The “Golden Hits Of The 50s” 

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CHUCK MILLER

“THE HOUSE OF BLUE LIGHTS”

 (Don Raye, Frank Slack.)

Mercury 70627

No. 9    August 27, 1955

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Chuck was a scat-singing hep cat who played that eight-to-the-bar boogie woogie piano. He was born, bred,

and raised in California.  Chuck played the lounge scene, and when the lights are low and the hour was late,

he’d “blow piano.”  Chuckie was hip; with a beatnik take on existence.  He’d play standards like “I Can’t give

You anything But Love” and alter them syncopate them, drag them around.  the result weasn’t really jazz,

but it wasn’t squeaky-clean pop, either.  He is a dang good representation of what coulda taken hold…if

rock’n’roll had’nt happened.

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When rock’n’roll took hold, Miller appeared and was diagnosed as belonging with spit-curl Bill Haley as

someone “too adult” to be a true rocker.  His remake of Frank Slack’s 1946 hit “The House of Blue Lights”

found enough receptive ears, but “Hawk-Eye,” a follow-up with the feel of a scotch and soda, seemed

“antiquated.”

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After “Lights” went off the charts, Miller made efforts at targeting his sounds to the younger geneeration.

“Bang Tang ding Dong,” “Bright Red Convertible,” and “Cool It Baby” approached real rock’n’roll.  It was

cool.  His country cover of “The Auctioneer” charted at number 59 in 1956, and “Plaything,” his cover of

NICK TODD’s hit closed out Miller’s career.

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Prior to Chuck’s momentary pop chart popularity with hipsters, he had cut some collectible sides for

Capitol Records.  “Hopahula Boogie” is one to find, as is “Rogue River Valley.”