The Frankie Miller Band: The Rock 1975

 

Frankie is one of the legends of the British music scene, with a powerful voice that has drawn

numerous comparisons. His distinctive voice and song writing ability have earned him the respect of his peers and that is reflected in the number of world renowned artists, including Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Etta James, Cher, The Everly Brothers and Ray Charles, who have covered his songs.
                                            

Frankie was born on 2nd November 1949 in the east end of Glasgow and first became aware of the

power of Rock and R&B through his mother’s record collection. She had a fondness for Ray Charles while his older sisters introduced him to Little Richard and Elvis Presley. He identified instinctively with Little Richard’s flamboyant aggression.
                                  

“The music was alive, exciting, I loved it. I realised later that I could get my own aggression out

through music. R&B and Soul Music, I just knew, was what I really loved“. Frankie started writing songs at the age of nine after being given a guitar by his parents. He composed a song called “”But I Do” which caused tears of laughter amongst his family members but Frankie was to remain undeterred…
                                    
Frankie then met up with Ex Procol Harum guitarist Robin Trower, Ex Jethro Tull drummer

Clive Bunker and bassist Jimmy Dewar who had just left Stone The Crows. Together they formed one Rock’s first “supergroups” – Jude. Despite a number of college gigs in the London area, Jude never made it to the recording studio and also, sadly split.
                                             

After the demise of Jude, Frankie signed a solo contract with Chrysalis in 1972 and recorded his first

album “Once in a Blue Moon” using ‘Pub Rockers’ Brinsley Schwarz as his backing band. Material wise the album showcased Frankie’s skills as a well above average song writer and “I Can’t Change It” was accorded what must have been for Frankie, the ultimate compliment when Ray Charles covered it on his album “Brother Ray Is At It Again”.
                                             

During 1974, without a band or hit record to his name, Frankie helped his good friend Phil Lynott to

write, perform and record a track for Thin Lizzy’s “Night Life” album. This turned out to be the classic “Still in Love with You” which became one of the highlights of Thin Lizzy’s shows for years to come. A brief collaboration with progressive rockers Procul Harum saw Frankie front them at The London Rainbow Farewell Show during which he featured songs from Highlife including “Shoo Rah Shoo Rah”, “Brickyard Blues” and “The Devil Gun”.

The BBC filmed a documentary in 1999 called “Stubborn Kinda Fella” to mark his amazing progress. In this documentary, Rod Stewart stated that Frankie “was the only white singer to have brought a tear” to his eye.
                                        

2006 saw the release of Long Way Home featuring tracks from the aforementioned project. Upon its

release,the album received 5 star reviews fromcritics. September 30th 2016 saw the release of Frankie Millers Double Take, a 17 track album full of duets with other stars including Elton John, Rod Stewart and Willie Nelson. So …..it may be that after all of the twists and turns that fate can bring, the best times for Frankie Miller may still be yet to come!

THE ROCK

                                             

The Rock is the third album from Frankie Miller, and the only one officially credited to The Frankie Miller Band. The album features backing from The Memphis Horns and The Edwin Hawkins Singers.

The album was recorded in sight of the prison of Alcatraz in San Francisco, Miller commented that it was only music that had saved him that kind of fate and dedicated the song, The Rock, to the plight of prisoners, a reference to his second cousin Jimmy Boyle.
Already hailed as one of the finest Scottish soul singers of the 70s, Frankie Miller was despatched to San Francisco to record his third album with producer Elliot Mazer and a band that included guitarist Henry McCullough and keyboard player Mick Weaver from the Grease Band.
                                          

The Rock’s underlying Stax feel proved what a great singer/songwriter Miller was with the Memphis Horns kicking (br)ass and the Edwin Hawkins Singers laying down backing vocals on the brilliant A

Fool In Love. Ain’t Got No Money was covered by Bob Seger and Cher, but Miller’s inability to hold on to his band for any period of longevity denied him the success he deserved."Ain't Got No Money" became the album’s most covered song with notable versions from Cher, Chris Farlowe and Bob Seger. The song, "Drunken Nights in the City", was written for his late-night drinking buddy Jimmy Johnstone, the former (Celtic FC) Scottish footballer. Etta James covered the song A Fool in Love for her 1990 album, Stickin' to My Guns. "A Fool in Love" was also covered by UFO.

"The Rock" is in the list with the 30 best British Blues Rock albums ever.
(The 30 best British Blues Rock albums ever. Visit the site HERE.)

The Frankie Miller Band – The Rock
Label: Eagle Records – EAMCD152, Eagle Records – GAS 0000152 EAM
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2003
Country:Germany
Released: 1975    
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Classic Rock

TRACKS

                                                    

01. A Fool In Love    3:02
02. The Heartbreak    4:01
03. The Rock    3:32
04. I Know Why The Sun Don't Shine    5:59
05. Hard On The Levee    3:15
06. Ain't Got No Money    2:53
07. All My Love To You    5:35
08. I'm Old Enough    4:50
09. Bridgeton    4:45
10. Drunken Nights In The City    3:51

Bonus Tracks
    
11. Hard On The Levee (Live)    3:30
12. Sail Away (Live)  (Written-By – Newman)  5:15
13. Drunken Nights (Live)    5:29
14. Walking The Dog (Live)  (Written-By – Thomas)  6:11

THE FRANKIE MILLER BAND

 
             

   

Frankie Miller - vocals, rhythm guitar
Henry McCullough - lead guitar, backing vocals
Mick Weaver - keyboards
Chrissy Stewart - bass guitar
Stu Perry - drums, percussion
James Dewar - backing vocals
The Memphis Horns - horn section
The Edwin Hawkins Singers - backing vocals
Written-By – Fraser(tracks: 1, 4, 11), Miller (tracks: 1 to 11 & 13)

DRUNKEN NIGHTS IN THE CITY

 
     

I'll tell you a story about a night in the town
It started off drinking and fighting.
By the time I was through,
I'd near worn out my shoes,
I had visited every known dive.

      

All the lights in the alley,
Fall dim on the ground, When your trying to see your
Way home.
And the all night ladies,
In their perfume so fine,
Wont leave a poor boy alone.

            

You know the paths of the gambler
Are kneeded too thin,
When the cards are all spread on the floor.
The six and the seven,
I needed to win,
And you can't call the bluff any more.

So you stand to your feet,
And you figure discretely,
The best way to pay what you owe.
And she hands you a line,
Tells you thanks for the time,
'You might have brought brains to the show.'

   

Chorus:
Drunken nights on the city,
Are showing their toes,
They'll take you for all that you owe.
You can't judge a book,
And you can't judge a crook,
Down where the buffalo go.
 
By early the next morning,
I rose up to tight,
My eyes were as red as the light.
My pockets were empty,
And so was my heart,
And I promised to put things right.

               

So I went to the preacher,
I fell on my knees,
I asked the preacher,
To right all my wrongs,
But he just shook his head,
And looked sorry when he said,
'You've been on the streets far too long'

MP3 @ 320 Size: 145 MB
FLAC  Size: 375 MB

Frankie Miller: The Very Best Of  (1993) HERE