Dallas - Unfair Park - The Myth of Rhett Miller's Mythologies

It's Superman! Well, Almost. DTC's Man of Steel Updates.

KBH Didn't Make a Good Case or Good Candidate on NBC Sunday

The Best JFK Tribute Song Performed Sunday in Dealey Plaza

The Myth of Rhett Miller's Mythologies

By Robert Wilonsky in Local Music

Friday, Feb. 13 2009 @ 4:11PM

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Rhett Miller's solo debut Mythologies, which I've still got somewhere -- it hides in a closet, no doubt in youthful shame. Doubt there'll be a double-disc deluxe reissue; oh, not if I can help it. Though, rather unbelievably, someone's selling their autographed and numbered copy of the disc on eBay in order to pay the mortgage. So, Old 97's fetishists, act now -- only a thousand copies of the album were made available (though I seem to recall cassettes?), and seldom do they show up at virtual auction.

But, thankfully or otherwise, Star Maker Machine has posted this week two tracks from the elusive Carpe Diem Records release produced by Murry Hammond and featuring late Dallas Observer music editor Alex Magocsi: opener "Iron Child" and "Candy Apple Corkscrew Hair," both of which are so ... so ... adorable, if only because Rhett used to sing in British accent for no apparent reason. If you're still interested, you might be able to find the whole disc here; alas, Rhett refuses to acknowledge its existence. Oh, and Pete's got two cable-access videos from '87 featuring a young Stewart Ransom Miller II -- along with Paul Quigg and Liza Richardson. Ah, Liza.

Related Content

More About...

7 comment(s) / Post a Comment

ChrisU says:

Saw him open for Roseanne Cash at the Arcadia around '90 or so. She had just gone from country/rock to folkie, guess he was headed in the other direction.

Posted On: Friday, Feb. 13 2009 @ 4:48PM

ignoreLander says:

Not to be derivative, and I have never heard this album, but so far it sounds TERRRRRIBLE.

Posted On: Friday, Feb. 13 2009 @ 5:35PM

Robert Wilonsky says:

Well, there is a reason Rhett doesn't include it in his discography. Then again, he was 19 at the time.

Posted On: Friday, Feb. 13 2009 @ 5:38PM

scottf says:

I miss Alex. I was 3 yrs younger than Alex's juvenile delinquent brother Ron. They all moved to NY about 15 yrs. ago. I'm not sure on all the details but I believe Alex took his own life about a decade ago.

Ron tried to be cool and Alex was unassuming and affable. Are there many here who remember Alex?

Posted On: Saturday, Feb. 14 2009 @ 8:51AM

scott says:

Wild that he died in Te-suk-i, I actually have some connections to that pueblo. Thanks for the link Rob. Alex and his brother Ron were perfect opposites. Ron was gregarious, had an incredible ego and was loud and reckless. Alex was quiet, humble and always seemed like a shut-in candidate.

Their mother was a funny lady, Caroline Mickelsen/son. She was an actress, active in Dallas Arts and always longed to get back to New York and Broadway. Her ex-husband Ron, Alex and Debby's father had a fairly large counterfeit tape racket. They had a few of the ACR tapes who's logo looked just like RCA. Funny family, with a lot of character.

Ron had one really terrific gag. Every New Years he'd have a big party. Like clockwork, he'd pass the hat at 11:45 and leave for beer. Only he'd go call the cops on his own party, pocket most of the money and bring back a few cases for the 20 or so he really wanted there. Funny gag, worked like a slot machine.

Posted On: Saturday, Feb. 14 2009 @ 9:18AM

Murry Hammond says:

Caroline Mickelsen gave me my first job. I took Alex to his first underground gig - Gang Green at Liberty Hall. She was/is a great lady, and Alex's death was a real - and weird - blow. It was 2 years ago... Oh yeah, Mythologies actually has elements of Pink Floyd's Saucerful of Secrets on it, so it can't be *that* bad. Stop snobbing up the room. While the rest of us wrote sh*t at 17 - Rhett wrote half decent songs. Top him, I dare ya.

Posted On: Sunday, Feb. 15 2009 @ 12:49AM

T says:

Liza Richardson SUCK!!!
And she is not even a good sucker according to somebody..
heheh
Ha!
T

Posted On: Thursday, Feb. 26 2009 @ 10:49AM