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Mrs. Miller is perhaps the most phenomenal novelty singing sensation of all time. In 1966, Elva Ruby Miller, an unassuming 59 year-old housewife from Claremont, CA became world famous for her cracking takes on contemporary pop hits, sung (and whistled!) in her inimitable vibrato-laden, mezzo-soprano style. She released three albums on Capitol Records and cracked the Billboard Hot 100 with her hilariously raucous versions of “Downtown” and “A Lover’s Concerto.” She sang live from the Coconut Grove Nightclub with Petula Clark to Vietnam alongside Bob Hope, and George Harrison remarked that her records were “too much!” Her TV appearances were numerous and included prestigious slots on The Ed Sullivan Show, Merv Griffin, Laugh-In, the Tonight Show, and a memorable appearance on The Hollywood Palace dueting with Jimmy Durante.
In a time of political turmoil and upheaval, with celebrities advocating rebellion and nonconformity, Mrs. Miller filled a much needed void for old fashioned, good-natured entertainment. And it was good-natured. While critics have suggested that Mrs. Miller was cruelly tricked into making a fool of herself, those who knew and worked with her have maintained that she had just as much fun as her audience. This first album of fresh Mrs. Miller material in over 50 years fills in important gaps in Mrs. Miller’s story. Contained herein are Mrs. Miller’s fabled hobby recordings dating from 1960-1963, which paved the way for her stint at Capitol Records.Though Mrs. Miller may have preferred hymns and traditional music, these recordings show she happily went along for the ride as a crack team which included Lawrence Welk pianist Bob Ralston, renowned arranger Fred Bock and radio comedian Gary Owens, helped shape the ‘Miller Sound.’ As the sessions progressed, classic Christmas songs gave way to stabs at pop standards, including an incredible, unissued fully orchestrated version of “Blue Velvet.” Also included is the dignified, post-Capitol Records conclusion to Mrs. Miller’s singing career with the 1971 “Mrs. Miller Records” tracks featuring big-band arrangements by jazz legend Benny Carter and a top-notch band of jazz greats. “If there’s ever a square lived in this world, I’m it,” Mrs. Miller once told the press. She may not have realized at the time, but that is precisely the allure. Now, she rides again...
Tracklist:
Side A
1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
2. White Christmas
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
4. Here Comes Santa Claus
5. Hark! The Herald Angel Sings
6. Santa Claus is Coming To Town
7. Silent Night
Side B
1. Whispering Hope
2. Blue Velvet
3. The Weekend of a Private Secretary
4. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
5. I Said No
6. Til There Was You
7. Ma (He's Making Eyes at Me)
8. She Had To Go and Lose It at The Astor
9. I Believe
10. Happy Birthday, Gary Owens