That's Who! [Box set]

Hmm well done Chrysalis for releasing this set at such a price, BUT it's not as advertised "the complete recordings" the albums came out with additional live and demo recordings added so I knock off a star. Still, simply for the previously unreleased mix of High Life I was tempted to give it the full FIVE - Why oh why wasn't this mix the one that was released, it is one of the most soulful albums you'll ever hear - One of Allan toussaints best productions with tremendous horn arrangements that push Frankie to the heights. If you don't hav any of his albums buy this and enjoy, if you do the albums for £11.00 it's worth buying simply for the High Life mix mentioned above. GOD FRANKIE YOU WERE GREAT!!!

Most Frankie Miller fans have despaired of seeing their hero's output on a decent CD retrospective - well all of that ends with this fully-featured EMI mini-box set which puts 7 albums (plus 1 remixed version) and 3 single sides onto 4CDs - and all of it with great remastered sound and a very reasonable price tag. There's a lot on here, so let's get to the details first...

"Frankie Miller ...That's Who! - The Complete Chrysalis Recordings (1973-1980)" was released May 2011 on Chrysalis/EMI 50999909777125 and it breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (69:18 minutes):
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
Tracks 11 to 22 are his 2nd studio album "High Life" released January 1974 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1052

Disc 2 (78:52 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 11 are "High Life - The Original Mix" - this is a previously unreleased version of the album with the running order re-arranged
Tracks 12 to 21 are his 3rd studio album "The Rock" released September 1975 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1088

Disc 3 (78:26 minutes):
Tracks 1 and 2 are "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" and "I'm Old Enough", the A & edited B-side of an August 1976 UK 7" single on Chrysalis CHS 2103 [Previously Unavailable on CD]
Tracks 3 to 12 are his 4th studio album "Full House" released August 1977 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1128
Tracks 13 to 22 are his 5th studio album "Double Trouble" released April 1978 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1174

Disc 4 (76:40 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 11 are his 6th studio album "Falling In Love" released January 1979 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1220 (it was called "A Perfect Fit" in the USA)
Tracks 12 to 21 are his 7th studio album "Easy Money" released July 1980 in the UK and the USA on Chrysalis CHR 1268
Track 22 is "Sail Away" (a Randy Newman cover) - a non-album B-side to the November 1977 UK 4-Track 7" EP "Alveric's Elfland Journey" [Previously Unavailable on CD]

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 gives a track-by-track list and pictures some album covers and rare European 7" picture sleeves. A nice touch is that Discs 1 and 2 are coloured with the Green Chrysalis label while 3 and 4 are Blue - reflecting the original vinyl issues. Beneath the two see-through CD trays are pictures of each album with the production credits below the picture. It's good, but hardly great. But the real deal lies in the AUDIO...

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 "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 2nd album "High Life" was originally produced by New Orleans R'n'B genius ALLEN TOUSSAINT (who also wrote many of the tunes), but without his or Miller's permission it was remixed before release - hence it's on here twice - the released mix and now the previously unreleased original version. 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 - it's 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 backbeat. Two of my personal favourites 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 it his most commercial release and for me features one his best tracks - the truly fantastic "Be Good To Yourself". Written by Free's Andy Fraser, it epitomises 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 a guest backing vocal from Aerosmith's Steve Tyler as well as songwriting collaborations with Paul Carrack on 5 songs (Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, solo career). Another nugget is a rocking Free-sounding "Double Heart Trouble" not surprisingly written by Andy Fraser. 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.

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 while it's not all brilliant, this huge remastered haul finally does his criminally forgotten recorded legacy proper justice.

Like Terry Reid, Long John Baldry, John Martyn and Maggie Bell - this great singer will always be held in genuine affection.

Brilliant compilation comprising all 7 albums Frankie released on Chrysalis records plus 8th album (original unreleased version of his 2nd Album 'Highlife') plus a couple of other unreleased tracks. Crammed full of bluesy rockers and soul stirring ballads, with barely a duff track in sight, and even those that fall below par have that incredible voice to lift them. Imagine Otis Redding meets Rod Stewart with great songs and you are somewhere near to Frankie ................ at this price you can't go wrong. Do yourself a favour and buy it !!!