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"…Be Good To Yourself…Be True To One Another…"
Most Frankie Miller fans despaired of seeing their hero’s output on a decent CD retrospective. But all of that pining for the fjords ended with the May 2011 EMI 4CD Fat Jewel Case Anthology "Frankie Miller…That’s Who! The Complete Chrysalis Recordings (1973-1980)". That superb chunky outing slapped together seven whole albums, and as Bonuses - a Previously Unreleased 11-Track Original Mix of the second LP "High Life", three Non-LP single sides and one song exclusive to a US album with a different name. And all of it came with great remastered sound courtesy of two Audio heroes of mine – ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM.
What you have here is a September 2018 EURO Reissue that goes down the Clamshell Box Set route. The 4CDs have been turned into 7CDs with all seven albums put into Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro Artwork and the Bonus Material carried over too (full house, nothing lost). It's lovely to look at, boasts that great 2011 Remastered Audio on every album and even has a functional 8-Page booklet that gives track lists, couple of photos etc. There’s a lot on here, so let's be good to ourselves and get to the details…
EUROPEAN released 14 September 2018 (originally issued May 2011 in the UK in a Fat Jewel Case with 4CDs under the same title) - "Frankie Miller…That’s Who! The Complete Chrysalis Recordings (1973-1980)" by FRANKIE MILLER on Chrysalis Records CRB1073 (Barcode 5060516091249) is a 7CD Clamshell Box Set Reissue (using 2011 Remasters) that has Seven Albums Worth Plus Bonuses and plays out as follows:
CD1 "Once In A Blue Moon" (32:30 minutes):
1. You Don't Need To Laugh [Side 1]
2. I Can't Change It
3. Candlelight Sonata in F Major
4. Ann Eliza Jane
5. It's All Over
6. In No Resistance [Side 2]
7. After All (Live My Life)
8. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
9. Mail Box
10. I’m Ready
Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut album "Once In A Blue Moon" - released January 1973 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1036. Backing band on the whole album is BRINSLEY SCHWARZ featuring Bob Andrews, Brinsley Schwarz, Nick Lowe, Ian Gomm and Billy Rankin.
CD2 "High Life" (73:38 minutes – see NOTES):
1. High Life [Side 1]
2. Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)
3. Trouble
4. A Fool
5. Little Angel
6. With You In Mind
7. The Devil Gun [Side 2]
8. I'll Take A Melody
9. Just A Song
10. Shoo-Rah
11. I'm Falling In Love Again
12. With You In Mind
Tracks 11 to 22 are his second studio album "High Life" released January 1974 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1052 (see also Tracks 13 to 23). Produced by ALLEN TOUSSAINT – Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12 written by him with Tracks 3, 5, 7, and 11 written by FRANKIE MILLER. Guest musicians included Barry Bailey of Atlanta Rhythm Section on Guitars, Auburn Burrell and Joe Wilson of The Classics IV on Guitars with Allen Toussaint on Keyboards.
BONUS
ALBUM VERSION "High Life - The Original Mix"
13. Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)
14. Trouble
15. Little Angel
16. With You In Mind
17. I'll Take A Melody
18. High Life (Filler)
19. Shoorah Shoorah
20. Devil's Gun
21. A Day In The Life Of A Fool
22. I'm Falling In Love Again
23. Just A Song
NOTES: Tracks 13 to 23 are "High Life – The Original Mix". This was a previously unreleased version of the album with the running order re-arranged and was first issued May 2011 in the UK on the original 4CD Anthology (Tracks 1 to 12 are the officially released album – remixed without their permission or knowledge).
CD3 "The Rock" (49:05 minutes):
1. A Fool In Love [Side 1]
2. The Heartbreak
3. The Rock
4. I Know Why the Sun Don't Shine
5. Hard On The Levee
6. Ain't Got No Money [Side 2]
7. All My Love To You
8. I'm Old Enough
9. Bridgeton
10. Drunken Nights In The City
Tracks 1 to 10 are his third studio album "The Rock" released September 1975 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1088. James Dewar (ex Stone The Crows and at the time with The Robin Trower Band) and The Edwin Hawkins Singers provide Backing Vocals, Mick Weaver aka Wynder K. Frog played Keyboards, Henry McCullough and Chris Stewart (both ex Eire Apparent) played Guitars and Bass with The Memphis Horns providing Brass. Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar by Frankie Miller. All songs by Frankie Miller except "A Fool In Love" written by Andy Fraser of Free.
