by William Ruhlmann
Willy DeVille moved from the group Mink DeVille to a solo recording career with very little stylistic change, which is no surprise given that the band was really a front for DeVille's songs and vocals anyway. The big change on Miracle is that DeVille collaborates with Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler, whose distinctive fretwork is prominently displayed, and who brings along bandmates like keyboard player Guy Fletcher, and buddies like guitarist Chet Atkins. Nevertheless, the sound is still early- to mid-'60s pop/soul. The album contains DeVille's &Storybook Love,& which was used by Knopfler in his score for the film The Princess Bride, and is DeVille's best-known recording. [Miracle was reissued in 1997 on the Raven label with four bonus tracks, including &Heat Of The Moment&, &Pullin' My String,& &It's So Easy& and an interview with DeVille.]