Steve Miller Band | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Steve Millers career has encompassed two distinct stages: one of the top San Francisco blues-rockers during the late 60s and early 70s, and one of the top-selling pop/rock acts of the mid- to late 70s and early 80s with hits like "The Joker," "Fly Like an Eagle," "Rockn Me," and "Abracadabra." Miller was turned on to music by his father, who worked as a pathologist but knew stars like Charles Mingus and Les Paul, whom he brought home as guests; Paul taught the young Miller some guitar chords and let him sit in on a session. Miller formed a blues band, the Marksmen Combo, at age 12 with friend Boz Scaggs; the two teamed up again at the University of Wisconsin in a group called the Ardells, later the Fabulous Night Trains. Miller moved to Chicago in 1964 to get involved in the local blues scene, teaming with Barry Goldberg for two years. He then moved to San Francisco and formed the first incarnation of the Steve Miller Blues Band, featuring guitarist James "Curly" Cooke, bassist Lonnie Turner, and drummer Tim Davis. The band built a local following through a series of free concerts and backed Chuck Berry in 1967 at a Fillmore date later released as a live album. Scaggs moved to San Francisco later that year and replaced Cooke in time to play the Monterey Pop Festival; it was the first of many personnel changes. Capitol signed the group as the Steve Miller Band following the festival. The band flew to London to record Children of the Future, which was praised by critics and received some airplay on FM radio. It established Millers early style as a blues-rocker influenced but not overpowered by psychedelia. The follow-up, Sailor, has been hailed as perhaps Millers best early effort; it reached number 24 on the Billboard album charts and consolidated Millers fan base. A series of high-quality albums with similar chart placements followed; while Miller remained a popular artist, pop radio failed to pick up on any of his material at this time, even though tracks like "Space Cowboy" and "Brave New World" had become FM rock staples. Released in 1971, Rock Love broke Millers streak with a weak band lineup and poor material, and Miller followed it with the spotty Recall the Beginning: A Journey from Eden. Things began to look even worse for Miller when he broke his neck in a car accident and subsequently developed hepatitis, which put him out of commission for most of 1972 and early 1973. Miller spent his recuperation time reinventing himself as a blues-influenced pop/rocker, writing compact, melodic, catchy songs. This approach was introduced on his 1973 LP, The Joker, and was an instant success, with the album going platinum and the title track hitting number one on the pop charts. Now an established star, Miller elected to take three years off. He purchased a farm and built his own recording studio, at which he crafted the wildly successful albums Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams at approximately the same time. Fly Like an Eagle was released in 1976 and eclipsed its predecessor in terms of quality and sales (over four million copies) in spite of the long downtime in between. It also gave Miller his second number one hit with "Rockn Me," plus several other singles. Book of Dreams was almost as successful, selling over three million copies and producing several hits as well. All of the hits from Millers first three pop-oriented albums were collected on Greatest Hits 1974-1978, which to date has sold over six million copies and remains a popular catalog item. Miller again took some time off, not returning again until late 1981 with the disappointing Circle of Love. Just six months later, Miller rebounded with Abracadabra; the title track gave him his third number one single. The remaining albums released in the 80s -- Italian X Rays,1984; Living in the 20th Century, 1986; and Born 2B Blue, 1988 -- werent consistent enough to be critically or commercially successful. The early 90s saw Miller return to form with Wide River (the title track becoming a Top 40 chart entry) and the release of a retrospective box set compiled by the artist himself. Miller continued to headline shows into the 2000s, sharing the bill with classic rock acts such as 2008 tourmate Joe Cocker. He also announced the impending release of a new studio album of R&B; covers. In 2010, the band released Bingo!, the first release on Millers own Space Cowboy Records. