The Joyfulaires

The Joyfulaires – In the Valley He Restoreth My Soul
Joyful Records LP: JS-73-1

05 (In the Valley) He Restoreth My Soul.m4a

'Tis the season for thrift stores to organize their records. Once a year the Christmas records are separated from the secular records. I enjoy this, it makes it easy, I only need to browse through a considerable smaller selection to try to find something I like than I do the rest of the year. So why did I browse through the Christmas bin the other day? God only knows. 

I picked up this LP by the Joyfulaires last Christmas when I was still living in Ohio. When there still was the potential for a white Christmas to look forward to. The Joyfulaires are from Albany, Ohio.

"Dianna is a young married student and has dedicated her talents to God. She was a neglected child, but God sent Mr. and Mrs. Pinney, wonderful christian parents, to adopt her as their own." (—The Joyfulaires, In the Valley He Restoreth My Soul)
Dianna plays piano in the group. Karen and Bonnie are young mothers who sing. Bonnie's phone number is listed on the LP (for bookings, I suppose) and it would be only a local call for me but I won't dial it (no, I'm not passing on that number either, it's 40 years old, for heaven's sake).

A Polka from Cleveland

Third Edition by Joe Hezoucky
record sleeve
Souvenir Records

03 Kdo Valchik Mival Rat.m4a
http://www.box.net/shared/dn7qlnonzpk1d6ym588s

I haven't quite figured out how to embed sound to the blog so for now there's just a link to the sound recording that can be downloaded into your iTunes or whatever program. I'll work on it and change it to a ready to play format as soon as I can.

Moving from Columbus, Ohio to Fort Myers, Florida didn't really change a whole lot in regards to what records can be found in thrift stores. They say that Southwest Florida is the place where Ohioans retire. Case in point: one of the first people I met is a retired plumber from Columbus who lives practically next door—we have become good friends.
Just as in Ohio you will find polka records here at any single thrift store, dozens in an afternoon of shopping. I had given up buying any more polka records after I purchased a 4LP box-set with the best recordings ever made. I thought that would do, never was a big fan anyhow. So why I bought yet another one is easy to explain. This one features a female vocalist, a feature not found on any track on the 4LP greatest ever recordings. This record is by far the greatest polka record I own. The vocalist is Marie Danek singing with Joe Hezoucky and his Bohemian Orchestra from Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland, with its large Eastern European community, is the polka capitol of the United States. The king of polka, Frankie Yankovic is from there too, and he too retired in Southwest Florida.

The selected tune is not really a polka but rather a waltz titled Kdo Valcik Mival Rat (Who Loves to Waltz). It was recorded in Edcom Recording Studios on Tungsten Rd. in Cleveland and released by Souvenir Records on Drake Ave. in that same city. 

"It is my sincere hope, that by listening to this album, your days will become just a bit more enjoyable. May the sun shine forever in your hearts"
                     —Joe Hezoucky, liner notes to Third Edition

Joe Hezoucky together with Marie Danek made my day.