mendocino

Cacahuata aka 'Peanut Polka' last week led me to some Doug Sahm music, which led me to Mendocino. A minor hit for Sahm and his Sir Douglas Quintet; the German version by Michael Holm was the best selling single in Germany for 1969!

The German audience was required to clap. Some of the people after 2:00 aren't looking real happy about it.

Helena polka

another favorite

And here's my arrangement of the Helena Polka in Noteflight so far. 

a biergarten band

The tune is Stern Polka.

The Great Escape for biergarten music?

Somewhat suggested that our small group should try playing the theme to The Great Escape. I think it would work:

The tune works in a simplified arrangement, as this Shamisen version demonstrates:


I wrote it out in Noteflight and we tried it out. The trumpet was in the wrong register and it was a little awkward but I think it could work. Here's the notation if you're interested.

an international Polka hit

In Spanish, La Cacahuata.  

In English: Peanuts Polka.

Youtube has many more good versions of this tune, such as Doug Sahm's, Brave Combo's, Herb Alperts, and the '65 hit by the Sunglows.