Post by erik on Oct 15, 2022 19:55:08 GMT -5
In honor of country artist Jody Miller, who passed away two days after Loretta Lynn, on October 6th, we look at her countrified remake of a 1963 pop/R&B classic that was also a minor pop crossover hit in 1971.
HE’S SO FINE (Jody Miller; Epic; 1971)—In terms of country music during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, both Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette were the basic “queens” of the genre, with Dolly Parton making inroads during that period. Among the lesser-known women who were also hitmakers of the genre was Myrna Joy Miller, who went by her stage name Jody Miller. Born in 1941 in Phoenix, Arizona, Jody ironically began her career during the folk music movement of the early 1960’s when actor Dale Robertson introduced her to executives at Capitol Records; she also appeared on a TV series hosted by burgeoning folk music legend Tom Paxton. Her move into 1960’s country came in 1965 with “Queen Of The House”, a reply to Roger Miller’s major smash “King Of The Road”. That song became her biggest pop hit overall, peaking at #12 on the Hot 100, and hitting #5 on the C&W chart, getting her a Gtammy for Best Female Country Vocalist for 1965. After hitting #25 on the Hot 100 later in 1965 with “Home Of The Brave” (and #65 with “Silver Threads And Golden Needles”), Miller stuck with straight country music. She achieved minor success in late 1968 with “Long Black Limousine” (soon to be covered by Elvis on his seminal 1969 album From Elvis In Memphis). Under the tutelage of producer Billy Sherrill, who had helmed many of Wynette’s best records, Miller was to score major country and minor pop crossover hits in the early 1970’s with countrypolitan-style remakes of pre-Beatles pop-rock hits. One of those was “He’s So Fine”, which had been a #1 pop and R&B hit for The Chiffons in early 1963. Featuring backup vocals by the legendary male vocal group The Jordainaires (who had also worked with Elvis during the 1950’s and 1960’s),and utilizing Dobro licks that were inspired by the George Harrison hit “My Sweet Lord”, which the publishers of “He’s So Fine” claimed had plagiarized the melody, Miller’s countrified version of that song reached #5 on the C&W chart and #53 on the Hot 100 in June 1971. The feat would be more or less repeated with a countrified remake of the 1965 Barbara Lewis pop classic “Baby I’m Yours”. Miller’s success, however, was to slow down as the 1980’s dawned; and she eventually moved to Oklahoma with her husband Monty Brooks, continuing her recording career in the Gospel genre. She passed away on October 6, 2022, less than eight weeks short of her 81st birthday, in Blanchard, Oklahoma after a seven-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
HE’S SO FINE (Jody Miller; Epic; 1971)—In terms of country music during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, both Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette were the basic “queens” of the genre, with Dolly Parton making inroads during that period. Among the lesser-known women who were also hitmakers of the genre was Myrna Joy Miller, who went by her stage name Jody Miller. Born in 1941 in Phoenix, Arizona, Jody ironically began her career during the folk music movement of the early 1960’s when actor Dale Robertson introduced her to executives at Capitol Records; she also appeared on a TV series hosted by burgeoning folk music legend Tom Paxton. Her move into 1960’s country came in 1965 with “Queen Of The House”, a reply to Roger Miller’s major smash “King Of The Road”. That song became her biggest pop hit overall, peaking at #12 on the Hot 100, and hitting #5 on the C&W chart, getting her a Gtammy for Best Female Country Vocalist for 1965. After hitting #25 on the Hot 100 later in 1965 with “Home Of The Brave” (and #65 with “Silver Threads And Golden Needles”), Miller stuck with straight country music. She achieved minor success in late 1968 with “Long Black Limousine” (soon to be covered by Elvis on his seminal 1969 album From Elvis In Memphis). Under the tutelage of producer Billy Sherrill, who had helmed many of Wynette’s best records, Miller was to score major country and minor pop crossover hits in the early 1970’s with countrypolitan-style remakes of pre-Beatles pop-rock hits. One of those was “He’s So Fine”, which had been a #1 pop and R&B hit for The Chiffons in early 1963. Featuring backup vocals by the legendary male vocal group The Jordainaires (who had also worked with Elvis during the 1950’s and 1960’s),and utilizing Dobro licks that were inspired by the George Harrison hit “My Sweet Lord”, which the publishers of “He’s So Fine” claimed had plagiarized the melody, Miller’s countrified version of that song reached #5 on the C&W chart and #53 on the Hot 100 in June 1971. The feat would be more or less repeated with a countrified remake of the 1965 Barbara Lewis pop classic “Baby I’m Yours”. Miller’s success, however, was to slow down as the 1980’s dawned; and she eventually moved to Oklahoma with her husband Monty Brooks, continuing her recording career in the Gospel genre. She passed away on October 6, 2022, less than eight weeks short of her 81st birthday, in Blanchard, Oklahoma after a seven-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.