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 34 Title: Children of the Future Released: 1968 Tracks: 12 Duration: 41:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Children of the Future (02:59) 2 Pushed Me to It (00:38) 3 Youve Got the Power (00:53) 4 In My First Mind (07:35) 5 Beauty of Time Is That Its Snowing (Psychedlic B.B.) (05:17) 6 Babys Callin Me Home (03:17) 7 Steppin Stone (03:08) 8 Roll With It (02:30) 9 Junior Saw It Happen (02:30) 10 Fanny Mae (03:09) 11 Key to the Highway (06:18) 12 Sittin in Circles (03:06) |
| Children of the Future : Allmusic album Review : A psychedelic blues rock-out, 1968s Children of the Future marked Steve Millers earliest attempt at the ascent that brought him supersonic superstardom. Recorded at Olympic Studios in London with storied producer Glyn Johns at the helm, the set played out as pure West Coast rock inflected with decade-of-love psychedelia but intriguingly cloaked in the misty pathos of the U.K. blues ethic. Though bandmate Boz Scaggs contributed a few songs, the bulk of the material was written by Miller while working as a janitor at a music studio in Texas earlier in the year. The best of his efforts resonate in a side one free-for-all that launches with the keys and swirls of the title track and segues smoothly through "Pushed Me Through It" and "In My First Mind," bound for the epic, hazy, lazy, organ-inflected "The Beauty of Time Is That Its Snowing," which ebbs and flows in ways that are continually surprising. The second half of the LP is cast in a different light -- a clutch of songs that groove together but dont have the same sleepy flow. Though it has since attained classic status -- Miller himself was still performing it eight years later -- Scaggs "Babys Callin Me Home" is a sparse, lightly instrumentalized piece of good old 60s San Francisco pop. His "Steppin Stone," on the other hand, is a raucous, heavy-handed blues freakout with a low-riding bass and guitar breaks that angle out in all directions. And whether the title capitalized at all on the Monkees similarly titled song, released a year earlier, is anybodys guess. Children of the Future was a brilliant debut. And while it is certainly a product of its era, its still a vibrant reminder of just how the blues co-opted the mainstream to magnificent success. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 34 Title: Sailor Released: 1968 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Song for Our Ancestors (05:59) 2 Dear Mary (03:34) 3 My Friend (03:28) 4 Living in the U.S.A. (04:05) 5 Quicksilver Girl (02:43) 6 Lucky Man (03:05) 7 Gangster of Love (01:22) 8 Youre So Fine (02:52) 9 Overdrive (03:53) 10 Dime-A-Dance Romance (03:26) |
| Sailor : Allmusic album Review : Most definitely a part of the late-60s West Coast psychedelic blues revolution that was becoming hipper than hip, Steve Miller was also always acutely aware of both the British psychedelic movement that was swirling in tandem and of where the future lay, and how that would evolve into something even more remarkable. The result of all those ideas, of course, came together on 1968s magnificent Sailor LP. What was begun on Children of the Future is more fully realized on Sailor, most notably on the opening "Song for Our Ancestors," which begins with a foghorn and only gets stranger from there. Indeed, the song precognizes Pink Floyds 1971 opus "Echoes" to such an extent that one wonders how much the latter enjoyed Millers own wild ride. Elsewhere, the beautiful, slow "Dear Mary" positively shimmers in a haze of declared love, while the heavy drumbeats and rock riffing guitar of "Living in the U.S.A." are a powerful reminder that the Steve Miller Band, no matter what other paths they meandered down, could rock out with the best of them. And, of course, this is the LP that introduced many to the Johnny "Guitar" Watson classic "Gangster of Love," a song that would become almost wholly Millers own, giving the fans an alter ego to caress long before "The Joker" arose to show his hand. Rounding out Millers love of the blues is an excellent rendering of Jimmy Reeds "Youre So Fine." At their blues-loving best, Sailor is a classic Miller recording and a must-have -- especially for the more contemporary fan, where it becomes an initiation into a past of mythic proportion. