Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Day 291 of 365 Day Jamaican Music Challenge - Count Prince Miller - Mule Train

Sticking with the royalty for another track and this guy is so regal he's got two titles!  I'm speaking of Clarence Linberg Miller AKA Count Prince Miller and his absolutely killer tune "Mule Train."  And yes it's a reggae take on the old west cowboy song popularized by countless American artists from the 1940s including Frankie Laine, Bing Crosby, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Vaughn Monroe... who actually wrote the song is another matter in which I will not delve because I've seen as many as five guys credited as writers on Wikipedia.  But you're probably not here for me to give you a complete rundown on Western songs and their composers so let's get to Count Prince Miller.  Miller initially started in showbiz as a recording artist and today's track "Mule Train" was his first record and biggest hit when it was released on Trojan in 1971.  He stayed in reggae for a few more years, mostly cutting tracks that would be considered novelty tunes, before branching out and becoming an award-winning actor in television, stage and screen in England.  Jamaica made Miller a Commander of The Order of Distinction in 2007 in recognition of his contribution to music.  If you've never heard "Mule Train" you're in for a treat because this tune is fun, a tad bit goofy and completely badass all at the same time!

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