Have a CD - Book or DVD you would
like reviewed on this site? Mail to:
The Serious Comedy Site
41 Deblois
St-Nicephore Qc J2A 2M6

Comedy Reviews - CD - Garrison Keillor - Tourists

CLICK PIC FOR AMAZON PAGE
Click Pic for Tourists on Amazon

A Prairie Home Companion – Tourists
Garrison Keillor, Klezmer Conservatory Band, The Odessa Balalaikas
Robin and Linda Williams, Stoney Lonesome
Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band, Joe Val and The New England Bluegrass Boys
Reissued HighBridge Audio 2008
45 minutes

Fans of the more esoteric music featured on Garrison Keillor ‘s public radio show will drool over Tourists, a Prairie Home Companion CD featuring klezmer, balalaika, country, bluegrass, French-Canadian, and zydeco music. Prairie Home Companion staples Robin and Linda Williams also appear to give an American touch to this selection of music heard during the 1981-82 season. This CD proves music really is universal.

Although there is no News From Lake Wobegon segment on this CD, there are a couple of funny commercials. Jack’s Auto Repair is a great ad telling folks the mechanics at Jack’s approach a vehicle much like a musician would approach a new piece. This is a really funny bit.

The other Prairie Home Companion ad here is for Bertha’s Kitty Boutique. It is not the best but has a decent jingle. More serious is Ode to Oregon, a poem by Lake Wobegon’s poet laureate.

What really makes Keillor ‘s Tourists stand out though is the musical arc that makes this CD a great musical sampler, and a sampler it is with no track lasting more than 4 minutes.

A personal favorite on Tourists is Russian Intermezzo by the Odessa Balalaikas, an example of happy Russian music. Roanoke / Wheel Hoss with Stoney Lonesome is a great country tune that will make anybody want to jig a bit.

As for all Prairie Home Companion CDs, the live performances are recorded flawlessly. The only thing that reminds you these are not studio performances is the applause at the end.

 

Music on A Prairie Home Companion Tourists:

Lebedikun Freylekh and Rumenye, Rumenye; The Klezmer Conservatory Band

Powdermilk Biscuits;

Russian Intermezzo; The Odessa Balalaikas

Jack's Auto Repair;

Lonely Street; Robin and Linda Williams

Bertha's Kitty Boutique

 Roanoke/  Wheel Hass; Peter Ostroushko and John Neimann with Stoney Lonesome

Ode to Oregon

 Love Songs of the Nile; Odetta with the Butch Thompson Trio

Rosa Majeur; Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band

Iowa Songs; Garrison Keillor with Pop Wagner

When I Stop Dreaming; Joe Val and The New England Bluegrass Boys

The Hangman's Reel

Ajua!; Garrison Keillor with Stoney Lonesome

Kill It Kid; Robin and Linda Williams and the Butch Thompson Trio

Other Garrison Keillor Reviews

The Christmas Companion With Garrison Keillor: 2 comedy CD set great stocking stuffer

The Adventures Of Guy Noir: Fans of Prairie Home Companion will certainly enjoy this two sketch comedy CD set

Local Man Moves To The City: different from what you are used to on the Prairie Home Companion show.

A Prairie Home Companion It's Only A Show: Prairie Home Companion compilation from HighBridge Audio,

Comedy Theater: For those who remember a kinder, gentler Prairie Home Companion

Gospel Birds: This Garrison Keillor CD is definitely better than what we have heard in the last couple of years or so as News From Lake Wobegone

Guy Noir Radio Private Eye: Radio Private Eye is only one of two Garrison Keillor CD collections of Guy Noir stories

More News From Lake Wobegon: the stories from More News From Lake Wobegon are funny

Dusty And Lefty The Lives Of The Cowboys: 6 complete stories on this 10-track cowboy comedy CD

Songs Of The Cat: Any cat lover must have this very funny Garrison Keillor CD

Mother, Father, Uncle, Aunt: 2 Garrison Keillor CD set from when Wobegon was not political.

WLT A Radio Romance: How often do you get to suggest to a novelist to stick to the news?

A Prairie Home Companion Commercial Radio: great compilation comedy CD of Prairie Home Companion commercials

A Prairie Home Companion 10th Anniversary: A less preachy time in Lake Wobegon history.

A Prairie Home Companion - The Movie: Decent movie version of Garrisson Keillor Lake Wobegone radio show

Never Better Stories From Lake Wobegon: 10 News From Lake Wobegon on 2 CDs. Good stuff all around.

Lake Wobegon Loyalty Days: includes perhaps Garrison Keillor's best track ever: The Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra.

Pontoon A Lake Wobegon Novel - Audio Book - Capsule Review: A bowling ball containing the ashes of a Lake Wobegon resident is scheduled to be dropped in the lake as another is having a wedding ceremony on it.

Pontoon A Lake Wobegon Novel - Audio Book Full Review: Better as an audiobook than as a paperback.

More News From Lake Wobegon - Hope: CD reissue of 1989 More News From Lake Wobegon set. A kindler, gentler time and stories

More News From Lake Wobegon - Faith: 4 News segments: Rotten Apples, O Death, The Wise Men, and A trip to Grand Rapids.

English Majors A comedy collection for the highly literate: Perfect gift for the college graduate and funny too.

A Prairie Home Companion - Duets: A who's who of music and the American songbook.

A Prairie Home Companion 4th Annual Farewell Performance: A 2 CD Prairie Home Companion set with more music and less talk.

A Prairie Home Companion 2nd Annual Farewell Performance: A few skits, lots of music including the Everly Brothers: a solid show

A Prairie Home Companion Final Performance: The first final performance. Good but not the best.

A Prairie Home Companion 3rd Annual Farewell Performance: Good stuff including a 2 part 40-minute News From Lake Wobegon

Liberty - A Lake Wobegon Novel - Audio Book: One of the better Lake Wobegon novels, this Garrison Keillor audio book is darker and features some adult situations.

Lake Wobegon USA - Fertility: Prairie Home Companion CD reissue. Finally

Lake Wobegon USA - Patience: Features Aunt Ellie, Duke's 25th, and You're Not the Only One.

Lake Wobegon USA - Youth: Features Blue Devils, Nostalgia, O Christmas Tree, Pageant, and Messy Shoes

Lake Wobegon USA - Rhubarb: Includes Rhubarb, Yellow Ribbon, Sweet Corn, and The Sun's Gonna Shine Someday

Even More Pretty Good Jokes 2CD set: Best of the last 3 years of the Prairie Home Companion Joke Show

A Christmas Blizzard: A non-Lake Wobegon Christmas yarn is decent enough.