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 34 Title: Brave New World Released: 1969 Tracks: 9 Duration: 29:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Brave New World (03:30) 2 Celebration Song (02:31) 3 Cant You Hear Your Daddys Heartbeat (02:31) 4 Got Love Cause You Need It (02:26) 5 Kow Kow (04:27) 6 Seasons (03:50) 7 Space Cowboy (04:57) 8 LTs Midnight Dream (02:29) 9 My Dark Hour (03:08) |
| Brave New World : Allmusic album Review : Blasting out of stereo speakers in the summer of 1969, Brave New World was more fully realized, and rocked harder, than the Steve Miller Bands first two albums. From the opening storm of the uplifting title track to the final scorcher, "My Dark Hour," featuring Paul McCartney (credited as "Paul Ramon"), this recording was the strongest project before Millers Fly Like an Eagle days. "Celebration Song" has a sliding bassline, while "LTs Midnight Dream" features Millers slide guitar. "Cant You Hear Your Daddys Heartbeat" sounds like it was lifted right off of Jimi Hendrixs Are You Experienced, and "Got Love Cause You Need It" also has a Hendrix-ian feel. "Kow Kow" is a wonderfully oblique song featuring Nicky Hopkins distinctive piano style. Hopkins piano coda on that song alone is worth the price of this album. "Space Cowboy," one of several songs co-written with Ben Sidran, defined one of Millers many personas. "Seasons," another Sidran collaboration, is a beautifully atmospheric, slow-tempo piece. Steve Millers guitar playing is the star of this album, blazing across the whole affair more prominently than on any other release in his lengthy career; many of the songs have a power trio feel. In addition to the fine guitar work, Millers vocals are stronger here, and during this era in general, than they would be in his hitmaking days in the mid-70s, when he was much more laid-back and overdubbed. Ever the borrower, adapter, and integrator, Steve Miller shapes the blues, psychedelia, sound effects, sweet multi-tracked vocal harmonies, and guitar-driven hard rock into one cohesive musical statement with this release. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 34 Title: Your Saving Grace Released: 1969 Tracks: 8 Duration: 37:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Little Girl (03:22) 2 Just a Passin Fancy in a Midnite Dream (03:39) 3 Dont Let Nobody Turn You Around (02:28) 4 Babys House (08:49) 5 Motherless Children (06:01) 6 The Last Wombat in Mecca (02:54) 7 Feel So Glad (05:19) 8 Your Saving Grace (04:49) |
| Your Saving Grace : Allmusic album Review : Your Saving Grace is a much more earthy collection of tunes when compared to the bands previous three long-players. While there are distinct psychedelic remnants of the Boz Scaggs (guitar/vocals) and Jim Peterman (keyboards) era, the addition of keyboardists Ben Sidran and Nicky Hopkins -- which began on the Steve Miller Bands previous effort, Brave New World -- adds a jazzier facet to this second incarnation of the group. Harking back to the bands blues roots, Your Saving Grace includes a couple of distinct blues originals -- such as the up-tempo and gospel-doused "Dont Let Nobody Turn You Around" and a somewhat uninspired arrangement of "Motherless Children," which sounds more synchronous with the Sailor or Brave New World albums. The funky "Little Girl," the elegantly pensive "Babys House," and the title track -- which is oddly programmed as the LPs final cut -- are among the highlights of this disc. Once again, the production is handled by Glyn