Review: Mike Miller's CD released!

Subject: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: SosYourMom
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 12:01 AM

Mike Miller, peripatetic reviewer of CD's for Mudcat and The Philadelphia Folk Song Society and long time musician and performer in the Philadelphia/ New York areas has FINALLY put out a CD which samples and highlights his vast repetoire, and it is Mike to the life.

The CD, produced and issued by Range Records, is called "Legacy" and features a stunning cover (and a appearance as part of "old Friends") by Mike's long-time friend and un-indicted co-conspirator, Jerry Schurr, with thirteen songs which show Mike's various facets to perfection.

Mike is primarily known as a song-leader (a vanishing breed, I fear) and performer and the tunes selected for the CD show these abilities off completely. My dear wife, who (thankfully) singeth not a note, was even trying to sing along to the CD until I found the cork! This only shews the extraordinary ability he has to involve listeners in his presentation to the point that they become participants.

Some blues, some Yiddische, an authentic cowboy song and some traditional material presented as only Mike could do 'em make this an enjoyable and very desirable CD to get for your collection. As I said, it's just like having him in the living room with you.

Mike is also joined on the CD by meself (of whose performance the less said the better!) and other (more) talented backups, one of which (a young man of 17) may just become the next guitar whiz. Rich Meyer's mandolin is especially nice on several cuts.

A full website is in process of construction, but you can order one of these (or more!) at his CD order page.

For all those who know Mike and his music, this will be a real treat.... for those who don't yet know him, it's a chance to hear the Master of the Campfires plying his magic.

Don't miss this one!


Vince Brennan

[e-mail]
The O'Neill's Music Pages

Subject: RE: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 10:20 PM

Yeah, well, I won't review it. So there.

Subject: RE: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 09:57 PM

Sounds like an interesting CD. Can you give us a list of songs, even if Michaelr isn't interested?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: musicmick
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 11:09 AM

Thanks for asking, Joe. I'm upstairs, right now, so I don't have the CD in front of me but I remember most of the list. Let's see, I've got Frankie and Johnny, Red River Valley, Three Jolly Rogues of Lynn, Tyin' a Knot on the Devil's Tail, When I First Came to This Land, I Wish I was Single Again, Down to the Valley to Pray, Fair Weather Friends (That's a Johnny Cash composition and the only "new" song of the bunch), Mountains of Mourne and few mor, just as dissimilar.
I do a song in Yiddish (Let's face it, it's who I am) that I sing better than I spell it. There is one mandolin-accordian duet of a piece that has no name. I learned it when I played in a little orchestra that performed for the various Jewish immigrant societies in South Philadelphia. I was twelve years old and it was my first professional job. I played violin, of course, and, one day, the manager/conductor/ gonnif handed me a mandolin and the music for this song, which he called "Russian Waltz". I've never forgotten it and I've never learned the real title, either.
I have recorded countless albums as a sideman but this is my first as a STAR! The CD is selling pretty well, locally. It's only been out two weeks and it has, already, cobered its costs, which pleases the heck out of Range Records. I'll be doing some concerts to promote it to a wider market, this summer. I'm booked a lot in this area but I will make time to tour. This should be fun.
I'm not sure what michaelr's problem is. Most people wait to hear me before they dislike me. Maybe, I didn't review his CD. I recieve hundreds of CDs for review and I have to choose some and not others.
That is the way of the world and the crumbled cookie.

                            Mike

Subject: RE: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 11:12 AM

I will be ordering this one just on the eclectic mix of titles. Sounds very interesting.

Do well, sir. It is great news that you have already "cracked the nut" with regard to production costs.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 11:29 AM

Mike, is this right, and are there any to add?

Frankie and Johnny
Red River Valley
Three Jolly Rogues of Lynn
Tyin' a Knot on the Devil's Tail
When I First Came to This Land
I Wish I was Single Again
Down to the Valley to Pray
Mountains of Mourne
Fair Weather Friends (That's a Johnny Cash composition and the only "new" song of the bunch)

I do a song in Yiddish (Let's face it, it's who I am) that I sing better than I spell it.

There is one mandolin-accordian duet of a piece that has no name. I learned it when I played in a little orchestra that performed for the various Jewish immigrant societies in South Philadelphia. I was twelve years old and it was my first professional job. I played violin, of course, and, one day, the manager/conductor/gonnif handed me a mandolin and the music for this song, which he called "Russian Waltz". I've never forgotten it and I've never learned the real title, either.

~S~

Subject: RE: Review: Mike Miller's CD released!
From: musicmick
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:39 AM

Well hello, Susan,

Yes, there are a few more numbers on the CD. I have a jugband selection, "You've Got To See Your Papa Every Night Or You Can't See Papa At All". Wow that took as long to type as it did to sing.
I also included "Frozen Logger" because I loved the Weavers.(Do 2004 audiences know about the Weavers? Gee, I hope so).
I do a lot of singalongs and pickalongs when I perform. Participation and tradition are the defining properties of folk. Relevence and truth have their place, of course, but I have learned that truth is relative and relevance is transient. As Alexander said to Busephalis, "One man's Mede is another man's Persian."

                     Mike