BONUS TRACKS:
11. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
12. I'm Old Enough (Edit)
Tracks 11 and 12 are the A & B-side of an August 1976 UK 7" 45-single on Chrysalis CHS 2103 – B-side is an Edit – Both Previously Unavailable on CD in 2011 when first issued
CD4 "Full House" (33:34 minutes):
1. Be Good To Yourself [Side 1]
2. The Doodle Song
3. Jealous Guy
4. Searching
5. Love Letters
6. Take Good Care Of Yourself [Side 2]
7. Down The Honky Tonk
8. This Love Of Mine
9. Let The Candlelight Shine
10. (I'll Never) Live In Vain
Tracks 1 to 10 are his fourth studio album "Full House" - released August 1977 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1128 – Produced by CHRIS THOMAS. Musicians included Guitarist Chris Spedding, Guitarist Ray Minhinnett (of Highway and Phoenix), Keyboardists Gary Brooker (of Procol Harum), John 'Rabbit' Bundrick (ex Free and Crawler) and Jim Hall (of Highway), Bassist Chris Stewart (ex Eire Apparent) with The Memphis Horns on Brass.
CD5 "Double Trouble" (37:47 minutes):
1. Have You Seen Me Lately Joan [Side 1]
2. Double Heart Trouble
3. The Train
4. You'll Be In My Mind
5. Good Time Love
6. Love Waves [Side 2]
7. (I Can't) Break Away
8. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
9. Love Is All Around
10. Goodnight Sweetheart
Tracks 1 to 10 are his fifth studio album "Double Trouble" - released April 1978 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1174. Guest Musicians include Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, Ian Gomm of Brinsley Schwarz, Ray Russell of Rock Workshop and Chopyn, Chris Mercer of The Keef Hartley Band and Gonzalez and more
CD6 "Falling In Love" (38:41 minutes):
1. When I'm Away From You [Side 1]
2. Is This Love
3. If I Can Love Somebody
4. Darlin'
5. And It's Your Love
6. A Woman To Love [Side 2]
7. Falling In Love With You
8. Every Time A Teardrop Falls
9. Pappa Don't Know
10. Good To See You
Tracks 1 to 10 are his sixth studio album "Falling In Love" - released January 1979 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1220. Band featured Paul Carrack of Ace, Squeeze and Mike + The Mechanics, Terry Britten of The Twilights and Homer, Tim Fenwick of Quiver, Fran Byrne and Ed Deane from Bees Make Honey and more (Fran Byrne was also in Ace).
NOTE: With the same artwork, release date and catalogue number as the UK issue (Chrysalis CHR 1220) - the "Falling In Love" album was called "A Perfect Fit" in the USA. However, the song "If I Can Love Somebody" was replaced with "Something About You" (see Track 11) and the running order rejiggered. In order to sequence the US LP - use the following songs on CD6:
Side 1: Tracks 6, 2, 9, 11 and 1
Side 2: Tracks 4, 8, 7, 5 and 10
11. Something About You
Track
11 replaced the song "If I Can Love Somebody" on the American version of the "Falling
In Love" LP which was called "A Perfect Fit" in the USA - see NOTE
CD7 "Easy Money" (37:57 minutes):
1. Easy Money [Side 1]
2. The Woman In You
3. Why Don't You Spend The Night
4. So Young, So Young
5. Forget About Me
6. Heartbreak Radio [Side 2]
7. Cheap...Thrills
8. No Chance
9. Gimme Love
10. Tears
Tracks 1 to 10 are his seventh studio album “Easy Money” - released July 1980 in the UK and the USA on Chrysalis CHR 1268. Musicians included Guitarist (Electric) Reggie Young of The Memphis Boys and Waylon Jennings Band, Guitarist (Acoustic) Bobby Thompson of Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry, Bassist Joe Osborn of Michael Nesmith & The First National Band and Session Drummer Larrie Londin
11. Sail Away (a Randy Newman cover and a non-album B-side to the November 1977 UK 4-Track 7" EP "Alveric’s Elfland Journey" - Previously Unavailable on CD)
It's cool to see the seven card sleeves - I love these things - probably hankers back to my vinyl days - but I can't get enough of a good Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeve. The only one that looks slightly less in CD7 - "Easy Money" - seems to be more blurred than it should be. The 8-page booklet is a fairly functionary affair with a small history of the albums taken from a 1998 Documentary for BBC Scotland (it is the same as the 2011 Fat Jewel Case original). You get a basic track-by-track list (I have provided players and musicians, the booklet does not) and pictures some album covers and rare European 7" picture sleeves. It’s good, but hardly great. But the real deal lies in the AUDIO and some genuinely tasty extras…
After years of budget label compilations, the remastered sound quality comes as a genuine shock – done by ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM at EMI – it’s full, warm and at last the music has the muscle its always deserved. The material itself (mostly self-penned) isn’t all genius of course, but when this Glaswegian was good – he was the absolute business. And like many rockers, he had loveliness in his ballads too, which in turn inspired cover versions from people as diverse as Cher, UFO and Ray Charles.
