![]() ![]() This is a hits collection, a summary overview and introduction to his genius, and it succeeds brilliantly on that level. That side might not be mined as deeply as it could have been here, but that's what previous comps like the King of the Road box is for. That might seem like a weighty word for a singer/songwriter whose specialty was lightweight funny songs, but the thing is, those songs have a certain mad ingenious sensibility that nobody else could replicate, and he could dig deeper - witness "I've Been a Long Time Leavin' (But I'll Be a Long Time Gone)" - when he wanted to. Jay-Zs 2012 'Glory' features his daughter Blue Ivy Carters cries and coos. All but one track from the seminal 1965 collection Golden Hits is here ("Atta Boy Girl" is the missing culprit - a good song but not enough to tip the scales in favor of the 38-year-old collection), and it spans further than that record, collecting hits from 1967-1970 and ending with the 1986 hit "River in the Rain." While that final song isn't quite of the standard of what preceded it, it provides a nice closer to a set of songs that unequivocally proves Miller's genius. Spanning 20 tracks over the course of one CD, this contains all the big songs: "Dang Me," "Chug-a-Lug," "Do Wacka Do," "In the Summertime (You Don't Want My Love)," "King of the Road," "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd," "Kansas City Star," "England Swings," and "Husbands and Wives," among others. And no better place to start than with the works of Roger Miller.There have been many collections of Roger Miller's hitmaking peak on Mercury over the years, but few have been as comprehensive or as good as Mercury/Chronicle's 2003 CD, All Time Greatest Hits. But with the way back catalogs are becoming increasingly popular as today’s music just doesn’t touch people like yesterday’s, we are slowly seeing some of country music’s most important works re-emerge. There are many other country legends whose legacies have also yet to translate into the digital world, and it takes a lot of effort by fans, families, and labels to make it happen. In 1964, Roger Miller won a whopping five Grammy Awards, speaking to just how revered he was by his peers. Roger Miller US-OK covered Nothing Can Stop My Love, Less and Less, When a House Is Not a Home, Private John Q and other songs. Though it was songs like “Chug-A-Lug” and “Do-Wacka-Do” that had folks in stitches and singing along, it was songs like “The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me” that left a more significant mark. Roger Miller’s whimsical and touching songwriting revolutionized country music at the time. I hope these songs bring you a laugh, a tear, but most of all, a smile.” “As I revisit his wonderful catalog of songs, I’m reminded how much I like hearing his lighthearted ones like ‘Hey Would You Hold It Down?’ as well as how poignant his ballads are. “I’m excited that these classic albums of Rogers are being made available digitally for all to enjoy,” said Miller’s widow, Mary Miller. Then from there, Capitol Nashville/UMe will be releasing three new titles every month this summer, marking 65 years of Roger Miller’s influence in country music, which commenced in 1957 when George Jones recorded the Roger Miller-penned “Tall, Tall Trees.” Twelve original albums altogether will be populated across the digital realm as part of the campaign. First up are 1970’s A Trip in the Country, 1979’s Making a Name For Myself, and Roger’s 1985 self-titled album. Starting on Friday, May 27th, Capitol Nashville/UMe is going to begin reissuing Roger Miller’s albums originally released on Mercury, MCA, and Smash Records, making them available for the first time via streaming and download. ![]() Sure, if you’re a vinyl junky, maybe you’ve done well finding his full-length albums out there in the wild, but good luck listening to them on the go, while the catalog of one of the greatest songwriters ever in country music is virtually inaccessible to a newer generation of listeners. Though you can pull up many of his most iconic songs such as “King of the Road” and “Dang Me,” most of them are only accessible via the dozen or so “Greatest Hits” compilations that have been licensed over the years. That’s most certainly been the case with the catalog of Country Music Hall of Famer Roger Miller. "Sometimes one of the most frustrating aspects of being an old school country music fan is the lack of availability of some of the older titles of some of country music’s most important artists. YES! Roger Miller’s Classic Albums Finally Coming to Digital Realm ![]()
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