Ain't Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller

My head | Nita Nupress

[Nita Nupress]

Cool. I think I may have known that about your husband being into music at one time, but had forgotten. Anyway, that rings a bell somehow.

I'm with you: I admire anyone who can create a song by writing words on paper, no matter what the genre. It's truly an art, one that I don't have & never will. Guitar? Yeah, but anyone can do that. It's the crafting of words into a song that takes the real talent.

[Nita Nupress]

I have sheet music of a lot of his songs and think I will go now and play "Little Green Apples" on the piano.

I'm glad to know you've been inspired. :-)

[Nita Nupress]

- amazing quote by Kenny, that should have been in the book but he never expressed any interest in participating, so I didn't push it with him. I usually checked two, maybe three times max and then I just left them alone. I'll be seeing him in a few months so maybe I'll see if I can chat with him for the possible part two.

Okay, see? NOW I have to ask you about George Jones. I wasn't going to, but since you mentioned it first. (Kinda sorta.)

[Nita Nupress]

No problem sharing some of the stuff left on the cutting room floor. A ton of work when into those interviews too and it was sad to have to drop them. I had to cut out a ton on bizarre and funny stories along the way too because of the space issue. The publisher didn't think this book should be longer than the Bible.

A "Part 2" would probably be as interesting as this one. If not now, then someday. Just be sure and save them in several different places, just in case. It was sickening to hear so many stories those guys told about how Roger handed them scraps of paper with newly-written songs on them, but they lost them, either by fire or by ex-wives. Those taped interviews, too. Those are historical documents that should be preserved. But you knew that already. :-)

It has a word count on it, but I can't figure out how to just count the number of words without going one by one in the find section.

Hmm... I could have sworn there was a way to do that, but darned if I can figure it out now. Let me ask around and I'll get back with you on that.

[mrestyle]

First off, everyone NEEDS the 3 disc Roger box set King of the Road - The Genius of Roger Miller, especially discs 2& 3 - amazing stuff!! There are a few unreleased songs from albums that were lost (Treat Me Like A Human, What Are Those Things...). I can't explain how good that stuff is. Roger literally became my favorite singer/songwriter of all time after listening through the box set (competing with my favorites Waylon, Wille, Johnny, Bobby Bare, Merle, Elvis and Alice Cooper). Roger went right to the top of the list.

I'd also recommend the Best of Roger Miller IMPORT - 30 songs, most alternative versions. Buddy Killen told me he didn't like this CD because Roger was out of it and not into it, and you can hear it. They aren't quite as good as the original but they are really enjoyable plus there are a few songs on there that I haven't seen released previously. Great Value, worth getting after the box set.

If you don't have it, you need to hunt down "Uncle Harvey's Plane" - amazing track, there are 2 versions released from the studio, one you could tell Roger was on another world when he cut it, awesome. I do that song at most of my shows and people really seem to enjoy it, in fact, much more than the material I write :( It wasn't written by Roger but he made it his own.

There was a Readers' Digest CD set released a few years ago, lots of really good material, the only place I can find it occassionally is on Ebay. That's one worth picking up.

I haven't had much problems ordering online. So I would recommend getting that BEAR Family one (ebay is probably the cheapest but check amazon), they did a really nice biography written up in there and released many of songs that are awesome that didn't appear on the box set. There's easily enough solid material for there to be a second box set.

There's another "greatest hits" CD released I'm told with the same 10 or 12 songs from every other greatest hits CD but this one comes with a DVD with just interview clips. I haven't seen it yet but I hope to soon, I'm told it's good.

FYI, Ebay is a pretty safe place to buy from IF you buy from someone who has a high rating and quite a few sales (I'd say anything over 50 with a score of 95% or higher is worth buying from).

[mrestyle]

George Jones... I tried three times when I was in Nashville for a few months and he didn't get back to me. I spoke to his publicist, manager and office people and they never got back to me. I didn't want to harass anyone. Usually people jumped on it when the heard about the project, he didn't so I didn't want to push it.

