A Lennon Sisters Blog

Lennon Sisters - Til The End Of Time

2008-05-04T17:11:00.003-07:00

Here's a nice old gem - The Lennon Sisters singing Til The End Of Time from a 1958 episode of The Lawrence Welk Show.

It's always a kick seeing old black and white episodes. The girls are so young and charming. Plus Pete Fountain was in the band - god what a genius clarinet player he was. I also really like the personality and voice of Alice Lon. Good show.

Kathy Lennon video interview

2008-04-12T17:51:00.003-07:00

By request, here's her interview from last week's Lawrence Welk Show.

Enjoy snoopysnake!

Lennon Sisters YouTube clips and screencaps

2008-04-06T15:49:00.009-07:00

Long time no blog. Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been going through a very rough patch the past month. Hopefully things are turning around. Anyway, let the blogging commence!

Did y'all see last night's Lawrence Welk Show? It was really good. From early 1968, it was one of the very last appearances by The Lennon Sisters on the show. They performed two choice numbers, which I've added to YouTube.

First up, the very beautiful Where Are The Words. This is an exquisite number.

Their second number was the cute and lively Quanto le Gusta.

Kathy was interviewed at the end of the show. She told a moving story of finding an old, very early amateur recording she and her dad did on a recording machine given to them by a wealthy relative. She got choked up talking about what a treasure it was to have a recording of her dad. She made copies for her brothers and sisters for Christmas. What a priceless gift.

I made some screencaps from the show if you'd like to have a look.
Enjoy.

Lennon Sisters Ringtones

2008-02-17T11:54:00.007-07:00

I was playing around last night, figuring out how to make ringtones. Have you always wanted a Lennon Sisters song to blare out when your cellphone rings? At least you'll know it's your phone ringing cause the chances of someone else having one of their songs as their ringtone are pretty slim I'd bet.

I made four so far: This first one will take some guts to use!

#1 Hits Of The 1960s

2008-02-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Lennon Sisters sing The Beatles! Yep, this 1964 album, #1 Hits Of The 1960s, features The Lennon Sisters singing I Wanna Hold Your Hand. It's a hoot. So is their version of Hit The Road Jack. "What you say?!"

The rest of the album is great. The girls shine on many of the pop tunes, and do a standout version of Our Day Will Come. Kathy takes the lead in many of the solo spots - her low voice is so appealing. They hold their own with girl groups of the day. Pity they weren't played on the radio.

The track listing is:

Side A

1. You Don't Own Me
2. Hit The Road Jack
3. There! I've Said It Again
4. Our Day Will Come
5. I Will Follow Him
6. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Side B

7. I'm Leaving It Up To You
8. Theme From A Summer Place
9. The End Of The World
10. I Wanna Hold Your Hand
11. Don't Break The Heart That Loves You
12. Everybody's Somebody's Fool

Oddly, the side B listings on the back cover as well as the record itself are all out of order. A minor goof on an outstanding album.

Download it here.

Postcard pretties

2008-02-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a terrific postcard, showcasing the Lennon Sisters from the early 80's (I think). I *love* the mafia photo of them, in their suits and fedoras. Classic!

*click for larger version*

I've done my civic duty and voted in the presidential primary today. Now I'm gonna be lazy for the rest of the afternoon and probably take a nap with my cats. First though, I think I'll rip another of my Lennon Sisters lps. I'll post it after I wake up.

Georgy Girl

2008-02-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

I've been out at Mardi Gras parades these past two weekends, having a raucous time, but I did record The Lawrence Welk Show while I was out catching beads.

Last night's repeat from April 29, 1967 featured a real gem - The Lennon Sisters performing their wonderful version of Georgy Girl. This is one of my very favorite recordings of theirs. It's simply superb. I've uploaded the clip to YouTube, as well as made some caps.
Enjoy!

The Lennon Sisters' Favorites album

2008-01-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here we have another lp available for download: The Lennon Sisters' Favorites. This album was released in 1962.

As you can see from the delightful cover, this was recorded during the time that Dee Dee "retired" from the group, after getting married in 1960. To me Peggy, Kathy and Janet, as a trio, sounded not that different from when they were a quartet. On some songs they do have a deeper tone, but honestly I don't hear a huge difference.

The opening number, The Green Leaves Of Summer, has a sexy, samba style to it. Other standouts are My Favorite Things and Kisses Sweeter Than Wine. The absolute highlight for me though is Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen. I love the vampy piano and swaggering beat.

