Roger Miller:

The Return of Roger Miller:(1965)

The 3rd Time Around:(1965)

Words and Music:(1966)

A Tender Look At Love:(1968)

Roger Miller featuring Dang Me:(1969)

I was predisposed to like Roger Miller. Why? Because, the Disney version of Robin Hood was one of my favorite movies as a kid, and Roger Miller was the voice of the singing rooster and narrator, Allan-a-Dale. So, years later when I fell in love with the song King of The Road, and tracked down a Roger Miller record, his voice was familiar and comforting. 

There are very few songwriters who can master, and pull off, the combination of humor and genuine sentiment. In fact, the two that instantly come to mind are John Prine, and Roger Miller. Songs like, You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd, My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died, Kansas City Star, and Dang Me all have some dark humor getting a character through hard times. There's also an interesting mix of musical influence coming out of Miller. It's Country, but also Folk. It's Vaudeville, but it's Pop. It's, well...Roger Miller. I'll listen to a Roger Miller record anytime, and be happy.