| Chug-a-Lug | |
| Cover: | Chug-a-Lug_-_Roger_Miller.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Roger Miller |
| Album: | Roger and Out |
| B-Side: | "Reincarnation"[1] |
| Released: | August 1964 |
| Recorded: | January 11, 1964 [2] |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 2:04 |
| Label: | Mercury |
| Producer: | Jerry Kennedy[3] |
| Prev Title: | Dang Me |
| Prev Year: | 1964 |
| Next Title: | Do-Wacka-Do |
| Next Year: | 1964 |
"Chug-a-Lug" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Roger Miller. The song reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, becoming his second pop hit.
The song is a humorous reminiscence of youthful encounters with homemade alcoholic beverages. The expression "chug-a-lug" refers to quickly downing a drink, and the lyrics describe the singer's reaction to the extra-strong liquor. Example: "I swallered it with a smile / (sound of swallowing) / I run ten mile! Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug / Makes you want to holler, 'Hi-dee-ho!' / Burns your tummy, don't ya know / Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug."
By July 1964, Roger Miller's monster hit "Dang Me" had run its course in radio, and "Chug-a-Lug" was hitting hard and fast. Concerned about offending their core country audience, Miller and his producer Jerry Kennedy had initially resisted releasing "Chug-a-Lug" as a single, and an alternate version of the song was produced with the word "wine" edited out. But head of Smash Records Charles Fach knew that Miller's ode to forbidden liquid pleasures would be a hit. Of the song’s success, Kennedy said: "Charles was the one who wanted 'Chug-a-Lug’, we didn't know he was testing this thing in places. He said, “The college crowd is eating up this ‘Chug-a-Lug’”. And I said, “Well, we've got our country fans to consider here.” And fortunately they loved it too."[4]
Miller said that the song was based on a true story of a friend of his who "could drink a beer in 3 seconds".
| Chart (1964) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 | |
| New Zealand (Lever) [5] | 8 | |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 3 | |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
5. https://www.rogermiller.com/bio2.html