Miracle (Willy DeVille album)
| Miracle | ||||
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| Studio album by Willy DeVille | ||||
| Released | October 31, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | London | |||
| Genre | Rock, Soul | |||
| Length | 47:17 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Producer | Mark Knopfler | |||
| Mink DeVille / Willy DeVille chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
Miracle is an album by Willy DeVille. Recorded in 1987, it was the first album that Willy DeVille recorded under his own name. Prior to Miracle, DeVille recorded six albums with the band Mink DeVille, the last four of which were really solo albums by Willy DeVille in that no members of the original band played on the four albums.
Miracle was recorded in London and produced by Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, who also co-wrote the song “Spanish Jack” with DeVille. Dire Straits keyboardist Guy Fletcher, like Knopfler, played on all songs. Two highly regarded session musicians, guitarist Chet Atkins and drummer Jeff Porcaro, also played on the album.
DeVille told Leap in the Dark:
The album includes what is probably the best known Willy DeVille song — “Storybook Love.” The song was the theme of the movie The Princess Bride and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1987. DeVille performed it at that year’s Academy Award ceremony.
Trouser Press called the album’s production “bland and gimmicky,” but added, “DeVille's seasoned voice is as strong and colorful as ever, putting the snappy 'Angel Eyes,' romantic 'Nightfalls' and Van Morrison's 'Could You Would You?' in the album's plus column.”
Thom Jurek of Allmusic wrote, "There is a notable difference in production style thanks to Dire Strait Mark Knopfler at the helm, softening the edges a bit and changing the focus to DeVille as a singer of fine pop ballads. The set yielded a surprise sideways hit in the tune 'Storybook Love,' which Knopfler borrowed for his soundtrack to The Princess Bride, but the album received little promotion or airplay. Too bad. The title track and the gorgeous 'Angel Eyes' offer great evidence for DeVille as a unique vocal stylist whose roots lay in the rock & roll of the Doc Pomus generation, and 'Could You Would You,' written by Van Morrison, is one of DeVille's finest cover songs."
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