Customer Reviews

King Of The Road: The Genius Of Roger Miller

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Using the word genius to describe Roger Miller somehow seems to fall short. One listen through this box set will perfectly illustrate that. Even the casual Roger Miller fan will find this box set worth every penny.

The main problem with the current in-print catalog of Roger's songs is that the majority (okay, nearly ALL) of the releases are "best-ofs" and "greatest hits" than only offer 10-15 tracks...or 20, at best. Considering the brevity of most of Roger's songs (most are around the 2-minute mark), you're looking at CDs that clock in at 20-40 minutes. While the music is undoubtably great, these discs are underselling Roger's other works. Shockingly, none of Roger's original Smash albums are available in their entirety anymore. They may be some of the last great country albums not to be reissued in the CD age.

This box set does a great job of compiling all of the key points of Roger's career, from the mid 50s country sessions to the early 60s RCA sessions, to the famous Smash years, and beyond. Most of the essential tracks are here, and as such, it's the only in-print release that even comes close to being comprehensive. The Bear Family "King of the Road" single CD is a nice companion that collects the full RCA sessions (his most underrated work, in my opinion). Other than that, there is little on CD that hasn't been covered by this box.

My only beef is that this box doesn't quite take up the room available on the 3 CDs. More great songs from Roger's career could've been squeezed on here. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but when a song like "Every Which-a-Way" is missing, you aren't getting a definitive package. Still, this box is the best thing out there and it comes highly recommended.

If I had my way, there would be a two CD set that collected the first four Smash albums: Dang Me, Return of Roger Miller, Third Time Around, and Words and Music...all remastered and presented in their entire glory. While the key tracks (i.e. the hits) from these albums are on the box set already, several more gems lay within these albums. Surely there is market out there for these originals album to see the light of day once again...

One final note...the box set here contains 4-5 tracks from Roger's 1970 album "A Trip in the Country" where Roger recorded his own versions of the songs he wrote for George Jones, Faron Young, and others in the late 50s and early 60s. This is truly the hidden gem within Roger's discography. Why this entire album isn't available is a mystery. Search for the original vinyl or enjoy the slice available on this box set. It shows just how important of a songwriter Roger was before the public had even heard of him.

While most reviewers focus on Miller's talents as a humorist, this collection is careful to portray him primarily as a song writer, and rarely refers to his "novelty" tendencies. The first two disks contain some treasures familiar to any Miller fan, and bring a smile of pure joy to my face whenever I listen to them. I found the third disk to be a disappointment - Miller was not at his best performing other people's music, and the third disk contains few of his original compositions. However, for anyone who wants Miller recordings beyond the 5 or 6 standards that appear on every "greatest hits" collection, this in-depth collection is the way to go.

I would guess that this man's work would have limited appeal. It's crazy and it's country and not a lot of people like either one, but especially when you put the two together. But there was a fire in this man that you can feel, I hope, burning hot and bright for at least 2 1/2 hours of this 3 hour set. And his fire burnt hotter and brighter than just about any other that I've come across. As a country songwriter, maybe only Hank is his equal. As a performer, he might be in a class of his own. There is as much wit and irreverence in the performance of songs like "My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died" as there are in the lyrics. Then you hear him turn around and deliver something with remarkable poignance like "A World So Full of Love," and he pulls this off with heart-stopping grace and fluidity. Then he does "Lou's Got The Flu" and you get both the irreverent and the poignant in the same song, and you find yourself picking your jaw off the floor for the hundredth time, only this time you can't seem to get it back in place the right way again.

This may not happen for you. But if you have a) a sense of humor, and b) a tender heart, it probably will. I'm not even sure if you have to like country music or not, but that helps too, even though an appreciation for "depressive jazz" might be just as helpful.

After being introduced to Roger over the last year, appreciating new music is even more difficult than it was before. There is so little else out there in the world of creative works that captures this wide spectrum of human emotion and thought.

My non-inspired opinion is that this box set badly needed a 4th disc so that the following songs could be included.

*INVITATION TO THE BLUES *HEY LITTLE STAR *THINK I'LL PICK UP MY HEART AND GO HOME *THE DAY I JUMPED FROM UNCLE HARVEY'S PLANE *SOUTH *THE TOM GREEN COUNTY FAIR *TOMORROW NIGHT IN BALTIMORE *STEPHEN FOSTER *LOCK, STOCK AND TEARDROPS-(my favorite RM song)

LS&T was recorded at RCA after a stint with STARDAY and before his SMASH recordings as was HEY, LITTLE STAR. LS&T featured the "Talking Steel Guitar" work of Pete Drake and should have been included if for no other reason. The only RCA cuts in this set, to the best of my knowledge, are #'s 8, 9, and 10 from disc 1.

Roger Miller was a phenom! He is the uncrowned "King of Country Songwriting". The last time I saw him on TV, he was explaing why he lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico (so far away from the music recording mecca's of Nashville and Los Angeles). Roger's explanation: "I live in Santa Fe because that's where my house is." I miss Roger Miller!

I've always liked Roger Miller after listend to this, I loved him. The few people I know my age (I wasn't alive when most of it was recorded)that have heard of him have only heard King of the Road, and maybe on of his other funny songs. But, this set shows he was much more versitile than that. Country music would be in much better shape today if more writters/preformers had half the feeling and creativity of Roger.