With regard to the remaster, the opening plaintive double of "You Don't Need To Laugh" and "I Can't Change It" from his 1973 debut album "Once In A Blue Moon" are good examples – the backing band is BRINSLEY SCHWARZ featuring Ian Gomm and Nick Lowe - and suddenly the piano, the acoustic guitars and even the backing girly vocals are all clear and alive. It’s not loud for the sake of it - just present – a treat to listen to.
His second studio platter "High Life" was originally produced by New Orleans Rhythm 'n' Blues genius ALLEN TOUSSAINT (who also wrote many of the tunes). But without his or Miller's permission, it was remixed before release. Hence it features on CD2 twice – the released mix first and now the previously unreleased original version second (different running order too and eleven tracks instead of twelve). One of my favourites is "A Fool" – the new version brings the guitars, percussion and brass solo to the front more and also lessens the hiss levels that were on the released version. "Trouble" is really clear too – fantastically well done.
1975's "The Rock" benefited from the production values of Elliot Mazer (Neil Young and Joni Mitchell) with the songs featuring brass on almost every track with that rock back-beat. Two of my personal craves are the driving boogie of "Hard On The Levee” and the epic Otis Redding type ballad "All My Love To You" (poignant lyrics given his later incapacity and his wife’s devotion to his recovery).
A polished production by Chris Thomas (Sex Pistols, Roxy Music, Pink Floyd) on 1977's "Full House" made the album his most commercial release to date and for me features one his best tracks - the truly fantastic "Be Good To Yourself". Written by Free's Bassist Andy Fraser, it epitomizes what fans love most about Miller - a top tune fronted by a great voice – an uplifting gem that hasn't dated a jot (lyrics above). His cover of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" is soulful and full on, but his speeding up of Ketty Lester's "Love Letters" is less successful. "This Love Of Mine" is a soulful brass-driven Stax Records kind of ballad co-written with ace guitarist Robin Trower and is another highlight. Proceedings were also graced with Chris Spedding, Gary Brooker, John 'Rabbit' Bundrick and the brass of The Memphis Horns.
1978's "Double Trouble" featured Aerosmith's Steve Tyler playing Harmonica on four and singing Backing Vocals too ("You'll Be In My Mind", "Love Waves", "Love Is All Around" and "Goodnight Sweetheart") as well as songwriting collaborations with Paul Carrack of Ace, Squeeze, Mike & The Mechanics and Solo Career on five songs ("The Train", "You'll Be In My Mind", "Good Time Love", "Love Waves" and "(I Can't) Break Away"). A rocking Free-sounding "Double Heart Trouble" is not surprisingly written by - well - Andy Fraser of Free! Fraser also contributed the cool "Love Is All Around" over on Side 2. Ian Gomm of Brinsley Schwarz and Ray Russell of Rock Workshop and Chopyn provided Guitars while Chris Mercer of The Keef Hartley Band and Gonzalez lent his Saxophone. With two cover versions – the Motown classic "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" originally done by Marvin Gaye and the Spaniels 50t's Doo Wop classic "Goodnight Sweetheart" ending proceedings – it was a typical Frankie Miller album of the late Seventies – originals, contributions and smart song choices.