The original title of the book was "Old Friends: Fuzzy Memories of Roger Miller" - from what I know about George from people in his circle, the memories would definitely be 'fuzzy'. I imagine if he did share some stories, they would be amazing. You also have to realize many of these guys told me stories off the record or simply told me "out of respect to his family, I can't tell you the real good ones" or they just simply stayed quiet and smiled.

Regarding Mr. Jones, he was in Canada a few years ago and I was told by a person he was on tour with him that he was threatening to cancel shows if someone so much as tried to shake his hand. This was during the SARS scare that happened in Toronto where one person thought they had it, but this was FAR from Toronto. He actually said that in concert, something along the lines of "do not come up to the stage, don't hand me any gifts or I'm leaving."

I like George and respect his talents so I just let him go, but I did get a few emails from people really angry at me because George Jones wasn't in it. The fact is, I was lucky to have any of the 100 people in the book as it was.

Perhaps I could have tried again closer to press time but this was when I already had to chop out nearly 200 pages of material. As it was, it was a ton of work to do and I didn't have time to make any extra work and didn't want to be considered a pain to him or his people. Maybe if there's a part two, he'll see the signifacance of capturing some of his memories of times spent with Roger.

Here's a clip from an interview I did with Take Country Back Magazine that sort of relates:

Style’s direct and confident approach worked more than well, and he recalls only one resistant interviewee.

“I'm a huge Lee Hazlewood fan. I knew Roger lived with him for a while in California , I really wanted to chat with Lee about it and he pretty much told me off. Sometimes it's best not to meet your heroes or have any contact with them; I haven't listened to too much Lee Hazlewood music since. Overall though, most everyone I chatted with or approached to do an interview was very nice to me and accommodating.”



- After my experience with Lee where he told me "Not now or ever!!!" I didn't want the same thing to happen with anyone else.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I met my husband through music - a party, actually, for a bunch of a cappella singers. I'm now with two groups that will be singing and competing in Vegas in just a couple of weeks ;-). You can listen live during that time by clicking on this link right here.

[Nita Nupress]

It's killing me, but I have a deadline to meet by in the morning, so I'll have to come back tomorrow. I don't think they would understand how I was hanging out here. ;-) Thanks for your comments. I'll be back when I can breathe.

[Nita Nupress]

Diito what I just said. :(

[Fledermaus]

Sheb Wooley also lived near Casitas Springs off the Ventura, CA coast where Johnnie Cash lived in a place called Oak View.

I was a nine year old boy back then and my parents knew both Wooley and Cash. I have a picture of me on Cash's knee.

This was 1968.

[eleni121]

Enchantingly a genius. Thanks.

"I don't pay no union dues..."

[Senator Pardek]

"Also, those of you who weren't alive in the '60s or who lived on planet Venus may need a short background."

Blah blah. I was alive during the 60's, yet I know nothing about him and you're too young to know anything about him.

Is he like The Beatles for you hillbillies?

[Liberty Valance]

...


Old Toy Trains by: Roger Miller


Old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?
Close your eyes
Listen to the skies
All is calm, all is well
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells

Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

Close your eyes
Listen to the skies
All is calm, all is well
Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells


Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks
Little toy drums coming from a sack
Carried by a man dressed in white and red
Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?

[mrestyle]

I'd love to see that photo. I got to hang out with Saint Johnny Cash and Sheb, pics at http://www.electricrecordings.com/aapics.html

Sheb was one of the funniest guys I ever met. A funny story that didn't make the cut in the book was after the interview I went out for a late lunch with Sheb. He got in the car, I started it and I heard some high-pitch squeeling. I thought it was my car as I've had some serious car problems on the book adventure (this was a new one though). I asked Sheb "Can you hear that?" He said "No". I shut off the air conditioner, the radio, and it was still squeeling.

After driving for some time, I leaned back towards the back seat to see if it was coming from the rear speakers and as I did, I realized the sound was coming from Sheb's left hearing aid. If he wasn't deaf before, he was for sure then.

Sheb passed away 3 years ago this week, he was one of the coolest guys you could want to meet. He had an alter ego "Ben Colder" in where he released a number of records. I never really got it and never talked too much about it with him. A year later my fridge was sweating a bit and I had to adjust the temperature to "colder" and I got the joke "He's Ben Colder".

