Top Downloads
(as of 2024-10-03)
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!
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!
June Releases
Posted on Thursday June 13, 2024
Here come our June releases, in time for the National Square Dance Convention in Milwaukee over the last week of the month:
- RIV 1379 - Something Good (Vocal by Ted Kennedy)
- RIV 1378 - Dreidel Song (Vocals by Jason Raleigh and Betsy Gotta)
- RIV 1377 - I Have Found The Way (Vocals by Tim Tyl and Nelda Eaton)
- RIV 1376 - Happy Go Lucky (Patter)
- RIV 1375 - Join The Crowd (Patter)
- RIV 1374 - Race Horses (Patter)
Bob won't be at the National, but several of our callers will be. Make sure to look them up!
May Releases
Posted on Thursday May 09, 2024
We have three patters and three singing calls for you this merry month of May:
- RIV 1373 - Summer Sounds (Vocal by Mike Seastrom, courtesy Rhythm Records)
- RIV 1372 - Tijuana Lady (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1371 - I'm Gonna Love You Through It (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1370 - Irish Spoons (Patter)
- RIV 1369 - Expresso (Patter)
- RIV 1368 - Wild Ponies (Patter)
We've previously released a version of Summer Sounds (RIV 557). That was the Gold Star version from the classic Red Boot library. But this is a brand new version with lively music and a vocal by Mike Seastrom of Rhythm Records. Check it out!
Also, please give a listen to "I'm Gonna Love You Through It." I'm sure that this Martina McBride song had special meaning to Jason Raleigh when he recorded it, because of his wife Katie's battle with cancer. I know it brought tears to my eyes.
The patter "Irish Spoons" may sound familiar to you. We've released similar music in the past, as RIV 1187 - Irish Delight. However, this version has added percussion (the 'spoons' referenced in the title). We felt that the difference was significant enough to warrant a separate release.
Also, check out RIV 1191 - Sing Away The Blues in our older catalog. Nelda Eaton has just contributed a female vocal to complement Jack O'Leary's original. As always, if you've already purchased the title and would like the new tracks, contact Bob directly.
Have a great month! Memorial Day's coming up...and summer will be right on its heels!
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