I had never heard of Frankie Miller before. I bought the album on the strength of the sleeve which indicated some sort of roots Americana music. It, in fact, is southern soul rock, though done by a Scotsman.
Wikipedia: "Frankie Miller (born Francis John Miller, 2 November 1949) is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter and vocalist who had success in the 1970s. Miller was raised at Colvend Street, Glasgow with his parents, Kathy and Frank, and elder sisters Letty and Anne. He attended Sacred Heart Primary school. He was an altar boy in Sacred Heart Chapel. He also played football for the school team and Harmony Row Boys Club. He wrote for and performed with many influential recording artists and is best known for his album Full House, the single Darlin' and his duet on Still in Love with You, with Phil Lynott. In an article published in Rolling Stone magazine in 1978 Bob Seger remarked that Miller, "was a huge influence" on him".
Obviously he is a Catholic and the whole Catholic vs Protestant thing in Scotland (Glasgow vs Edinburgh generally, but within Glasgow specifically, between the soccer clubs, the mighty Celtic F.C. and the other club, Rangers F.C. and their supporters) is interesting but not relevant to this comment. I digress. For those interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectarianism_in_Glasgow.
On further reading I discovered that I probably should have heard of Frankie Miller, even as a footnote in rock, as he has been covered by, amongst others, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Lou Ann Barton, Rod Stewart, Cher, Bob Seger, The Bellamy Brothers, Ray Charles, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Travelling Willburys, Chris Farlowe, Clint Black, Kim Carnes, Waylon Jennings, The Proclaimers, Peter Frampton, Shakin Stevens, Don Williams, Climax Blues Band, Bonnie Tyler, Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Orbison, UFO, Quireboys, Johnny Hallyday, Etta James, Joe Cocker,Paul Kossoff, Robin Trower, Joe Walsh and The Eagles.
He is also a legend in Scotland generally and Glasgow specifically.
The music is (at least on this album) horn driven southern rock 'n soul and it's not bad for a Scotsman. You can hardly tell though as the backing musos are all American, the lyrics and themes are also very American (all written by Miller), and his voice sounds pretty authentically … err, American. The closest in sound to Frankie Miller is Rod Stewart if he was more rootsy Americana or Status Quo if they were more country. This sound was generally popular in the early to mid 70s: Wayne Cochran, Delaney and Bonnie, Rod Stewart (prior to "Blondes Have More Fun") etc.
It seems that Miller has been doing this style of music, or variations on the style, for many years and he is obviously passionate about it. (Obviously he doesn't have a very catholic taste in music … ha ha). This was his third album and he must have been like a kid in a candy store recording it in the States with the authentic Southern soul institutions like The Edwin Hawkins Singers and The Memphis Horns …
Having said all that I find a little of this music, even when done by black or white Southern musicians from the USA, goes a long way. So that feeling applies even more so to a transplanted Scotsman, even one as convincing as this.
There are some really good tracks but then there are a lot of chunk-a-lunk electric blues ballads which I always found tiring though the style, no doubt, is still popular in low rent suburban pubs in Brisbane (usually on the South side of town).
Tracks (best in italics)
- A Fool In Love – A good track which largely sums up the sound of the album … horn driven southern soul rock.
- The Heartbreak – a chunk-a-lunk electric blues ballad.
- The Rock – a tribute to those men incarcerated at Alcatraz (which apparently was within eyesight of the recording studio) … thematically it is much in the style of Johnny Cash with some Creedence Clearwater like vocals and beat. The liner notes refer to the song being dedicated to "the plight of prisoners" and holds some dodgy generalised lyrics about prisoners being outsiders and rebels rather than people who "shot a man in Reno just to watch him die".
- I Know Why The Sun Don't Shine – a chunk-a-lunk electric blues ballad.
- Hard On The Levee – Back in '53 he was working on the levee apparently …
- Ain't Got No Money – dumb blues boogie but fun … covered by Cher, Chris Farlowe and Bob Seger.
- All My Love To You – a chunk-a-lunk electric blues ballad with a touch of soul.
- I'm Old Enough – a uptempo chunk-a-lunk electric blues ballad.
- Bridgeton – a chunk-a-lunk electric blues ballad.
- Drunken Nights In The City – written for his late-night drinking buddy Jimmy Johnstone, the former Celtic FC Scottish footballer. All the requisite words are in the title … " drunken", "nights" and "city" … could easily become a raspy Tom Waits ballad (of his early period).
And …
The album isn't totally my bag, though I acknowledge that the music would be better live (in person that is, not on record). Having said that, it is unforgivable how many electric soul blues bands playing in suburban and regional bars, pubs and biker events still play this style of music without even a grain of inspiration or originality.
I will tape a couple of songs and sell.
Chart Action
No chart placings on either albums or singles in the USA or England.
Sounds
A Fool In Love
live (in the 80s?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LJBmrzhi_k
attached
The Rock
live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxg_89LqAUI
attached
Ain't Got No Money
live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjWNgTFa0M
Drunken Nights In The City
live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g2DiU-9ZP4
studio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y34I0uCxp-Y&feature=related
Review
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rock_(Frankie_Miller_Album)
(originally posted: 21/01/2010)
