Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Blackland Farmer

NOT to be confused with the Scottish blues rocker of the same name, this Frankie Miller is a superb Texas honky tonker.


He's also one of those unlucky souls to have his brilliant music languish in the formidable shadow of George Jones.


But as this exciting triple CD shows, Miller deserves a wider listenership than his cult artist status has so far allowed.


The 96 tunes, spanning 1956 to the late '60s, include all his cuts for the famous Starday label, demos, radio stuff and interviews - all the usual Bear Family bells and whistles.


Backed by Texas stalwarts and Nashville hot shots from the days when that city had soul, Miller covers a lot of terrain, from rocking juke box fodder and truck driving tunes to downhome homilies such as Family Man and the splendidly hateful Just for Spite.


Miller is riveting. His soulful wail is deep country of the sort likely to have country fans used to less astringent contemporary styles ducking for cover. And that's high praise.








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