PSM's
Roger Miller collection
At His Best does include many of his best, most popular songs like "King of the Road," "Dang Me," "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd," and "Engine Engine #9." At only 11 tracks though, there doesn't seem to be enough room for classics like "Do-Wacka-Do," "Chug-a-Lug," and "England Swings." Instead the compilers have inserted more serious ballads like "Me and Bobby McGee," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" that weren't
Miller's strong suit at all. Perhaps this was done to show
Miller as a multidimensional artist who didn't just do novelty-type tunes, and that is an understandable impulse. Still, a collection titled
At His Best and as short as this really should deliver the best and not try to paint a complete portrait of the artist. There are collections that have more tracks for not much more money; look for those instead. [Collectables reissued the collection in 2004 with a different cover and a reshuffled running order.] ~ Tim Sendra