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Top Downloads
(as of 2026-06-26)
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!
June Releases
Posted on Tuesday June 09, 2026
Take a look at ten new releases for June, including five patters:
- RIV 1521 - English Country Garden (Vocal by Brent Mawdsley)
- RIV 1520 - Love At First Sight (Vocal by Gene Turner, courtesy Shindig Productions)
- RIV 1519 - California Here I Come (Vocal by Eric Arthurton)
- RIV 1518 - Angels We Have Heard On High (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1517 - Mack The Knife (Vocal by Mike Seastrom, courtesy Rhythm Records)
- RIV 1516 - Chinese Breakdown (Patter)
- RIV 1515 - Louisiana (Patter)
- RIV 1514 - Brush Train (Patter)
- RIV 1513 - Wind Over Kilkee (Patter)
- RIV 1512 - Billy Bob (Patter)
Yes, we ARE starting in on our Christmas songs, six months early so there'll be plenty of time to practice them. Jason has a rocking version of Angels We Have Heard On High, and we have a few others in the pipeline over the next few months as well.
Mike Seastrom of Rhythm Records contributes a vocal for our new version of the Bobby Darin hit Mack The Knife, and Eric Arthurton updates the Al Jolson tune California Here I Come. Check out Brent Mawdsley's take on the 1962 Jimmie Rodgers song English Country Garden, which itself is an update to an old English folk tune. And Shindig's Gene Turner gives us a taste of Love At First Sight.
If you're going to the National Convention in Waco, keep your eyes open for some of our Riverboat staff, and be sure to say hello!
May Releases
Posted on Monday May 18, 2026
We have ten new releases for May, including seven new patters:
- RIV 1511 - Right All Right (Vocal by Nelda Eaton)
- RIV 1510 - Thunderbird Ridge (Patter)
- RIV 1509 - Teriyaki (Patter)
- RIV 1508 - Sally Goodin (Patter)
- RIV 1507 - Red Wing (Patter)
- RIV 1506 - Foggy Foggy Dew (Vocal by Daryl Clendenin, founder of Chinook Records)
- RIV 1505 - Bells Of St. Mary's (Vocal by Jason Raleigh)
- RIV 1504 - Marshmallow Rag (Patter)
- RIV 1503 - Nachez Nellie (Patter)
- RIV 1502 - Eric's Simple Patter
Of the singing calls, RIV 1505 - Bells Of St. Mary's is a song heard in the motion picture of the same name (starring Bing Crosby in his second appearance as Father Chuck O'Malley) but with different lyrics from those heard in the movie. The song dates back to 1917, well before the 1945 film; Jason's version uses the original lyrics.
RIV 1506 - Foggy Foggy Dew is an English folk song which was made popular in the '40s by Burl Ives. Wikipedia claims that Ives was jailed in Utah for singing what was deemed a bawdy song. Daryl's a brave man; he tries it anyway!
RIV 1511 - Right All Right is a song originally by the Dublin City Ramblers, also recorded by Celtic Thunder. There are instrumentals in both male and female keys; listen to Nelda's take on it.
This Memorial Day weekend, please take a moment to reflect on our service people over the years who have given their lives in the service of our country. It's their day, come Monday.
April Releases
Posted on Monday April 06, 2026
We have three new patters and one new singing call for you this month:
- RIV 1501 - Life That's Good, A (Vocal by Renee Ruud of Fine Tune / Gold Wing Music)
- RIV 1500 - Cinco De Mayo (Patter)
- RIV 1499 - Charm (Patter)
- RIV 1498 - Traveler (Patter)
"A Life That's Good" is from the TV show "Nashville," originally by that show's cast.
Be sure to check out our new patter "Cinco De Mayo" ahead of the holiday coming up next month! It'll be a good addition to your repertoire for that date.
Hope you got a chance to say "hi" to Bob at the recent CALLERLAB convention in Reno. There'll be several Riverboat staff callers at the upcoming National Square Dance Convention in Waco, TX in June, but unfortunately Bob won't be one of them. Look for Tim, Jason and Lawrence while you're there!
February Releases
Posted on Monday February 16, 2026
We have eight songs for you on this Presidents' Day: three patters, four singing calls, and a re-release from the classic Red Boot library.
