Ronnie K’s Phase II: Polka Express

An album recorded on January 23, 1977 at the American Legion Hall in Whitewater, Wisconsin

Jan 19, 2024

The Album: Ronnie K’s Phase II — Polka Express

This record is really special to me. I bought it on March 6, 2020 at Hymie’s Records in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I was traveling with my friend Dino to watch Abby Roque and the University of Wisconsin’s women’s hockey team in the Final Faceoff (when they lost to Ohio State — something we never speak of). It was a big deal. Even UW band members went to this game.

There was a blizzard and so much snow, but Dino and I were determined to see the city. For me, road trips mean record shopping. When I found Ronnie K’s Phase II’s Polka Express at Hymie’s, I loved it immediately. Look at these guys! The matching jackets! The Winnebago! The album cover is iconic.

You know what happened next in the story. COVID closed everything down. But what came of those dark times was my decision to become a vinyl DJ. No one else in my city was playing polka records, so why not me? I go into this more elsewhere in the Shotski Lodge.

From the beginning, Ronnie K and his crew were there. You can spot the record in a photo on the web page of an interview I did with WPR. While I did that interview, I had their album in front of me, Ronnie’s guys looking back at me, like I was letting them know I would do my best to keep this vibe going. You’ll also see the album in early publicity photos.

I eventually found a second copy of the record, signed by the band members. I picked up that record at the Call It New, Call It Antique shop while I was in Stevens Point doing a gig at the Holiday Inn. There is an Instagram post of that April 2022 event. I was even wearing a WOJB t-shirt, like I had some nacent determination to get polka on that station or something…

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DJ Shotski on Instagram

January 19, 2024

So this week I’ll play you this record which was recorded on January 23, 1977 when I was just shy of six months old.

The song: Aber Gut Polka

Do you know what Aber Gut is? I didn’t. I had to google it. Apparently it’s a drink.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an article that explained that Aber Gut (German generally translated to “all good”) is brandy with a splash of mint schnapps served as a sipper over ice. Back in the day, the Drink Wisconsinably folks served it as a happy hour special at their Milwaukee pub. Someone commented on a Manitowoc Minute post that Aber Gut was 151 rum topped with brandy and lit on fire! If you’re from Minnesota, you might call it a Snow Shoe or a Snow Ball.

Have you tried an Aber Gut? Do you have an Aber Gut story? Send me an email at djshotski@gmail.com and tell me about it.

Your assignment:

Watch these performances of the Aber Gut polka and learn the words. Sing along when you hear the album of the week on Polka Time!

Lyrics: Aber Gut Polka

Down in old Milwaukee town it’s Aber Gut

Taste the little toddy and it’s so damn good

You can roll out your barrel, drink your champagne too

But Aber Gut is the one for you

Here’s mud in your eye, ein prosit too

Skol! Cheers! It’s the thing to do

So here’s a toast to old Milwaukee town: Aber Gut!

Here is Don Gralak playing Aber Gut Polka at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1979:

And Steve Meisner (R.I.P.) with Dave Austin on 2nd accordion, Chris Doszak on drums, Don Hunjadi on saxophone and Jerry Krahn playing banjo at the Illinois Polka Festival in 2019:

Listen to this week’s episode of Polka Time with DJ Shotski to hear the “Aber Gut Polka” by Ronnie K’s Phase II as well as the “Happy Jack Polka.” The show will air live on 98.7 FM WVMO on Sunday, January 21. Tune in on your terrestrial dial in Monona or on Madison’s east side. It will rebroadcast on participating stations the following weekend.

All stations stream on the web at the links below. All times CST.