By way of introduction...

I have had a love affair with music for as long as I can remember. As for as long as I can remember I have driven those around me crazy with this obsession.

The earliest victims of my music lust were my parents.  My father was a friend of a local musician from Wisconsin named Jerry Way (or so I have been told; I have never been able to confirm this as fact).  My parents had one of his singles, the name of which has been lost to the ravages of time.  I would play this record over and over...

...and no matter how well they hid the record, this precocious two year old would find the record and drive them crazy with it.

Although that single is long lost, I do have, in my vast vinyl record collection, one of Jerry Way's albums, a 1979 record called Jukebox featuring such topical songs such as "Disco Polka Time".  It was a self-published Long Player (i.e. LP) "custom pressed" by the Recorded Publication Company of Camden, New Jersey and all of the song were composed by Mr. Way himself.

This, by the way, Jerry Way today (at least as far as I can tell): Jerry War- Really Good Music.

And here is one of his more contemporary songs (and a protest song to boot!): No Silica Sand Plant by Jerry Way.

The other 45 RPM single I obsessed about at this age is one that I still listen to (albeit on my computer or iPod rather than on vinyl).  The song is "King of the Road" by Roger Miller.  Amazingly ageless in sound, though dated somewhat by its lyrically content (and its glamorization of homelessness), it nevertheless still brings a smile to my lips even after all these years.

I played this record over and over again until my mother "accidentally" sat on the record and broke it.  She replaced it with a "kiddy chorus" version of "Yellow Submarine" which was no replacement at all.

Roger Miller has had many greatest hits compilations over the years which include his biggest hits including "Walking in the Sunshine", "Dang Me" and "Kansas City Star".  I personally have King of the Road: The Genius of Roger Miller compilation, which may be too comprehensive for the casual listener.  For most listeners, the Golden Hits compilation will suffice.  He also provided the voice of Alan-a-Dale for Disney in Robin Hood (1973).

Until next time...