Top Downloads
(as of 2024-12-10)
NOTE: RIV 1062 - Silent Night does not appear in its proper location in this listing because it had to be split up into several smaller downloads. It is currently by far the top download for the year 2019!
Now Available
Lois Elling's book, Teaching Clogging is now in its second edition. Buy a downloadable PDF copy here for $25Breaking News!
November Releases
Posted on Friday November 15, 2024
We have ten releases for you this month, including three patters:
- RIV 1418 - Make A Bid (Patter)
- RIV 1417 - Easy Times (Patter)
- RIV 1416 - Traveling (Patter)
- RIV 1415 - Christmas Sounds I Love (Vocal by Jack O'Leary of Silver Sounds Music)
- RIV 1414 - Boxcar Blues (Vocal by Renee Ruud of Fine Tune / Gold Wing Music; formerly G&W 605)
- RIV 1413 - Lavender's Blue (Vocal by Heather Reynolds)
- RIV 1412 - It'll Never Get Old (Vocals by Gene Turner of Shindig Productions and Renee Ruud of Fine Tune / Gold Wing Music)
- RIV 1411 - Detroit City (Vocal by Dean Black)
- RIV 1410 - Friend For Life (Vocals by Tim Tyl and by Renee Ruud of Fine Tune / Gold Wing Music)
- RIV 1409 - Suspicion (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
"Lavender's Blue" is a song introduced by Burl Ives in the 1948 Disney movie "So Dear To My Heart." (Beulah Bondi also sang a verse in the movie!) On the other hand, "It'll Never Get Old" is a brand new song written and recorded by Gene Turner, with Renee Ruud of Fine Tune / Gold Wing Music contributing a female version. She provides a similar counterpoint for Tim Tyl's vocal on "Friend For Life," which is a song about man's best friend by the Australian group called The Bushwackers, as well as going solo on "Boxcar Blues." There's also Jason Raleigh channeling his inner Elvis in "Suspicion," and a transposition of Dean Black from Yreka to "Detroit City."
With Christmas coming up, check out Jack O'Leary's "Christmas Sounds I Love," a version of our recent "Summer Sounds" with Christmas bells added to the mix and a merry lyric from Jack.
Happy Thanksgiving! (Maybe a good time for Meredith "The Music Man" Wilson's "May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You" [RIV 472]...or a couple of our other Thanksgiving songs from the Holiday category on our Themes page!)
October Releases
Posted on Monday October 14, 2024
There are six releases for this month, and not one of them is spooky. One is, however, a typically hilarious Tim Tyl submission:
- RIV 1408 - Woke Up In Love With You (Vocal by Steve Edlund, harmony by Brent Mawdsley)
- RIV 1406 - If You're Gonna Be Dumb You Gotta Be Tough (Vocal by Tim Tyl)
- RIV 1405 - Old Country Barn (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1404 - Desire (Patter)
- RIV 1403 - Toast And Jam (Patter)
- RIV 1402 - Shake It Loose (Patter)
Check them all out, and we hope that you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.
Cheerio...I'd better be...shoveling off...
(Digby "Digger" O'Dell, the Friendly Undertaker on "The Life
Of Riley")
September Releases
Posted on Tuesday September 17, 2024
Six new releases for September!
- RIV 1401 - Little Red Wagon (Vocal by Dean Black)
- RIV 1400 - Don't It Make You Want To Go Home (Vocal by Steve Edlund, Harmony by Brent Mawdsley)
- RIV 1399 - Old Time Medley (Vocal by Tim Tyl)
- RIV 1398 - Let's Roll (Patter)
- RIV 1397 - Prelude (Patter)
- RIV 1396 - Zydeko Patter
In addition, we now have a male vocal by Jason Raleigh in the original key of A for last month's release of RIV 1391 - Turn It Loose to accompany Nelda Eaton's vocal. We also have a new female vocal by guest artist Renee Ruud (courtesy of Fine Tune / Gold Wing Music) for one of our past releases, RIV 824 - Dumas Walker. As always, if you've already purchased a title and would like the new additional tracks, contact Bob Elling directly!
August Releases
Posted on Friday August 09, 2024
We have seven releases for August -- three patters and four singers, including one from the classic Red Boot library...