Johns, whose contributions here are more subdued, yet no less noticeable. This is especially true of Millers crystalline slide guitar licks on Lonnie Turners cryptically titled "The Last Wombat in Mecca." The same upfront clean sound holds true on the laid-back and bluesy "Feel So Glad" -- which is punctuated by some inspired and unmistakable ivory tickling by studio wunderkind Nicky Hopkins. Although the album is not as thoroughly solid as earlier efforts, Your Saving Grace and the follow-up, Number 5, are definite bridges between the early trippy montages prevalent on Children of the Future and the direction that Miller would take on his much more successful mid-70s discs. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 34 Title: Number 5 Released: 1970 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Good Morning (02:48) 2 I Love You (02:45) 3 Going to the Country (03:46) 4 Hot Chili (03:30) 5 Tokins (04:23) 6 Going to Mexico (02:28) 7 Steve Millers Midnight Tango (02:40) 8 Industrial Military Complex Hex (03:54) 9 Jackson-Kent Blues (07:18) 10 Never Kill Another Man (02:42) |
| Number 5 : Allmusic album Review : Released in the summer of 1970, Number 5 was the fifth LP by the Steve Miller Band in just over two years. While it compares favorably to its immediate predecessor, Your Saving Grace, it is not quite up to the consistent excellence of the potent Brave New World from the previous summer. However, it does have a fair share of delights, especially the opening triumvirate of "Good Morning," "I Love You," and "Going to the Country." These selections, and all of side one, have a distinctly more rural feel than did previous recordings, due perhaps to the fact that the tracks were recorded in Nashville. Charlie McCoy contributes harmonica to several of these cuts, and Buddy Spicher plays fiddle on "Going to the Country," while Bobby Thompson adds banjo to "Tokins." Side two is more uneven, with the lead-off mid-tempo rocker "Going to Mexico" serving as a conclusion to the first sides thematic coherence, and the closing "Never Kill Another Man" a string-laden ballad. Sandwiched between them are three experimental-sounding pieces, seasoned with sound effects, buried vocals, and semi-political themes. Although it couldnt have been predicted at the time, Number 5 represented the end of an era for Steve Miller and bandmates, and subsequent albums would sound nothing like this first batch of great recordings. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 34 Title: Rock Love Released: 1971-11 Tracks: 7 Duration: 37:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Gangster Is Back (02:31) 2 Blues With Out Blame (05:50) 3 Love Shock (11:20) 4 Let Me Serve You (02:24) 5 Rock Love (02:29) 6 Harbor Lights (04:08) 7 Deliverance (09:14) |
| Rock Love : Allmusic album Review : Often called "Rock Bottom" by Steve Millers fans, Rock Love did help to rebound Millers sagging career at the time. Consisting of Miller and a couple of hired hands, this part live, part studio effort had no hits on it and was generally panned by critics (who may not have realized that Capitol issued this leftovers album without his consent as he recuperated from a motorcycle accident). Time has not made their words sound any kinder, for Rock Love neither rocks nor shows any sort of love within the course of seven tunes. While the title cut is slight but catchy, not much else abounds here to recommend listening more than once. The only way was up for the Steve Miller Band after this sad excuse for an album by, what some deemed a major rock artist. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 34 Title: Recall the Beginning... A Journey From Eden Released: 1972 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Welcome (01:18) 2 Enter Maurice (03:52) 3 High on You Mama (03:38) 4 Heal Your Heart (03:19) 5 The Sun Is Going Down (01:37) 6 Somebody Somewhere Help Me (02:32) 7 Loves Riddle (03:24) 8 Fandango (03:56) 9 Nothing Lasts (04:03) 10 Journey From Eden (06:36) |
