King of The Road

Product Description:

KING OF THE ROAD: THE GENIUS OF ROGER MILLER chronicles Roger Miller's career from his honky-tonk beginnings in the late 1950s through his years as a country-pop superstar and, finally, Broadway composer. The box ends with Miller's own versions of his Tony Award-winning songs for the musical "Big River." The 70 tracks include eight previously-unreleased recordings. The 40-page booklet includes a long biographical essay and rare photos.

The final track on disc 2 is followed by a 6-minute outtake of studio conversation and rehearsal. The final track on disc 3 is followed by a brief studio outtake.

Personnel includes: Roger Miller (vocals, guitar); Willie Nelson, Ray Price (vocals); Jerry Kennedy (guitar, whistling); Ray Edenton, Chip Young, Danny Gatton, Harold Bradley (guitar); Boots Randolph (trombone); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Randy Hart (keyboards); Bob Moore (bass); Buddy Harman (drums); Buddy Killen (whistling, finger snaps); Thumbs Carllile (finger snaps); Mary Miller (background vocals).

Producers include: Harold "Pappy" Daily, Owen Bradley, Chet Atkins, Jerry Kennedy, Chips Moman.

Compilation producer: The Country Music Foundation.

Principally recorded in Nashville, Tennessee between 1957 and 1985. Includes liner notes by Daniel Cooper.

Digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Polygram Studios).

Released three years after Roger Miller's death, this comprehensive 1995 three-disc box set, issued by Mercury Nashville, covers the entire span of the country-pop performer's career. The collection begins with a handful of early recordings, weepy honky-tonk tunes from the late '50s such as "My Pillow" and "A Man Like Me." That sound would soon give way to the Texan singer/songwriter's more easy-going style (see the swooning "When Two Worlds Collide"), one that Miller perfected during his '60 heyday with classic pop-tinged songs such as the silly "Dang Me" and the vagabond classic "King of the Road." Ideal for devoted fans, the anthology features plenty of lesser-known numbers, and even finds Miller singing a couple of tunes from his final major project, the 1985 Broadway musical BIG RIVER.