"The Polish Elvis" - Krzysztof Krawczyk

This post depends a lot on context. Imagine yourself in a cozy polish cafe, drinking Okocim beer, and feasting on pierogi, golumpki, and dill pickle soup (my favorite). Ah...

That'll be me tonight. By longstanding tradition, a small group of my friends and family spend every Thanksgiving Eve at the Polish Village Cafe in Hamtramck, Michigan.

Tellingly, and perhaps more so than intended, Hamtramck, Michigan bills itself as "A Touch of World in America." I can vouch for that. A few years back, after consuming about 3-4 Okocims at the PVC on Thanksgiving Eve, I notice some touches of both "World" and "America" coming from the bar's stereo system. To my amazement (and amusement), the oompa-loompa-polka music had been replaced by a strange collection of Elvis Presley songs being performed in Polish. Our waitress identified the singer as Krzysztof Krawczyk, famously known in Poland as "The Polish Elvis."

At the time, and under the circumstances, nothing could have sounded better. It just fit the mood. About a week later I was able to track down Krawczyk's album "Gdy Nam Spiewal Elvis Presley" at a local Polish variety store. In honor of Thanksgiving Eve, I now present--for your listening enjoyment--five spectacular hits from the man they call "The Polish Elvis":

Teddy Mis - Teddy Bear.

Niepowtarzalna Dziewczyna - All Shook Up.

Ty Nie Placzesz - Crying In The Chapel.

Szybki Pocalunek - Kiss Me Quick.

Pozwol Mi Mocno Objac Cie - Can't Help Falling In Love.

(You can use your Canadian dollars to buy a few of Krawczyk's albums here).

Krawczyk, ever the showman...

And now here are five great tracks from the real thing. Listen to them to remind yourself, once again, just why the real Elvis was so special, and why he was copied in Poland and probably everywhere else too...."A Touch of Memphis in World."

Trying To Get To You (buy album).

Lawdy Miss Clawdy (buy album).

Love Me (buy album).

Kentucky Rain (buy album).

Clean Up Your Own Backyard (buy album).