Jimmy Miller

Although American, Jimmy Miller will always be most famous for his work with several top British rock groups of the late 1960s and the early 1970s, which included some of the best albums by the Rolling Stones and Traffic. Miller entered the British scene via Stevie Winwood and the Spencer Davis Group in the mid-1960s. It's been reported (though disputed) that Miller and Winwood recorded, with some backup musicians, a single called "Incense" in early 1965 that was issued under the name of the Anglos. Miller did an American remix of the Spencer Davis Group's classic hit "Gimme Some Lovin'," adding backing vocals and extra percussion by future members of Traffic. When this strategy is employed it usually diminishes the original product, but this remix was a grand exception, adding considerably to the single's power. He did some other production work on the last sessions that Winwood did with Davis, most notably the hit "I'm a Man," which Miller co-wrote with Winwood. "I'm a Man" also used future Traffic musicians on backup vocals and percussion. When Winwood formed Traffic, it made sense for Miller to be retained as producer, as he'd contributed significantly to the SDG's best recordings and already worked with the future nucleus of Traffic on these. Miller's American background probably made him appealing to British musicians such as Traffic, and slightly later the Rolling Stones, who were very heavily influenced by American soul and blues. If there is any one trait of Miller's best productions that is especially distinguished, it's his ability to record drums and percussion well. British musicians have sometimes carped about their dissatisfaction with how UK studios and labels recorded rhythm sections in the 1960s, and no doubt Winwood and the rest of Traffic had...