| Recall the Beginning... A Journey From Eden : Allmusic album Review : After the resounding critical drubbing for 1971s lackluster Rock Love, Steve Millers worst-received release at that time, he rebounded a year later with this eclectic and much stronger set. Its his seventh album and last as a cult artist before the commercial breakthrough of 1973s The Joker. The album, dedicated to Mahalia Jackson and Junior Parker, is split into two distinct sections. Side one dips into 50s doo wop with "Enter Maurice," acoustic folk-blues ("High on You Mama"), upbeat down-home pop ("The Sun Is Going Down"), and good-time R&B blues-rocking with horns ("Somebody Somewhere Help Me") that pre-dates Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes similar style by about five years. But side two is where Miller really hits his stride, with beautiful, somewhat psychedelic folk-rockers that add his blues and rock roots to the string-enhanced acoustic ballad "Nothing Lasts," the haunting "Loves Riddle," and the shimmering closing title track, certainly one of his most endearing compositions (and the only selection to make the cut from this collection for his first career recap released later that year, 1972s Anthology). Nick De Caros string arrangements are beautifully and expertly integrated into these songs and previous Steve Miller Band member Ben Sidrans production is sympathetic and spacious, as is veteran Bruce Botnicks (the Doors) engineering. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 34 Title: The Joker Released: 1973-10 Tracks: 9 Duration: 36:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sugar Babe (04:02) 2 Mary Lou (02:56) 3 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (05:41) 4 Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ but Trash (03:22) 5 The Joker (04:25) 6 Lovin’ Cup (02:11) 7 Come on in My Kitchen (04:06) 8 Evil (04:35) 9 Something to Believe In (04:42) |
| The Joker : Allmusic album Review : The Joker is, without question, the turning point in Steve Millers career, the album where he infused his blues with a big, bright dose of pop and got exactly what he deserved: Top Ten hits and stardom. He also lost a lot of fans, the ones who dug his winding improvs, because those spacy jams were driven by chops and revealed new worlds. The Joker isnt mind-expanding, its party music, filled with good vibes, never laying a heavy trip, always keeping things light, relaxed and easygoing. Sometimes, the vibes are interrupted, but not in a harsh way -- the second side slows a bit, largely due to the sludgy "Come in My Kitchen" and "Evil," the two songs that were recorded live but lacking any kinetic energy -- but for the most part, this is all bright and fun, occasionally truly silly, as on "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma." This silliness, of course, alienated old fans all the more, but that sense of fun is both the most appealing thing about The Joker and it set a touchstone for the rest of his career. Here, its best heard on the terrific opener "Sugar Babe" and, of course, the timeless title track, which is sunny and ridiculous in equal measure. If nothing else is quite up to that standard in terms of songs -- certainly, its not as jammed-pack as its successor, Fly Like an Eagle -- The Joker nevertheless maintains its good-time vibe so well that its hard not to smile along...provided youre on the same wavelength as Miller, of course. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 34 Title: Fly Like an Eagle Released: 1976-05-01 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Space Intro (01:14) 2 Fly Like an Eagle (04:45) 3 Wild Mountain Honey (04:51) 4 Serenade (03:12) 5 Dance, Dance, Dance (02:19) 6 Mercury Blues (03:43) 7 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 8 Rock’n Me (03:07) 9 You Send Me (02:42) 10 Blue Odyssey (00:53) 11 Sweet Maree (04:18) 12 The Window (04:17) |
