MP3:
Max & Ada Rogoff - Traveling Thru New Jersey (2:27)
The ultimate tribute to the land of tomatoes, devils, swamps, and organized crime: New Jersey! Max's jaunty arrangement paves the swingin' superhighway, and Ada barrels down it at warp speed, flaunting that supernatural Hudson County accent. The most byoodeeful state you wannoo see, indeed!
- Contributed by: Hoppy Stone
Image: Record
Media: 7" Single
Label: Kim-Scott Record Co.
Catalog: 28380
Credits: Paterson, NJ
Oh yeah! As a New Jerseyan for the first 18 years of my life, this had a smile plastered on my face throughout. Everything about this is so lovably retrograde, (1940's I'd say) from the jaunty, sub Glen Miller instrumentation, to the slow-tempo breakdown leading into the final refrain, I had to love it. Was she trying to imitate Dinah Shore or what? There's a definite Big Band with Featured Vocalist model going on here. Fantastic stuff.
Posted by: Scott Mercer | March 23, 2007 at 08:49 AM
Instantly likable. Eternally memorable. Anthem material.
I declare it the Official Sawng of the Garden State. Take that, Springsteen and Bon Jovi!
Posted by: tony c | March 23, 2007 at 11:36 AM
I can almost smell East Bergen from here!
Aaaaaaaah! Schweet!
Posted by: Rocketboy | March 23, 2007 at 02:45 PM
I am Kim of Kim-Scott records. That was my grand-father Max Rogoff. The first copy-righted printing was 1/24/68. The singer was Anne McDonagle of the Dumont singers. Max drove around the state for over 40 years selling girdles, lingerie, and socks for Kayser-Roth of New York. Ada, his wife died in 1969 and Max continued to do what he could to promote this song as the state song. Was young then, but I can still hear him singing the song. Max died in 1988 in New York City. Kim-Scott Records did have a few more releases and went by the wayside when he did what all New Jersey loving citizens do when they get old; he moved to Florida.
Posted by: Kim | August 27, 2007 at 03:29 PM
I can't believe I found this song!!! I remember Max Rogoff singing this catchy song as a child when I lived on Hollybrook Rd. in Paramus NJ in the early 60's. Max was the grandfather of my friends and neighbors Michelle and Laurie Rogoff! He was such a jolly man!
Posted by: Carlen | August 12, 2012 at 06:56 PM