Last Date

AMG Review of Last Date

Greg Adams
All Music Guide

Last Date uses Floyd Cramer's instrumental piano hit of the same name as a jumping-off point for a program of piano-based pop instrumentals that rank among Welk's best work of the '60s. Cramer's recording of "Last Date" was one of country music's great crossover successes, and Welk's version competed with it on the pop charts, narrowly missing the Top 20. Last Date doesn't dwell much on the country origins of its title track, and instead concentrates on pure instrumental pop with orchestral arrangements provided by a team of arrangers that includes Dick Reynolds. The pop and country-pop melodies spotlight the piano, often played in Cramer's signature "slip note" style, but strings, guitars, and horns also take turns carrying the melodies. Welk's usual stylistic formulae are not in evidence, so even listeners familiar with his work would be hard-pressed to identify the music by ear as his. A vocal chorus appears in a supporting role behind the instruments on a few cuts, most prominently on an adventurous treatment of the old Bing Crosby hit "Temptation." Last Date was Welk's first hit album for Dot Records and immediately preceded his career hit album Calcutta!, which popularized the instrumental harpsichord light rock heard on so many of his albums thereafter. Although Welk had joined the Dot roster only a year earlier, he had already cranked out over 15 albums for the label by the time Last Date entered the charts.