| Fly Like an Eagle : Allmusic album Review : Steve Miller had started to essay his classic sound with The Joker, but 1976s Fly Like an Eagle is where he took flight, creating his definitive slice of space blues. The key is focus, even on an album as stylishly, self-consciously trippy as this, since the focus brings about his strongest set of songs (both originals and covers), plus a detailed atmospheric production where everything fits. It still can sound fairly dated -- those whooshing keyboards and cavernous echoes are certainly of their time -- but its essence hasnt aged, as "Fly Like an Eagle" drifts like a cool breeze, while "Take the Money and Run" and "Rock n Me" are fiendishly hooky, friendly rockers. The rest of the album may not be quite up to those standards, but there arent any duds, either, as "Wild Mountain Honey" and "Mercury Blues" give this a comfortable backdrop, thanks to Millers offhand, lazy charm. Though it may not quite transcend its time, it certainly is an album rock landmark of the mid-70s and its best moments (namely, the aforementioned singles) are classics of the idiom. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 34 Title: Book of Dreams Released: 1977 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Threshold (01:06) 2 Jet Airliner (04:26) 3 Winter Time (03:12) 4 Swingtown (03:56) 5 True Fine Love (02:39) 6 Wish Upon a Star (03:39) 7 Jungle Love (03:08) 8 Electro Lux Imbroglio (00:57) 9 Sacrifice (05:20) 10 The Stake (03:58) 11 My Own Space (03:04) 12 Babes in the Wood (02:32) |
| Book of Dreams : Allmusic album Review : It is here, on this 1977 blockbuster, that Steve Miller shored up his "Space Cowboy" moniker and cosmic persona: from the winged horse on the album cover to a judicious smattering of synthesizers in the music, Book of Dreams bridged the gap between blues-rock and the indulgences of prog rock. Things do go awry when Renaissance Faire whimsy takes over clunkers like "Wish Upon a Star" and "Babes in the Wood," but luckily the balance of the record offers a satisfying blend of meaty blues and country riffs and tasteful atmospherics. The well-known suspects include "Swingtown," "Winter Time," and "Threshold," with relatively straightforward rock & boogie highlights coming by way of "True Fine Love," "Jet Airliner," and "Jungle Love." The non-hit cuts, "Sacrifice" and "My Own Space," do stand up to these FM favorites but fall short of making the album something the casual fan should consider with Millers Greatest Hits 1974-1978 in hand (that collection includes seven tracks off of Book of Dreams, plus all the hits from The Joker and Fly Like an Eagle). Still, this is a highlight of the 70s classic rock era and one of Millers finest releases. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 34 Title: Greatest Hits 1974-78 Released: 1978 Tracks: 14 Duration: 44:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Swingtown (03:28) 2 Jungle Love (03:08) 3 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 4 Rock’n Me (03:07) 5 Serenade (03:12) 6 True Fine Love (02:39) 7 The Stake (03:58) 8 The Joker (03:36) 9 Fly Like an Eagle (03:03) 10 Threshold (01:06) 11 Jet Airliner (03:35) 12 Dance, Dance, Dance (02:19) 13 Winter Time (03:12) 14 Wild Mountain Honey (04:51) |
| Greatest Hits 1974-78 : Allmusic album Review : Greatest Hits 1974-1978 collects the majority of Steve Millers biggest hits -- "The Joker," "Take the Money and Run," "Rock n Me," "Fly Like an Eagle," "Jet Airliner," "Jungle Love," "Swingtown" -- plus seven album tracks that received a fair amount of airplay on album rock radio. The collection only covers a total of three albums (The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams), with the latter two providing the bulk of the material. Because of this, "Living in the USA," one of Millers biggest hits of the late 60s and early 70s, isnt included, but its hardly missed, since all of his other hits of the 70s are included. The thoroughness of Greatest Hits 1974-1978 makes it an excellent introduction to Miller, and for many casual fans, it also means that they can contain their Steve Miller collection to one disc. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 34 Title: Circle of Love Released: 1981 Tracks: 5 Duration: 33:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heart Like a Wheel (04:00) 2 Get on Home (04:02) 3 Baby Wanna Dance (02:15) 4 Circle of Love (06:29) 5 Macho City (16:26) |
