This must be Miller Month because I was sifting through the vinyl yesterday and came across one of my favorite LPs by fingerstyle guitarist John Miller called Safe Sweet Home. Released by Rounder Records in 1977, it mostly contains material from the "Golden Age of Song" but also has a Western Swing number (the only band cut on the album) a Carter Family tune done in a country blues style and a Latin style instrumental. The first selection I've included doesn't fall into any of those categories though, it's Biff Rose's Molly. It has a charming lyric and melody but what grabbed me was John's accompaniment. It evokes a happy, circus atmosphere albeit with a touch of melancholy.   Molly .

Here I'll Stay was composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner for the 1948 Broadway Musical Love Life. Miller's guitar intro and solo are just so fine and so fitting. I suppose John's singing voice is an acquired taste but it suits these lovely little songs to a tee, IMO. Here I'll Stay

For anyone interested in sampling more of John's work he seems to be well represented on online streaming services. His Biding My Time album, a collection of George and Ira Gershwin songs, might also be of some interest if you like these cuts from Safe Sweet Home.

SHOHEI OHTANI, ONE OF ONE1