Download and enjoy!

The French Show

2008-01-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

Did y'all catch last night's Lawrence Welk Show? I stayed in and watched because it was way too cold and windy to go stand outside for the Jupiter Mardi Gras parade last night. Brrrrr. So I baked cookies and watched the old black and white gem from Feb. 1964. It was the "French" show - lots of not so good accents but the set was fantastic, and as usual The Lennon Sisters were superb.

I made some screencaps for y'all to enjoy.

Janet was interviewed at the end. My favorite bit was finding out the pooch Peggy sang to had peed all over her at rehearsals. LOL!

YouTube No No

2008-01-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

Dick Clark didn't take kindly to the American Music Awards clip of The Lennon Sisters on YouTube - it's been yanked off. Sorry guys.

Lennon Sisters on American Music Awards

2008-01-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a rare clip. Back in 1974 The Lennon Sisters presented the award for Country Group on The American Music Awards. Yeah, I know - Lennon Sisters and country music. Whuh??? It sorta kinda made sense actually. Around this time, the early 70s, they had signed with Atlantic for a country music album. They recorded the songs but unfortunately it was never released.

Missing from this appearance is Dee Dee. Not sure why she wasn't there - she wasn't off having a baby, the usual reason when one of the sisters is out of the lineup. Younger sister Mimi fills in to round out the quartet.

I've also made some screencaps from the clip which you can enjoy here.

2008 - not the greatest so far

2008-01-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. This has been the week from hell in every respect. I won't bore you with the details. To top it off my internet is down and won't be fixed til Monday (if we're lucky). I'm over at my aunt's, using her wireless to catch up on a few things.

So let's post a nice photo of the Lennon Sisters and their daughters. This is from the first year they performed in Branson. Hope you like.

*click for larger version*

Happy New Year Y'all!

2008-01-01T11:30:00.001-07:00

*click pic for larger version*

Here's hoping everyone has a healthy and happy 2008!

Christmas 2008

2007-12-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping your 2007 Christmas was happy and fun. Mine was not - I was sick as a dog on Christmas day, but I did have a lovely Christmas Eve. Not a total loss.

Here's the first pic for 2008 The Lennon Sisters and Tony Orlando Christmas show in Branson.

Check out the article here.

Christmas Spirit - Lennon Style

2007-12-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

Now here is a great old magazine cover story, the Jan. 1959 issue of TV Radio Mirror. Don't the Lennon Sisters look beautiful with their dad, Bill? The article is sweet but it's the photos that are impossibly cute, especially little Mimi in that picture with Dee Dee.

Enjoy!

Old Welk Christmas Specials

2007-12-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

There's a dvd available on Amazon of three black and white Christmas episodes of The Lawrence Welk Show, all featuring The Lennon Sisters. My copy came in the mail today. What fun old shows.

Here's a few caps (I'm too tired to cap it all) and a breakdown of the Lennon Sisters songs.

1958 Christmas Party:

O Holy Night - Lennon Sisters
All Around The Christmas Tree - Janet, Brian and Cubby
Baby's First Christmas - Janet, Aladdin
Outer Space Santa - Janet, Brian and Cubby (this was bizarre)
Silent Night - Glee Club
Jingle Bells - all the kids of the Welk performers including the LS brothers and sisters

1959 Christmas Show:

O Holy Night - Lennon Sisters
Ring Those Christmas Bells - LS, Larry Dean, Dick Dale, Jimmy Roberts, Rocky Rockwell
Thanks For Christmas - Dee Dee
Jingle Bells - LS and gang for Dodge commercial
Medley of traditional carols - Glee Club

1966 Winter Special (no Peggy in this one.):

Winter Wonderland- LS & gang
There Are No Strings On Me - Lennon Sisters
Star Of The North and Rejoice - LS & gang
Silver Bells - Kathy and Steve Smith

Lennon Sisters, Hollywood Palace Clips

2007-12-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

First off, I really enjoyed the past Saturday's Lawrence Welk Show, especially the interview with Dee Dee at the end. She looked terrific, and was so very charming and down to earth. I didn't get to record it due to a brain malfunction on my part - um, I temporarily forgot how to work the dvd recorder. Given that my dad has Alzheimer's I found this a little disconcerting. But I'm only 41! Probably it was just a fluke, and I am on cold medicine, so....