| Circle of Love : Allmusic album Review : Divided in half, with one side of catchy pop tunes and one side devoted to a 16-minute space blues workout called "Macho City," the design of Circle of Love feels like a throwback to 1971, when people truly paid attention to the flow of an album. In 1981, it was a bit of anachronism, but its old-fashioned feel (and its tedious "Macho City") are saved by the mini-album of pop/rock that might not have produced any undeniable classics, but includes tuneful, well-crafted numbers that serve as worthy follow-ups to Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 34 Title: Abracadabra Released: 1982 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Keeps Me Wondering Why (03:45) 2 Abracadabra (05:08) 3 Something Special (03:33) 4 Give It Up (03:36) 5 Never Say No (03:39) 6 Things I Told You (03:19) 7 Young Girls Heart (03:38) 8 Goodbye Love (02:56) 9 Cool Magic (04:25) 10 While Im Waiting (03:26) |
| Abracadabra : Allmusic album Review : Steve Miller was always catchy and tuneful, but he never turned out an unabashed pop album until 1982s Abracadabra. This isnt just pop in construction, its pop in attitude, filled with effervescent melodies and deeply silly lyrics, perhaps none more noteworthy than the immortal couplet "Abra-Abracadabra/I wanna reach out and grab ya." Those words graced the title track, which turned out to be one of his biggest hits, and if nothing else is quite as irresistibly goofy as that song, there still is a surplus of engagingly tuneful material, all dressed up in the psuedo-new wave production so favored by AOR veterans in the early 80s. All of that may not make this one of Millers definitive albums, especially in the view of hardcore space blues heads, but its pretty damn irresistible for listeners who find "Abracadabra" one of the highlights of faux-new wave AOR. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 34 Title: Steve Miller Band Live! Released: 1983 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Gangster of Love (02:56) 2 Rock’n Me (04:08) 3 Living in the U.S.A. (03:26) 4 Fly Like an Eagle (03:31) 5 Jungle Love (03:37) 6 The Joker (02:59) 7 Mercury Blues (05:24) 8 Take the Money and Run (03:53) 9 Abracadabra (03:42) 10 Jet Airliner (05:05) |
 | Album: 15 of 34 Title: LIVE! Released: 1983 Tracks: 11 Duration: 45:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Gangster of Love (02:56) 2 Rock’n Me (04:08) 3 Living in the U.S.A. (03:26) 4 Fly Like an Eagle (03:31) 5 Jungle Love (03:37) 6 The Joker (02:59) 7 Mercury Blues (05:24) 8 Take the Money and Run (03:53) 9 Abracadabra (03:42) 10 Jet Airliner (05:05) 11 Buffalos Serenade (06:43) |
 | Album: 16 of 34 Title: Italian X Rays Released: 1984 Tracks: 13 Duration: 37:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Radio 1 (00:36) 2 Italian X Rays (04:37) 3 Daybreak (02:41) 4 Shangri-La (05:04) 5 Who do You Love (02:55) 6 Harmony of the Spheres 1 (01:47) 7 Radio 2 (00:35) 8 Bongo Bongo (03:12) 9 Out of the Night (03:46) 10 Golden Opportunity (03:32) 11 The Hollywood Dream (03:51) 12 One in a Million (03:41) 13 Harmony of the Spheres 2 (00:56) |
 | Album: 17 of 34 Title: Living in the 20th Century Released: 1986 Tracks: 11 Duration: 36:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Nobody but You Baby (04:05) 2 I Want to Make the World Turn Around (04:24) 3 Slinky (02:40) 4 Living in the 20th Century (03:08) 5 Maelstrom (04:08) 6 I Wanna Be Loved (But by Only You) (02:24) 7 My Babe (02:54) 8 Big Boss Man (02:37) 9 Caress Me Baby (03:18) 10 Aint That Lovin You Baby (02:51) 11 Behind the Barn (03:39) |
 | Album: 18 of 34 Title: Greatest Hits 1976 - 1986 Released: 1987 Tracks: 14 Duration: 47:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Space Intro (01:14) 2 Fly Like an Eagle (04:49) 3 Bongo Bongo (03:14) 4 Rock’n Me (03:07) 5 Jet Airliner (04:22) 6 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 7 Mercury Blues (03:47) 8 Swing Town (03:58) 9 Shangri-La (04:04) 10 Abracadabra (03:39) 11 Italian X-Rays (03:47) 12 Out of the Night (03:47) 13 Who Do You Love (02:57) 14 Harmony of the Spheres (01:43) |
