQ
Saturday, 6 p.m. - WPCA-FM 93.1 Amery - support WPCA
Saturday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona - support WVMO
Sunday, 7 a.m. - WOJB-FM 88.9 Hayward - support WOJB
Sunday, 8 a.m. - WILW-FM 96.3 Waupaca
Sunday, 9 a.m. - WOCT-FM 101.9 Oshkosh
Sunday, 4 p.m. - WLSP-FM 103.5 Sun Prairie - support SPMC
Thanks to these community and volunteer-powered stations for keeping vintage polka on the air waves.
Events:
Sunday, June 16 — WVMO vinyl takeover: McFarland House Cafe, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., McFarland
DJs from WVMO-FM bring Americana vinyl to spin for 20-minute sets. From bluegrass to vintage country to polka, enjoy the ever-changing vibe. If you like the bluegrass/string band sound, check out what’s happening at the McFarland House Cafe’s plans for live music all summer. Spread the word on Facebook.
Saturday, June 22 — Prost! Sömerfest, Madison
It’s a Prost! Block Party! Madison’s best Munich-style bierhall is hosting a free party on Hancock Street to welcome summer with music and German food and drinks. DJ Shotski plays polka tunes from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. before DB Polka Express takes over at 4 p.m. Free party, tip your servers.
September 19-22 — Green County Cheese Days, Monroe
Cheese Days is set to break the world record in the number of people dancing the polka at this year’s festival. And DJ Shotski is providing the polka tunes! Can you be a part of this exciting event? Mark your calendar and register with Cheese Days for details.
Readers like you keep the Shotski Lodge open
The Shotski Lodge is a reader-supported publication. Support from subscribers like you gives me the confidence to pursue my mission to get more people to listen to vintage polka and vinyl records, including through this free e-newsletter.
Become a Shotski Lodge member - Substack offers paid subscriptions for people who want to be patrons of the Lodge’s mission.
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Hire me for a gig! - your community needs a polka party. Email me at djshotski@gmail.com if you have a venue or an event that needs a vinyl DJ.
Donate records - the answer to free records is always “yes.” I’ll give your records a good home (or I’ll distribute them to my vinyl buddies). Email me at djshotski@gmail.com if grandpa’s records need to get out of the basement.