Anyway, I'm not completely brain dead, as I have added two clips of The Lennon Sisters to YouTube. These are from the Dec. 5, 1967 episode of The Hollywood Palace, ironically enough hosted by Jimmy Durante who later teamed up with The Lennon Sisters for their own variety show. I guess this is where the idea originated.

Here we have This Is My Song, with the girls looking so elegant and sounding gorgeous.

Next up, Up, Up and Away. OMG, who came up with this choreography?!

Lennon Sisters on Family Feud

2007-12-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Back in 1984 The Lennon Sisters did one of their guest spots on game shows, this time, Family Feud. Their opponents: Sister Sledge of We Are Family fame (I loved that song as a kid, even bought the 45).

All four Lennon Sisters compete, with sister Mimi rounding out the team. Nice teamwork, girls, but I cannot believe y'all couldn't come up with the last answer to "what do people say they don't get enough of?". Hello!

So do they win? Watch and see.

Lennon Sisters and Glen Campbell

2007-12-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

Over on the Lennon Sisters World Yahoo Group Vicky posted a link to a great video clip of The Lennon Sisters and Glen Campbell singing Christmas Eve. It's from a Dec. 1968 episode of The Hollywood Palace. It really is a sublime Christmas song, beautifully sung by the Lennons and Glen.

I've ripped the audio from the clip for an mpeg. If you'd like to add this gem to your Christmas music collection, you can download it here.

Big Thanks to Vicky for the heads up.

Lennons and Lemontinis

2007-11-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hope y'all had a lovely Thanksgiving. My family did. It was a smaller gathering than usual at my oldest sister's house but it was fun. There was much eating, drinking, and really bad karaoke. The Lennon Family we ain't. What I lack in talent I make up for in volume. I totally belted on Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats. Any inhibitions I had were taken care of by the Lemontinis I consumed. My sister was in charge of the food; I was in charge of the booze. Let me share the Lemontini recipe - y'all, they are soooo good.

Ingredients:
Absolut Citron Vodka
Lemon Concentrate
Simple Syrup - mix 1 cup sugar into 1 cup boiling water until sugar is dissolved.
Sliced Lemon

Mix in Shaker:
several ice cubes
2 and 1/2 jiggers of citron vodka
1 jigger simple syrup
1/2 jigger lemon concentrate

Shake well, pour into sugar-rimmed coated glass, add slice of lemon.

Mmmmmmmmm.....

Now here's a fun picture of The Lennon Sisters doing their "strip" number. I'd have to drink way more to add this to my karaoke repertoire.

original Lennon Sisters reunited onstage

2007-11-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

Over on the Welk Notes group and website, fans have posted about the special treat they enjoyed at Thurs. Nov. 1, 2007 show by The Lennon Sisters/Gatlin Bros. in Branson. Dee Dee and Peggy Lennon were both in the audience and joined their sisters onstage for a performance of May You Always. What a delightful surprise that must've been!

Check out Alice's photos of the event on WelkNotes.com. Peggy's outfit is most unfortunate, but Dee Dee looks cute in jeans.

another picture post!

2007-11-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here we have more pictures of the photogenic Lennon Sisters, courtesy of Katerina. The first two are just precious. Peggy's smile is so cute. They were adorable little girls who turned into real beauties.

Halloween, Lennon Sisters Style

2007-10-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween, y'all! Hope all you ghouls and goblins are getting your fill of treats. Our department at work dressed up as circus clowns, and we won best dressed! Woot!

I can't let the day pass without posting the halloween clips I uploaded to YouTube - The Lennon Sisters performing Dem Bones, and the whole Lennon Family decorating their family home to the nth degree. This family knows how to celebrate the holiday! Does anyone know, do they still decorate like this at one of their homes in Branson?

Lennon Sisters 1950s Photos

2007-10-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

I won some charming photos on ebay recently of the Lennon Sisters from the fifties, as well as a fashion layout they did for a magazine called Western Family. Not sure of the date - maybe 1957 or '58. The school fashions they modeled remind me of old pictures of my mother from that era. As a matter of fact Peggy looks not unlike my mom.

With their dad, Bill.

I have no idea who these little boys are.

Easy To Remember

2007-10-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Back in 1992 The Lennon Sisters hosted a special, Easy To Remember, a delightful and entertaining look back at their early years on The Lawrence Welk Show. They were such sweet little girls, so very endearing with their beautiful harmonies. No wonder everyone fell in love with them.

I made eleven clips from the special and uploaded them to YouTube. Hope you enjoy them!