Shortly after topping the UK charts, “Yeh, Yeh” reached #21 on the Billboard Pop charts, proving that the song was more than a UK wonder. The group’s version of “Yeh Yeh,” topped the Beatles’ “I Feel Fine” on the UK chart, ending a five-week run from the Liverpool chaps. Georgie Fame and his band, The Blue Flames, found the perfect intersection of pop, jazz, and R&B. The song’s stripped-down style allows for many different interpretations, but it’s Miller’s original, built around the singer’s charmingly beautiful voice, that remains the definitive “King of the Road.” 99: Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames – Yeh, Yeh (1964) The smooth-as-whiskey melody and straightforward instrumentation has made it a reliable cover for country stars and rock bands alike, with artists as diverse as Glen Campbell and Reverend Horton Heat covering the tune. The song’s most famous line, “I’m a man of means, by no means, king of the road” was bitingly cynical, reveling in the freedom of refusing to conform to societal norms. The track, a delightful country-pop crossover, tells the story of a nomadic hobo, untethered from all obligations and material goods. Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” shines a light on the traveling man. 100: Roger Miller – King of the Road (1965) Looking to explore some of our best songs of the 60s? Check out our two playlists on Spotify: Volume 1 and Volume 2.
