Various Artists
Waffle House Jukebox Favorites Vol. 1
Waffle Music

Not since Supertramp’s Breakfast In America has the most important meal of the day had its due in popular music. Jerry Buckner serves up this ambitious concept album with help from Mary Welch Rogers. Her classic "Waffle House Family-Part 1" starts the day out right. This syrupy down-home welcome has become a hockey anthem worldwide. Brilliant lyrics such as, "Come on in. Have yourself some coffee. Thank you kindly." Rogers also lends her talents to the light and fluffy "I’m Going Back To The Waffle House," which milks the prodigal son story. It’s very reminiscent of early 80’s Servant with male/female leads backed by a cheesy male chorus. The gospel-tinged finale "Waffle House Thank You" proves Mary Welch has the juice.

Several tunes are re-worked (stolen) oldies re-warmed and served as fresh. The leftover "Waffle Do Wop" makes you wish you were back in the fifties, only because you could probably find better lyrics to the song back then. "I’m Cookin’" is an overdone take on "Whole Lot Of Shakin." And Frankie Valli’s crusty "Sherry" gets scraped off for "There Are Raisins In My Toast." I had hoped this was going to be a blues song, as I hate raisins.

Billy Dee Cox sizzles on "844,739 Ways to Eat a Hamburger," a Jerry Reed styled romp that actually has a sense of humor. And "Special Lady" is smothered in B.J. Thomas and topped with Elvis. It’s a sordid tale of the diner-server relationship crossing the counter. Reminds me of the old saying "I like my women like my coffee…strong, black, and bitter." Don’t assume you can save a tip by serenading your waitress with this one, trust me on that.

All day, Jerry Buckner sucks eggs. I wish I had just plugged my coins into the jukebox for this review. At least then the meal would have been satisfying. Where’s the struggle between taste and cholesterol? Where’s my hashbrown skiffle? How can they call this house music? What’s for dinner, IHOP trip-hop?

-Ewan Wadharmi

Track Listing:

1. "Waffle House Family – Part 1"-Mary Welch Rogers
2. "844,739 Ways to Eat a Hamburger"-Billy Dee Cox
3. "Waffle Do Wop"-Eddie Middleton
4. "I’m Cookin’"-Blue Miller
5. "There Are Raisins In My Toast"-Danny Jones
6. "Saturday Night at My Place"-Gary Garcia
7. "Special Lady"-Billy Dee Cox
8. "I’m Going Back To the Waffle House"-Mary Welch Rogers and Jason Bowen
9. "Good Food Fast"-Eddie Middleton
10. "Waffle House Thank You"-Mary Welch Rogers

Son Volt