- RIV 1497 - Get Down (Patter)
- RIV 1496 - Take It To The Bank (Patter)
- RIV 1495 - Ragtime Rhythm (Patter)
- RIV 1494 - Outrunning Your Memory (Vocal by Brent Mawdsley)
- RIV 1493 - Morning Side Of The Mountain (Vocals by Larry Marchese and by Patty Greene of Chic Recordings)
- RIV 1492 - Make The World Go Away (Vocal by Larry Marchese; formerly RBS 1266)
- RIV 1491 - Hitchin' A Ride (Vocals by Mike Seastrom and Dee Dee Dougherty of Rhythm Records)
- RIV 1490 - Under A Spell Of Loving You (Vocal by Jack O'Leary of Silver Sounds Music)
"Morning Side Of The Mountain" was originally done by Tommy Edwards in 1951 and 1959, but Donny and Marie Osmond made a duet version of it in 1974. Our version salutes the Donny & Marie version, including a duet between Larry Marchese and Chic's Patty Greene.
"Make The World Go Away" is probably most famous as a 1964 Eddy Arnold hit, but Ray Price and Timi Yuro actually both released versions of it in 1963. Larry Marchese lends his vocals to the instrumental originally released on Red Boot Star.
"Outrunning Your Memory" was a 2022 collaboration between Luke Combs and Miranda Lambert. Brent Mawdsley helps us adapt it for the singing call format.
"Hitchin' A Ride" is a fun song from Vanity Fare, and Rhythm Records' Mike Seastrom adds a fun bit of Bob Elling choreography that fits right into the theme of the song -- check it out! Plus, another Rhythm artist, Dee Dee Dougherty-Lottie, gives her take on it as an alternate vocal.
"Under A Spell Of Loving You" is another Daniel O'Donnell song brought to you by Jack O'Leary of Silver Sounds Recording. Jack's done a number of O'Donnell songs of late!
In addition to the three patters listed this month, a new yodeling track has been added to RIV 303 - Swiss Miss. This features Jason Raleigh's yodels at a reduced volume in the background, so that you can call over them. As always, if you've already purchased RIV 303, please contact Bob Elling directly to get the new track free.
Check them out, and have a nice Presidents' Day. Or, if you prefer, George Washington's Birthday is coming up this Sunday. You could always teach what the late Jack Murtha claimed was the Virginia native's favorite dance, in his honor -- the Virginia Reel, of course!
December Releases
Posted on Thursday December 11, 2025
For the Christmas season, we have three new patters for you, and four new singing calls:
- RIV 1488 - Can You Feel The Love (Vocals by Jason Raleigh, and Renee Ruud of Fine Tune Gold Wing Music)
- RIV 1487 - When Will My Life Begin (Vocal by Gaku Nakagawa)
- RIV 1486 - I'm A Little Bit Country And A Little Bit Rock And Roll (Vocal by Renee Ruud of Fine Tune Gold Wing Music)
- RIV 1485 - Love Boat, The (Vocal by Scott Coon)
- RIV 1484 - Kentucky Derby (Patter)
- RIV 1483 - Snow Bells (Patter)
- RIV 1482 - Jaybird (Patter)
Can You Feel The Love is a song originally done by Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell, and is NOT the similarly-named song from the soundtrack of The Lion King! However, When Will My Life Begin is a song from a Disney soundtrack — this time, from Tangled, originally sung by Mandy Moore in Rapunzel's tower. Regular viewers of the Donny & Marie variety show from the '70s and '80s will remember their duet of I'm A Little Bit Country And A Little Bit Rock And Roll, which would lend itself to a couple's performance onstage. And anyone who remembers Donny & Marie on Friday nights knows what came on the next night, and Scott Coon gives us some nostalgia for the crew of The Love Boat!
While we don't have any new Christmas songs this year (well, Snow Bells might qualify), don't forget that Brent Mawdsley added his take on last year's Cowgirl For Christmas. Be sure to go to our website's Themes page, select Holidays and Christmas from the drop-down lists, and check out all of our Christmas songs from years past. There might be a few that you missed!
To quote George Bailey, Merry Christmas, everybody!
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
This page address is: www.riverboat.com/records/index.html
Last modified/updated on: Thursday 2017-10-26 09:15 MST
(other pages on this website will have different dates)
(music listings are generated dynamically and do not affect the page dates)
This website is owned and copyright © 2012-2026 by Bob Elling, owner of Riverboat Records.
Webmaster: Lawrence Johnstone