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Post new topic Top "MUST know" Hawaiian tunes.
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Author Topic:  Top "MUST know" Hawaiian tunes.
Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 8:18 am    
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What would be your absolutely "must know" Hawaiian tunes to play on lap steel. Please don't list obscure tunes, but tunes that would be the most asked for and most recognized tunes that you would play on a gig.

Go ahead and list the ones that you have played so much they make you seasick! Also if there are standard keys that these are played in, give that too. Thanks.
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Craig Prior

 

From:
National City, California, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 8:28 am    
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No particular order:

*Moon of Manakoora (one of the few opportunities you'll have to play a waltz)
*Lovely Hula Hands
*Hukilau
*Lil' Grass Shack
*Lil' Brown Gal
*Hapa Heole Hula Girl
*Hawaiian Hospitality
*Keep Your Eyes on the Hands
*Sweet Someone
*Rose of Waikiki
*Hula Heaven
*Pearly Shells
*Blue Hawaii
*Tiny Bubbles
*Kewalo Chimes
*12th Street Rag (Sol's version)
*Honolulu March
*Red Sails in the Sunset
*Hilo March

...etc. There's a million of 'em!
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Bill Leff


From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 10:34 am    
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Don't forget "The Cockeyed Mayor of Kanuanakakai"
http://www.huapala.org/C/Cockeyed_Mayor_of_Kaunakak.html
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Les Anderson


From:
The Great White North
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 12:05 pm    
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Marty Robbins old album of ”Songs of the Islands” and “Hawaii's Calling Me” had many of the Hawaiian classics such as:

Sweet Leilani
Hawaiian Wedding song
Call of the Islands
Beyond the Reef
My Isle of Golden Dreams
Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song)
Island Echoes
Hawaii's Calling Me
Aloha Oe (Farewell to Thee)
Love Song of Kalua
Crying Steel Guitar Waltz
Song of the Islands

I suppose many of the older gang in here will remember the old radio show “Hawaii Calls” that used to be (on CBS?) on Sunday nights.
I wonder how many people back then used to sit and dream of being where that beautiful music came from. I know I sure did.

------------------
I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!

[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 01 November 2004 at 02:15 PM.]

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John Bushouse

 

Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 1:12 pm    
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Hula Blues, anyone?
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 2:25 pm    
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Do you plan to play these tunes with a cowboy band or........??

If you're lined up in a Hawaiian group, the vocalists are likely going to be determining what songs they're going to sing and you're going to have to be knowlegeable and flexible enough to learn and master each one.

If one singer leaves and another comes on board, he'll likely have another completely different song book.....for you to learn.

My limited experience playing with a real, authentic Hawaiian group, has been far more fun and personally exciting than all of the country groups I've played with, rolled up into one.

Have fun now!

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Jim Bates

 

From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 5:35 pm    
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Also:
Hawaiian War Chant
Pagan Love Song
Don't Say Aloha When I Go (used this as a closing theme for many luaus in Houston area)
Harbor Lights
Hawaiian Wedding Song

These all fit well and were regularly requested at our gigs.

Thanx,
Jim
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Andy Volk


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 5:58 pm    
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Sand
How D'Ya Do
Tiare e No Tahiti
My Tane
Yello Ginger Lei
Aloha Tears
Little Coquette
Kaulana O Hilo Hanakahi
Makalapua
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George Keoki Lake


From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2004 7:03 pm    
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All of the above and about 500 more, (minimum)...
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Todd Weger


From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2004 3:47 am    
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On A Coconut Island
On A Little Bamboo Bridge
Aloha Week Hula
I'll See You In Hawaii
I'll Remember You

There's a million of 'em, but most of the above will cover 99% of any Hawaiian gig you'll do around here. Good luck!

TJW


------------------
Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, E13); Melobar SLS lapsteel (open D); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (open G); Regal resonator (open D or G)

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seldomfed


From:
Colorado
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2004 11:07 am    
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I was talking with someone (local guy who runs a music store, a non member)
at HSGA in Joliet about a book that you can get that basically has the top tunes you'd encounter at a bluegrass jam, since everyone plays the same ones over and over.
He wondered if such a book might exist for Hawaiian tunes. I told him I'd never seen one. He was amazed at the jams that everyone seemed to know all the same tunes - but he'd of course never heard them.

I suppose the closest thing I've seen to something like that is the uke book by Jumpin' Jim.

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.book-em-danno.com
www.seldomfed.com

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Jeff Au Hoy


From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2004 12:03 pm    
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...

Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 13 Sep 2019 3:26 am; edited 1 time in total
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Denny Turner

 

From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
Post  Posted 3 Nov 2004 3:14 am    
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I would visit and consider adding Gabby Pahunui's / Ry Cooder's version of "Yellow Roses". Although it's an old Country song redone by them about 28 years ago, they NAILED the old Waikiki Beach sound and feel. Cheekin-skin! ....IMHO.

Aloha,
DT~

[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 03 November 2004 at 03:17 AM.]

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