- RIV 1395 - Race Horses (Patter)
- RIV 1394 - Happy Moods (Patter)
- RIV 1393 - Whirlwind (Patter)
- RIV 1392 - Rapid Roy That Stock Car Boy (Vocal by Dean Black)
- RIV 1391 - Turn It Loose (Vocal by Nelda Eaton; formerly RB 3013)
- RIV 1390 - If You Want My Love (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1389 - Beer Barrel Polka (Vocal by Tim Tyl)
In addition, Nelda Eaton has added a female vocal to accompany Jack O'Leary's original on RIV 1207 - Footsteps. As always, if you've already purchased the title and would like the new track, email Bob Elling directly.
Have a great August! Labor Day is right around the corner...
July Releases
Posted on Saturday July 20, 2024
We've got 9 releases for you this month, including three patters:
- RIV 1388 - Mississippi River Let Your Water Flow (Vocal by Steve Edlund, harmony by Brent Mawdsley)
- RIV 1387 - Black Is Black (Vocal and harmony by Brent Mawdsley)
- RIV 1386 - Sold! (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1385 - Hokey Pokey (Vocal by Jack O'Leary, with a traditional version for the kids by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1384 - Someone Poured Ketchup On My Ice Cream (Vocal by Tim Tyl)
- RIV 1383 - Chattahoochee (Vocal by Tim Tyl)
- RIV 1382 - Cow Bell (Patter)
- RIV 1381 - Hava Nagila (Patter)
- RIV 1380 - Silverado (Patter)
Hava Nagila is a patter version of our previously-released singing call, Hava Nagila Texas Style. If you wanted to use that for patter but found it too busy, give this a try.
There are some nice harmonies by Brent Mawdsley this month, and Jason lends his vocals to a new version of John Michael Montgomery's Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident). And, of course, Tim Tyl's humor comes through with Someone Poured Ketchup On My Ice Cream. Give them a try!
About Riverboat Records
Riverboat Records was purchased in the 1980s by Bob Elling in the San Francisco Bay Area. His love of both square dancing and good music has driven his dedication to create the finest square dance music available. The early years produced several square dance records using top-notch musicians, including Phil Aaberg and Norton Buffalo.
Due to the priorities of raising a family, there was no new music produced for almost 20 years. Around 2005 Bob began to teach and call square dancing to local 3rd and 4th graders once a week. He loves teaching the kids and has a desire to use music that they could relate to.
A good friend and caller, Ken Bower, encouraged Bob to start recording square dance music again, and so he did. Ken then recorded the vocal for the first "new" recording on Riverboat, Misty.
Bob enjoys producing many types of songs and especially ones appropriate for grade schoolers. Some of his more popular songs for all ages include: Mickey Mouse, Oh Johnny Oh, Y.M.C.A., Heigh Ho, Funky Town, Best Years of Our Lives, Big Pig Jig, American Land, and On With the Show. Most of these recordings include alternate choreography that can be taught in just a few minutes to kids or adults. The kids have responded with amazing enthusiasm.
In addition, there has been a great deal of support from some of the best talent in the country to bring variety and more life to the music. These fun square dance tunes are fun for both kids and adults. Bob's dream is to have this music used in the classroom by school teachers all over the world.
Riverboat Records also has modern patter music with a great dance beat. The variety of music ranges from bluegrass to funky, so there's something for everyone.
In 2010, Riverboat introduced its Gold subscription series. For just $100, a package of 20 new hoedowns and singing calls is made available exclusively to subscribers. At the end of the year those titles enter the regular Riverboat catalog and a new package is made available to Gold subscribers.
Bob would like to acknowledge the help and support that he has received from Elmer Sheffield (ESP Records), Jack O'Leary (Silver Sounds), Michael Salacuse (Circle Left Recording), Bobby Kennedy, Carl Kaye, Tracy Brown, Rich Reel, and Lawrence Johnstone. He also wants to thank his wife, Lois, for her support in this endeavour that he loves so much.
Contact Us
Riverboat Recordsc/o Bob Elling
16000 Marcella St.
San Leandro, CA 94578
510-278-8621
bob.elling@gmail.com