CD Review: Oh Boy Classics Presents Roger Miller - Roger Miller
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great album along with 14 additional songs that will keep you smiling and your toes tapping the entire way through the album.
Another thing that I enjoyed about Roger Miller is that he experimented with different sound effects both with voice and instrument. Each of his songs seem to have a different effect. I could easily write something about each of these great songs, but I won't. I'll touch on a few, but they are all great. Roger was not afraid to tread new ground in his music, and the end results were a joy to hear. "King of the Road," appropriately the first track on the album, alludes to the fact that he "rides the rail" and lets life take him where it may. He always gets by, doesn't have a lot, but is really happy with the way his life is. "Walkin' in the Sunshine" is really catchy. Sounds like a little pipe organ in there. A whole different sound. Basic message is to enjoy life and stay happy. Very upbeat sound. "Billy Bayou" is a humorous song. Back in the late 1800's a little boy was born in LA and his parents couldn't find a name that suited him so they called him "Billy Bayou." He fought in Little Big Horn by age 13. The song chronicles the life of Billy in a funny way. "Husbands and Wives" is about as serious as Roger got. It is a slow ballad type song. He says, "It is my belief that pride is the chief cause in the decline in the number of husbands and wives." It basically says that a couple should stick together and work out whatever problems they may have. "Dang Me" is another of my favorite songs. It has a really catchy beat. He spends the whole song telling himself what a terrible husband/father he is. He says "Dang me, dang me oughtta take a rope and hang me. Highhhhh from the highest tree - woman would you weep for me." He has lots of vocal "special effects" and nonsense rhymes in this song. "Chug A Lug," another fun song. A drinking song - filled with special sound effects and fun lyricks. The song details the downfalls of drinking too much in a very funny way. "Engine Engine #9" is another Roger Miller standby. He is looking for his lost love. She has left on the first train she can find. She has found another. "Don't We All Have The Right To Be Wrong" is another serious song from Roger. She has left him and he wonders if we all don't have the right to be wrong now and then. He reflects back on what went wrong. "England Swings" utilizes whistling as one of the special effects. He uses his gift of rhyme and connects things you would never think to connect. And it all works for him. It is a completely nonsensical song and just fun to listen to. They saved my favorite Roger Miller song for the last track. "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd" brings back many happy childhood memories. This was on a "wacky songs" record that our family had. He puts some very strange concepts together to bring his point across. His point? You can't do lots of things (humorously detailed in song), but you can be happy if you've a mind to! Bottom Line - this is an exceptional album. It is "fun" and light hearted and just a joy to listen to. There isn't a bad song on here. It is a "must have" for the Roger Miller fan and a great find for someone just getting into him. Song List:
Sound clips courtesy of Amazon.
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