Joey Miskulin : MusicWagon Productions

Disney-Pixar's much anticipated attraction "Midway Mania" opened last week at Disney World in Orlando and California Adventure in Anaheim, capturing the imaginations of thousands of Toy Story fans. The ride, a retro-virtual arcade shooting gallery, features music produced by Riders' In The Sky's Joey The Cowpolka King and songs written to order by Joey, Too Slim, and Ranger Doug.

"The premise of the ride is that it exists in a box under Andy's bed. Visitors are invited in to shoot targets, break plates, toss rings, all kinds of clever takes on those county fair arcade themes," said Joey, in an exclusive interview at the luxurious Musicwagon Studio. "The folks at Disney's Imagineering came up with Mr. Potatohead as an animatronic barker character to entertain the people in line. They asked us to create music for him. Slim, the Ranger and I wrote six songs and I got to produce Don Rickles, the voice of Mr. Potatohead."

"My songs have been recorded by Tammy Wynette, William Shatner and now Don Rickles," said Too Slim. "I believe I'm the only person that can say that."What was it like to work in the studio with Rickles? "Don Rickles is known for being sarcastic but in reality he's a warm person, and as hardworking and professional as anyone we've worked with," said Joey. "We'd start the day with a fine brunch and he'd tell these classically great stories about working with Johnny Carson, Sinatra, Pavarotti. What a thrill to work with a legend."

"They wanted a Dixieland feel for the music," continued the white-hatted Squeezemeister, "so that's what we did. It's not cowboy music but I'm glad they think of us for projects outside of the Western world. The first time I walked into Imagineering I got goosebumps. For kids who grew up watching Mickey Mouse Club and all the Disney shows like we did, to be associated with those creative people is a dream come true."

"You don't have to go to Florida or California to check it out," said web savvy Too Slim. "Go on YouTube and search for "Midway Mania" or "Mr. Potatohead" and you can find a number of postings of the 'Sultan of Spud' warbling our tunes. It's 'insania.'"