1979's "Falling In Love" (titled "A Perfect Fit" for its American release) features Frankie's biggest hit single "Darlin'", but like 1980's "Easy Money" it all becomes a bit run-of-the-mill – too many average cover versions. The ballad "Good To See You" and the rollicking "Heartbreak Radio" are good though. The LP also featured some great names - Paul Carrack of Ace etc, Terry Britten of The Twilights and Homer, Tim Fenwick of Quiver, Fran Byrne and Ed Deane from Bees Make Honey and more (Fran Byrne was also in Ace).
1980's "Easy Money" had a distinctly Country Rock Music set of session musicians who are called The Hitmen in the rear sleeve credits. They included the legendary Electric Guitarist Reggie Young of The Memphis Boys and Waylon Jennings Band accompanied by Bobby Thompson of Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry on Acoustic. Other Country-Rock names included Bassist Joe Osborn of Michael Nesmith & The First National Band and Session Drummer Larrie Londin who had played with everybody from Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard and would go on to Reba McEntire, Rosanna Cash and loads more. Troy Seals was also listed in the multiple Producers credits.
And yet with uncredited Organ and Brass Section on "The Woman In You" – much of this largely forgotten album has a decidedly Funky and Commercial feel – the kind of songs and production that would not have been amiss on an Atlanta Rhythm Section LP or a Dan Penn album out of Muscle Shoals. With his voice in raspy form - "Why Don't You Spend The Night" and "So Young, So Young" go for radio play as does the sappy "Forget About Me" – but much of it sounds ever so slightly tired and reaching. Side 2 opens with more Funky Brass Muscle Shoals sounding Rock-Soul in the shape of "Heartbreak Radio" – a great tune and imbibed with that magic sway of old - the woman Frankie loves done gone and left him with a big fat hit on – yes you guessed it. "Cheap Thrills" and its sleazy lyrics has not dated well – but the chipper almost Kool & The Gang Rock Funk of "Gimme Love" and the big ballad "Tears" rescue the whole LP (it is also one of the worst repro sleeves, the artwork too dark and slightly blurred).
The whole Box set ends on a better note as Frankie gets raspy on the Randy Newman gem "Sail Away" – a near five-minute cover version thrown onto CD7 as a Bonus Track – a version that has all but been lost to time from some obscure vinyl EP you never see. Frankly Frank it is better than much of the "Easy Money" LP that can be found on some auction sites for sale at under 80p. This is how we should love our FM – tearing into a great song – his voice and passion giving it wings.
Name-checked by Rod Stewart, Phil Lynott, Bob Seger, Joe Walsh, Kid Rock and too many others to mention – Frankie Miller was possessed of a voice and a way with a song that literally engendered hero worship – and this huge remastered haul finally does his criminally forgotten recorded legacy proper justice.
I know the whole listen lags in places (5-star presentation of 4-star material) and you wish there was one genuine masterpiece of an album in there to rant and rave about. But there are loads of top moments, tons of contributions from names I dig and music that makes me smile – and I like that.
Like Terry Reid, Long John Baldry, John Martyn and Maggie Bell – this great singer will always be held in genuine affection...
PS: ROBIN TROWER and IAN HUNTER in this EURO Series
See also my review for the February 2019 Robin Trower 10CD Clamshell Box Set called "The Studio Albums 1973-1983". It's another like the Frankie Miller reissue above. In July 2010 - EMI put out 2 x 4CD Fat Jewel Cases for Trower - the first called "A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years 1973-1976" on EMI/Chrysalis 642 1542 (Barcode 50999652154226) – and the second - "Father On Up The Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983" on EMI/Chrysalis 301 3862 (Barcode 5099930138629).
The 10CD reissue Box Set for "The Studio Albums 1973-1983" does the same - the 8CDs become a 10CD Clamshell Box Set with Ten Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves though unfortunately loses the "Live!" LP and a small number of Bonus Single Sides.
There is also an IAN HUNTER 4CD Remasters Fat Jewel Case called "From The Knees Of My Heart: The Chrysalis Years
1978-1981" issued October 2012 in the UK on EMI/Chrysalis 5099923270121 (Barcode (5099923270121). That too has been Reissued in 2019 in EUROPE as "The Albums 1979-1981" with the same Artwork, Remasters and all Bonuses - but again into a Clamshell Box Set with four repro card sleeves on Chrysalis CRB1074 (Barcode 5060516091256). See my separate review...
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