Mickey Katz and His Orchestra - Vintage Jewish Klezmer Music for Weddings, Parties & Celebrations | Classic Yiddish Entertainment

The CAPITOL Records song parody album, MICKEY KATZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA (298) was published on their teal label in 1955. Background on the front cover cartoon is orange. A STAR LINE gold label reissue from the early 60s renamed THE HITS OF MICKEY KATZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA (T 298) has a photo of Mickey raising a glass of wine (Manischewitz?) in a toast. You can see the family resemblace in this portrait to his son, Joel Grey. A second late '70s repackaging again called THE HITS OF MICKEY KATZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA (IT 298) uses the original cover art, but the background is yellow. (At the time I wrote this review, there were no listings at AMMY for the STAR LINE record.)You don't need to know Yiddish to enjoy Mickey's strange blend of pop and klezmer, but it couldn't hoit. He sings in a pinched heavily-accented style that in these PC times might be considered negatively stereotypical. I just enjoy the whimsical covers of pop hits (what lyrics I can fathom!), and don't sweat the rest..SIDE ONE NOTES1.) Rosie Clooney must've hoo-ha'ed at the Katz gang's moiderin' of her hit. It peaked at #22 in the US. 2.) Their goof on "Shrimp Boats Are Coming" has a klezmer dance in the middle. Highest chart position, #28. 3.) "An old cowpunch vent out to lunch beyond the Poily Gates..." 4.) Mickey solos on clarinet and does a comic Yiddish version of scat singing. 5.) "Come to poppa, Bubbeleh; I'm YOUR Continental!" 6.) "I vish I took a taxi instead..."SIDE TWO NOTES1.) The legend of a boy from Delancey St., it was also issued as a single. 2.) Spoof of Frankie Laine's "Cry of the Wild Goose." 3.) A truly demented take on an old folk song. 4.) Can you believe this was once "Bibbidi, Bobbidi Boo"? 5.) Here's your chance to learn counting off in Yiddish. Includes a (sesame) roll call. 6.) The album's only standard orchestration, it's crooned totally in Yiddish.SIDE ONE[2:01] Come On-a My House[2:29] Herring Boats[2:42] Borscht Riders In the Sky[2:28] Bagle Call Rag[2:21] Kiss Of Meyer[2:33] Yiddish Mule TrainSIDE TWO[3:01] Duvid Crockett[2:48] Keshray of De Vilde Kotchke[2:24] She'll Be Coming 'Round the Catzkills[2:27] The Baby, the Bubbe, and You[2:27] Sound Off[2:52] C'est Si Bon (Ces Tzi Bon)TOTAL TIME: 30:33