Edmund Denney with the Pleasant Valley Gang The Melodious Voice Meadowlark Record Co. Unknown Year

Edmund Denney with the Pleasant Valley Gang The Melodious Voice Meadowlark Record Co. Unknown Year No CAT#

Edmund Denney appears to be from Nebraska originally.  He was born blind and attended the Nebraska School for a Blind.  His first spot on the radio was also in Nebraska as part of a talent contest in 1934. This all according to the back cover of this LP. At some point, he made it to Topeka, Kansas, and performed daily on Topeka's WIBW with his Pleasant Valley Gang.

The trio would just fill airtime playing songs from the early morning and later slots throughout the day.  Per the back cover regular shows included, "The Kansas Round Up", "The Dinner Hour", and the "Pleasant Valley Gang". Years ago, this was a common practice in radio, an act would be hired on to fill the out the programming schedule with music. Apparently, Edmund was so beloved in Topeka, the station dubbed him "The Voice of Kansas". Further, the act would frequently play at State Fairs and whoever else may want to see the gang live. They were so successful regionally that they performed on the radio all the way up until the mid-1980's, a time when almost all radio stations moved on from such programs.

The music is pleasant, airy, kind of something you can kind of just hum along to and never get offended by. I wouldn't call Mr. Denney's voice "melodious", but he's got a nice tone, it's again, pleasant. The "Gang" is Denney on vocals and rhythm guitar, Bill Kirk on aaccordion and a Miss Elsa on organ. The sparse accompaniment sometimes gives the music a creepy, carnival feel.  But, mostly, it's easy listening fair with some polka's thrown in. Think Kansas' own version of the variety show done by Lawrence Welk and you're in the ballpark.

Four of a Kind The Magical Sounds Of Private 1981

Four of a Kind The Magical Sounds Of Private 1981 CAT# 111081X

Fuck, yes!  I'm sure that was what everyone was saying in 1981 when Four of a Kind finally dropped a private press polka album on Kansas City.  The polka scene was likely hungry for some new blood and these four young Kansas Citians must have fit the bill.  And when I say young, I mean young, no one on the in the group is older than the age of 17.  Surely, in 1981, these 4 guys had to be pretty cool?  Chicks dig an accordion and hanging with grandma and grandpa at a bingo hall for a polka concert, right?

Private press, Kansas City, polka should speak for itself, but I have no clue whether this is good or bad.   It sounds dance-able to me and there's a lot of waltzes.  Again, I'm not the guy to ask whether or not it's good, but they are young, so that's impressive.  They do "Beer Barrel" polka, so if you're looking for yet another rendition, here's an album you may need.  The vocal tracks are interesting as they are rooted in ethnic tradition and not just thrown in as something to dance to.  However, I'm really just here to let you know this exists.

I assume the kids were from the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City as it is still the primary spot for Slavic heritage in town.  While not necessarily a Slavic music, Polka has it's roots in Central Europe and I would have to imagine, if there was a scene for this, it was Strawberry Hill.  I'm certain though, aftter the guys dropped this LP, Strawberry Hill blew up.  Both girls and and A&R reps form all the majors had to banging at these guys' doors to try and find some of that magic.