Al on Reddit

[AlejandraDD]

Looks like he's moving on to answer silly questions now.

[Big Spoon]

Al says he's not sure about the future of polka medleys after this album

A lot of times if I really want to do a parody of a song, but I can't come up with an idea that I think is clever enough, I will put that song in the polka medley. Also, I'll choose a song for the medley if I think it will sound particularly funny as a polka, or if there is an opportunity in the lyrics for me to add sound effects or some other kind of gag. Once I have a dozen or so songs approved, I'll just play those songs on the accordion and find a comfortable key for me to sing them in, and then see which order seems to flow the best. Then I'll do a demo and arrange all the horn charts, and then the band and I will go into the studio and polka down with our bad selves!
Sorry to say, I'm not sure if there will be another recorded polka medley after the one on the new album. They are a lot of work to put together (mostly for my manager, who has to deal with stacks of paperwork each time). But I think the polka medley will always be a part of the live show, so maybe it will just continue to evolve over time. This is all conjecture, of course... I have NO IDEA what I'm doing next.

Not quite saying they'll go away for ever, but it'll probably be the last formally released one.

[Big Spoon]

Man, I would have loved to hear this

[Bruce the Duck]

Not quite saying they'll go away for ever, but it'll probably be the last formally released one.

I kind of like the idea of it continually evolving in the shows though, with new songs thrown in as they come up. But yes, it is sad to learn that this will likely be the last ever polka medley.

[mellow weasel]

Man, I would have loved to hear this

I looked on youtube and there's even more than one version. These 2 are quite decent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BuLr1IHlkQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7h7Mfe8BDw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[spunkyandy]

Al may no longer release polkas? I may get weepy on this one. Maybe he could do them with a different arrangement? It's my German heritage...more accordion please!!

[just2good]

Not quite saying they'll go away for ever, but it'll probably be the last formally released one.

NO! C'mon, please no!

[Mystik Tomato]

He always said there'd be rioting in the streets.

Let's get to it.

[eleventhirtyfour]

He can still release polkas with less headache. He'll just have to think outside the (squeeze)box a little... like another full song polka (i.e. Bohemian Polka) or even original polkas (why not? He did Polkamon!) OR doing some kind of trade-off deal with artists (would probably work better with indie bands) where he puts their song in the polka and maybe plays accordion or does some singing on one of THEIR songs. I mean, it's promotion either way for a band to have a song in the polka medley. I'm just saying, yeah, he can't go the same route that he's been going with the polkas but that doesn't mean there has to be NO more polkas!

[Kevbo1987]

That news really bums me out. The polkas have always been a favorite of mine. At least it sounds like there's a chance we could get concert-only polka medleys. That's better than nothing.