Roger Miller Top Ten: A Man Like Me (#9)

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Thanks to Greg (@xander6464 ) for suggesting a Roger Miller countdown. I’ll probably get two replies, but I’m having fun!!!! What an incredible talent: in addition to the songwriting, he worked as a drummer in Ray Price’s band (more on that when I get to the #1 song he wrote as a hit for someone else) and was a terrific fiddler. Here’s another one of his massive flop singles from early in his recording career that I happen to love. #9: A Man Like Me Linda? NO. (The daily “country music warning” to prevent migraines. ) If you go back to yesterday’s song (which was recorded for RCA) you’ll hear the more common “Roger Miller sound.” Here, on the other hand, he doesn’t sound a whole lot like himself. Of course, what I mean is that he sounded here like he was trying to be a more “serious” singer without the novelty approach that dogged him during his success. (It’s understandable: think of people like Warren Zevon or Jimmy Buffett who were/are great songwriters but known for one song that’s at worst a throw-away and at best not even the best song on the 45!) This is a typical country music heartbreak song, delivered with a more “natural” vocal style (you can hear Miller sing like this later in his career, but it was fleeting). I’m really sorry this didn’t become a big hit, because it’s a good song. A Man Like Me Written by Roger Miller Released as a single, 1959 Life’s so different without her (PS: the harmony on this song is provided by Johnny Paycheck!):