Mrs. Miller's Greatest Hits

I've spent a lot of time contemplating the mystery of Mrs. Elva Miller from Claremont, California. I have to conclude that her recording career is one of the cruelest practical jokes ever devised by the record industry.

For the most part, the flubs on Frank's Vinyl Museum are the result of serious artists and serious record producers badly missing the mark. Mrs. Miller's album is definitely over the top, but I get the very sinister feeling from the liner notes that while Miller herself may have been completely serious about what she was doing, whoever coaxed her to make this album was laughing on the inside, and probably egging her on to be even more extreme. The sarcasm is very subtle, just enough to give the wink to record collectors like us while keeping poor Mrs. Miller in the dark. References to her "impeccible diction" and "scintillating delivery" abound, as well as the accolade "one of the most interesting voices extant... one that brings to mind the tonal qualities of a Florence Foster Jenkins or a Mrs. B. J. Fangman". Jane Morgan's Fresh Flavor LP, featured elsewhere on this site, contains similar sentiments, but at least she can lay claim to some prior recording history.

I almost feel bad for exploiting Mrs. Miller this way, but once you listen to her songs, you'll know why her fans can't resist her. Enjoy!

Jim says:
I have this very same album, a mono version. I'm told that's the common release and the stereo one is rare. (02-18-2007)

Hal in Cyprus (hal@cyprus.com) says:
My wife and I are huge fans of Mrs Miller. We had her album on CD, and used to play it as "interval music" at the local comedy club. It was incredibly popular! Then one day, it wasn't there when we went to collect it at the end of the evening...I guess somebody really liked it! (02-09-2007)

Susie Blaster (sblaster@hotmail.com) says:
Richard Johnson M.D. so called Gynocologist has always had a thing for unusual sounds. Unfortunetly his taste in music is not an equal match of his medical knolege..

He doesn't know an Otiscope from an Otter tail. Mrs. Miller However is awesome!

S.B. (01-20-2007)

Fred Miller says:
Well, c'mon now......she's not thaaat bad. Worse butchering takes place on a daily basis in Karaoke bars worldwide and we now have a home for public song butchering called American Idol ;-) (01-19-2007)

Freida (Mrs. GeezerArt) says:
How sweet her voice is! Zipster (famous on YouTube) from told us of her! What a wonderful and passionate woman she is! (01-15-2007)

Sid Farkus says:
I remember the first time my Aunt Mabel played a Mrs Miller LP. We had just returned from an en mass neutering of all Her himalayan reds, 15 cats all neutered and spayed, still hung over from anesthetic. There began such a stur in them, we felt like sigfried and roy. The catz were jumping about like they were in a toy mouse factory. I will never forget that experience so long as I live. Sid Farkus (01-15-2007)

Richard Johnson MD. (cmoyer@pinchapenny.com) says:
Mrs. Millers work is outstanding! Simply put it brought a tear to my eye. (01-15-2007)

Chris (cchapan@yahoo.com) says:
If you go to YouTube and type in Mrs. Miller you can actually see her sing. It is awesome!

Chris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGYTrXDF2DU (12-25-2006)

DTY says:
I actually saw Mrs.Miller on Ed Sullivan! I was 14 or 15 at the time and really didn't know if it was a put-on or not, but I definitely remember my friends and I having a laugh listening to her butcher "Hard Day's Night" and "Downtown". I just chocked it up to another one of those goofy blips that were so common in the 60's (eg: Tiny Tim, Snoopy vs Red Baron, Bubblegum music, etc). (12-18-2006)

Rick Steward says:

It would have been great to hear Mrs. Miller and Tiny Tim singing duets.

I think that they had similar objectives. (12-16-2006)

Erin-Kate (misskate2you@hotmail.com) says:
This is OFFICIALLY over the top! (or under the bottom) It was the whistle, the laugh, the loss of lyrics, the random dropping out and re-entering and...the VOICE. I really don't know what to say. I just don't. I was just sort of...you know...listening, and when she started to whistle, I spontaneously laughed out loud so quickly that I wept...just a little...in a 'real' kind of OMIGODISTHISREALLYHAPPENING???? kind of way. (12-08-2006)

richard says:
i bought this album when it came out. i love it and still play it all the time... (11-23-2006)

Anthony Barber (abarber@joy88.org) says:
I love it! Just listening to this lady sing is one of the most funniest experiences known to man....or it's right around #4...a sure cure for depression..better than a banana split! (11-14-2006)

Carmen says:
WHAT THE F***!!!!????
Is this serious? COME ON!!
Can't believe it. (11-13-2006)

Tanya (thenrich@mail.chicousd.org) says:
It's been 44 years since I first fell in love with Mrs. Miller and I've never wavered. I even sent her a fan letter years ago but don't know if she received it. I'm glad to know she's not forgotten. We've had such fun over the years in my family, trying to emulate the voice and style of Mrs. Miller. She really was one-of-a-kind. Thanks for the opportunity to write this. (11-09-2006)

Divayenta says:
Brava! Bravissima! She is absolutely subtle and nuanced compared to that horrific "Il Divo"!!! (11-03-2006)

sixfeetander says:
Simply amazing!!! Better than Britney or that kind of "singers"... (10-16-2006)

Shirley (Girlhowdy233@aol.com) says:
Years ago I met a guy in L.A. who claimed to have known Mrs. Miller. He told me that YES, she was as serious as a heart attack about her "talent", convinced she was a GREAT singer! According to him, she made little money from her singing career, but was just so THRILLED for the opportunity to perform and actually RECORD that I just could not help but ADMIRE her. I have often wondered just how many "artists" today would REALLY want to be in the music biz if they WERE NOT paid a fortune to do so. Mrs. Miller, you are MY HERO! (10-04-2006)

Shaniqua says:
ih menina essa dai canta onde? Em seresta ou baile da terceira idade? A buceta tá cida que nem as buxexa? Eu hein, cada de doida ela. (10-03-2006)

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