I admit this wasn't the first time I didn't get the joke until some time afterward. With a lot of Roger's humor (and sometimes other characters from the book), it took some time to 'get it'. Part of the charm of Roger. Many of his friends told me it would sometimes take months for them to get Roger's joke and that audiences would laugh all the way home after a Roger show because they start getting what Roger said.

[Eagle9]

Which reminds me... When they come home to visit, I'm hiding my Roger Miller CDs or they may disappear!!

Now you know them good ol' Texas boys you raised wouldn't do nuthin' like 'at.

I'm wanting to order that Bear CD but haven't yet simply because I don't want to get ripped off.

I'll be your Huckleberry.
Seriously, I just ordered that Bear CD from ARTISTdirect.com and you can wait to see if and when I receive mine before you order, if you like. I can tell you this much. The shipping & handling was $4.60 and it takes two days to process an order before it is 'handled' and shipped. I checked the Bear Family Records home web site and they have that CD available for about $3.00 less but from what I can tell, they are located in Germany and probably have the same shipping rates. A couple of years ago I ordered several Boogie Woogie CDs by Axel Zwingenberger fro Germany and the shipping rate was $5.00 per CD. I almost didn't order the one where Axel plays solo piano, as always, but his brother Torsten Zwingenberger joins in on drums. I couldn't resist and ordered four Zwingenberger CDs. That was before Amazon started carrying Axel's CDs (great boogie woogie piano). But, I digress. I'll let you know when I receive the Roger Miller Bear CD.

[Nita Nupress]

Well, all of that is understandable about Jones. I wouldn't have wanted to bother him either, no matter HOW great of an interview he would have been. Even if he remembered HALF of what's stored in his brain, like you said, it would be awesome.

Okay, on to something else...

I guess I'm going to be the bold one (or rude, take your pick) who steps out on the proverbial tree limb here and asks about Roger's family and this book. It may be a question that people want to know but don't want to ask.

As for me, this was one of the first questions I had when I found the book on the Internet. "Are any of Roger Miller's family members involved in this?" After all, he had several wives and 7 or 8 kids. Did you talk to any of them beforehand, and have you gotten any feedback from them since the book was published last year?  Yes, I know. I'm being hopelessly tacky. But it's a legitimate question. And it needs to be asked, in my opinion.

Before you say anything, I want to say something, just for the record. I firmly believe in the concept, "out of respect to the family," and so every time I see a transgression of that philosophy, it practically shouts at me. There's not enough respect in the world, as it is.  When I was reading this book (both times), not once did I have the thought, "Ouch, this author shouldn't have included this."  Not once. No doubt there were some juicy details you left out, and I for one commend you for that. I thought the book was very respectful, even with the drug stories. (Drugs are drugs. There's just not much you can do to avoid that).

Also, when I said in the book review that all this stuff was sometimes "painful" to read, that's because watching Roger Miller self-destruct was a bit unsettling. I dearly loved this man as a child, an impressionable child, as did many other people my age who literally grew up with him singing to us in our living rooms.  It was painful to learn all these things about him. After I discovered Three Dog Night at age 14 or so, I didn't think about Roger Miller again until a few months ago. (His hair was just too short once I hit Jr. High, I suppose. :-)

Okay, back to the family question. I ask it only because I know you'll continue to remain respectful.

[Nita Nupress]

It was painful to learn all these things about him.

By that, I meant his addiction to diet pills and the stories some of your interviewees told about his tragic early childhood.

[NavyCanDo]

I bought the a Best Of CD a few years ago. Roger Millers had some Great traveling music and we love listening to it when we take a vacation road trip.

I DARE YOU NOT TO SING ALONG TO ONE OF THESE

King Of The Road
Dang Me
Chug-A-Lug
Engine, Engine #9
Do-Wacka-Do
Heartaches By The Numbers
England Swings

[Nita Nupress]

I DARE YOU NOT TO SING ALONG TO ONE OF THESE

It's impossible. I wouldn't even want to torture myself by trying!

[Nita Nupress]

I'll be your Huckleberry.

I appreciate that very much. I don't have good luck sometimes with these things. It's as if I had a "Kick me" sign hanging on my back. Let me know how it turns out!