This Mercury Compilation is one of the finer box-sets I have come across (not including peerless Bear Family). Roger Miller is best known for his comedic numbers, such as "King of the Road", "Dang Me", and "Chug-a-Lug", all of which are included here. But this 3 CD set also includes a wealth of both earlier and later numbers that have been overshadowed by the "big" Roger Miller hits. This set goes back to 1957 and introduces us to a Roger Miller that sounded much more honky-tonk than 60's pop, with such songs as "A Man like Me".....these early songs are not at all unlike Ray Price! Then there's the crazy numbers of the late -60's, such as "My Uncle Used to Love Me but She Died" and his ode to smoking (which would kill him later in life) "Dad Blame Anything a Man Can't Quit". The last disc covers 1967 forward, including a great trio-number with Willie and Ray "Old Friends". Yes, there are other compilations out there, but this one really nails the comedic genius and slick wording of one of the greatest songwriters of any genre of music. The box set is a hard, book-style, case with a fine set of notes and discography (some great pics as well). Highly recommended. A+

I generally am suspicious of box sets, but went with this one for Roger Miller, as the 'Millenium CD' was only a teaser to what the man had REALLY done over the years. ALL the gaps are filled in with this, without a lot of 'box CD' crap of demos and unreleased stuff (although there is some, and is enjoyable).

My wife turned me on to Roger Miller, as silly ignorant me did not even know that he penned the 'Dang me - get a rope and hang me' line...so here I am (43 mind you) catching up on a great legend in music. Roger is just a damn likable guy, and his passion shows in a million different colors across this great collection. He is/was categorized as 'country', however I would categorize him more as good ole 'country folk' music, as listening to this CD is not like putting Willie Nelson or any artist of the same timeframe/country category on...

There will be lots of moments of grins/laughs/foot stomping and introspection as Roger spins his tales for you. This collection really catches all of him very well, and you the listener get the bonus. With the departure of Country music into mainstream, it is great to hear some good ole stuff that is very original and listenable after all these years and is NOT the 'old country' that I run to the hills when I hear...

From "King of the Road" to "Dang Me" to "My Uncle Used To Love Me" Roger Miller had a unique outlook on life, love, and and his place in it. Back when country wasn't cool, Miller wrote and performed songs that crossed the lines between country and pop. Many of his songs are timeless icons of our society and many others have become clasics when performed by other people -- "Little Green Apples" and "The Last Word in Lonesome is Me".

The collection spans the full spectrum of his recording life from some early takes through the Broadway musical "Big River".

If the music wasn't enough (and it is), the included booklet is full of great photographs, bio information, and song notes.

Roger Miller was a true original and this collection captures his spirit well.

"The Genius Of Roger Miller"!! the word "genius" used in the title of this three disc collection/anthology of songs written and recorded by the late great Roger Miller is no misnomer - the man was a creative musical genius.

Roger Miller spoiled me though . . . after hearing his songs and recordings and performances, very little of "today's country" (or of any other genre for that metter) measures up. Roger raised the bar so high that most others simply pass by beneath his talent and abilities.

Roger could make you laugh out loud . . . or cry . . . and sometime BOTH in the same song . . . he could enteratain but he was also a "humorist philospher" who's songs and lyrics and even 'aside remarks' could bring you down off your lofty ivory tower pedestal and make you realize our common humanity.

Roger sang of everyday lives and everyday events and everyday experiences in a not so everyday way of looking at them. He viewed the world and experiences and life from such a unique "eye" and perspective . . . and he knew how to laugh at the ridiculous found even in the most somber and even sad experiences met with through living.

Reading the liner notes to this collection it is so amazing to learn that many of these tracks might have been lost forever. Someone cleaning out the garage of a house they bought discovered these tins in a box there ready to be discarded as trash: they were "Master Tapes" of Roger's recordings. And so some of the tracks we get to hear and enjoy now on this collection were salvaged and saved and now preserved digitally for all time. Thank God for miraculous saves! :)

If you are a fan of roger Miller . . . if You perhaps only recently heard of Roger Miller . . .and even if you never before heard of Roger Miller, get this collection. You will meet and encounter the most interesting and creative singer/songwriter you will ever meet. And you will enjoy track after track after track of creative genius. You will laugh for sure . . . you will cry for certain . . . and you will thank yourself forever for taking advantage of the opportunity these recordings provide you to know "the genius of Roger Miller"

And thank YOU Roger Miller for all the great music and song . . . and for your most unique gift of humor. You are greatly missed.

This may not be the fully comprehensive collection that someone of Miller's stature deserves, but it's an excellent 70-track album that contains all the essentials. Attractively packaged, with a booklet of over 30 pages that includes some great photos, this would make a fine gift for any Miller fan.

It starts in 1957 with hard-country songs that Hank Snow might have recorded. It ends in 1986 with 2 tracks from his crowning achievement, the Broadway hit Big River. The mid-sixties were his finest years and many of his most memorable hits are to be found on disc 2. But it's all good.

Go for The All Time Greatest Hits album if you are sampling. Chances are you'll want to trade it in for this one.