Add Rock Island Line by Lonnie Donegan. There are probably a half a dozen songs in my life that have been turning points in my musical life. Those were records that suddenly opened a door I didn't even realize existed. Rock Island Line was one of them. At that point, my exposure to folk music was mostly the white bucks and matching striped shirts variety, with the exception of Burl Ives and Harry Belefonte. Not quite roots music, although I appreciate the desire they created in my heart to hear more.

Lonnie sounded like he must have stepped out of the recording studio directly into a strait jacket. Talk about taking no musical prisoners! Lonnie brought rock and roll intensity to folk music, which may be offensive to some of the traddies in here, but I loved his "What the Hell!!" intensity. I never cease to marvel at that recording, even after all these years.

Jerry