If the thought of Spike singing Frankie Miller songs (with Bonnie Tyler) is your idea of hell on earth – then look away now. Because there is a lot of hard, cartilage-throated gristle on Spike Gray’s new ‘100% Pure Frankie Miller‘ album.
Spike has often said that the Scottish rock singer Frankie Miller has been a source of inspiration for him. And, when you listen to these assorted and thoughtfully collected songs, it’s easy to see why. Miller is an astonishing song-smith and a very under-rated performer.
Reared on the hits of Ray Charles and Little Richard, Frankie Miller began singing professionally in the late 1960’s – moving to London where he joined forces with guitarist Robin Trower (of Procol Harum) and vocalist James Dewar. These three (along with the Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker) started a project called Jude in 1971.
In 1974 Miller sang ‘Still in Love with You’ – as a duet with Phil Lynott. That song appeared on Thin Lizzy’s album ‘Nightlife’. Miller also worked on his album ‘High Life’ with superstar New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint – the disc was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1974.
In 1978 Miller finally achieved a recording hit with his “theme song” ‘Darlin’.
This collection of Miller songs – peformed by Spike and friends (like Ian Hunter, Magnum’s keyboardist Mark Stanway, Stones’ guitarist Ronnie Wood and, for the first time for many years, the “Free” rhythm section of Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser) – express the Quireboy’s deep respect for his old-time buddy. The collection is unusual (and will be sought out by Miller fans) because it contains tracks that have never before been released (or have seldom been heard).
The album starts with ‘The Brooklyn Bridge’ – this is low and slow. It fizzes like a long fuse on a firecracker. The guitar-work shines like the Alabama heavens.
‘Cocaine’ is even more moody. With dangerously alcoholic hony-tonk piano and slide guitar from Ronnie Wood that oozes out of the edges – like gumbo from a cracked bowl .
‘Fortune’ has a cheerful soul country swing to it. The voice of Bonnie Tyler is stretched to oblivion (as you would expect) and wraps itself around Spike’s voice like moss on the Jellico pine-bark. Not exactly “perfect strangers” – more like lovers intertwined.
‘Cheap Hotel’ is dusty and optimistic. Like an early evening drink in a trackside speakeasy on Main Street. The ragtime piano (Ian Hunter) tinkles like empty sour-mash bottles in the back of a stolen cattle truck. And that voice is so ardent it’s as citric as tamarind.
Other delights include ‘Did You Ever Wanna Go Home’ with Pat McManus playing a cruel and lyrical fiddle. This will haunt your heart. Until the end of time. And also the bedevilled anguish of ‘Bottle of Whisky’ – with those eloquent mandolin trills and step-by-step pace – it’s as melancholy as it is scolding.
This is probably not for everyone, but it is a highly emotional and incredibly passionate collection of songs. Respectfully and lovingly recreated by a loyal friend and true scholar.
.
good.