 | Album: 19 of 34 Title: The Best of 1968-1973 Released: 1990-09-24 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:17:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Joker (04:25) 2 Living in the U.S.A. (04:05) 3 My Dark Hour (03:08) 4 Going to the Country (03:13) 5 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (05:41) 6 Going to Mexico (02:28) 7 Come on in My Kitchen (04:06) 8 Evil (04:35) 9 Song for Our Ancestors (05:59) 10 Your Saving Grace (04:50) 11 Quicksilver Girl (02:43) 12 Seasons (03:51) 13 Space Cowboy (04:57) 14 Gangster of Love (01:15) 15 Kow Kow (04:27) 16 Little Girl (03:23) 17 Dont Let Nobody Turn You Around (02:29) 18 Jackson-Kent Blues (07:18) 19 Sugar Babe (04:33) |
| The Best of 1968-1973 : Allmusic album Review : The Best of 1968-1973 is a solid collection that features many of the highlights from Steve Millers first five years of recording, including "The Joker," "Living in the U.S.A.," "Space Cowboy," and "Gangster of Love." This compilation isnt as consistently thrilling as Greatest Hits 1974-1978, which also features "The Joker," and its not as sharply assembled as 1972s Anthology, but it remains an adequate overview of Millers early records, especially for fans only familiar with Greatest Hits. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 34 Title: The Very Best of the Steve Miller Band Released: 1991 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:04:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Space Intro (01:14) 2 Fly Like an Eagle (04:45) 3 The Joker (04:25) 4 Abracadabra (03:39) 5 Give It Up (03:36) 6 Rock’n Me (03:07) 7 Macho City (03:22) 8 Serenade From the Stars (03:12) 9 Threshold (01:06) 10 Jet Airliner (03:35) 11 Keeps Me Wondering Why (03:38) 12 Jungle Love (03:08) 13 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 14 True Fine Love (02:39) 15 Wild Mountain Honey (04:51) 16 Winter Time (03:12) 17 The Stake (03:58) 18 Swingtown (03:28) 19 The Window (04:17) |
 | Album: 21 of 34 Title: Anthology Released: 1991 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:03:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Love You (02:45) 2 Going to the Country (03:13) 3 Babys House (08:07) 4 Kow Kow (04:27) 5 Your Saving Grace (04:49) 6 Going to Mexico (02:28) 7 Space Cowboy (04:57) 8 Living in the U.S.A. (04:05) 9 Journey From Eden (06:25) 10 Seasons (03:51) 11 Motherless Children (04:22) 12 Never Kill Another Man (02:42) 13 Dont You Let Nobody Turn You Around (02:29) 14 Little Girl (03:24) 15 Celebration Song (02:32) 16 My Dark Hour (03:08) |
| Anthology : Allmusic album Review : Released in 1972, Anthology provides a 16-track summary of the Steve Miller Bands first five albums, distilling their uneven space blues into a tight, effective collection of highlights. These songs are hardly as tuneful or effortlessly catchy as the songs on 1978s Greatest Hits -- apart from "Living in the USA," "Space Cowboy," and "Going to Mexico," theres nothing particularly immediate here -- but theyre first-rate period pieces, capturing Millers space blues at its most effectively spacey. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 34 Title: Wide River Released: 1993 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Wide River (04:00) 2 Midnight Train (04:20) 3 Blue Eyes (05:13) 4 Lost in Your Eyes (03:49) 5 Perfect World (05:30) 6 Horse and Rider (04:13) 7 Circle of Fire (03:47) 8 Conversation (04:12) 9 Cry Cry Cry (04:19) 10 Stranger Blues (04:30) 11 Walks Like a Lady (03:58) 12 All Your Love (I Miss Loving) (05:17) |
| Wide River : Allmusic album Review : Steve Miller returns to the bluesy pop/rock sound that made his career so successful with Wide River, a pleasant collection of new songs that will appeal greatly to fans of "The Joker," "Take the Money and Run," and "Rock n Me." | ||
 | Album: 23 of 34 Title: Box Set Sampler Released: 1994 Tracks: 10 Duration: 35:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Met a Little Girl on Her Way to School (02:21) 2 Livin in the U.S.A. (04:10) 3 Space Cowboy (03:24) 4 My Dark Hour (03:08) 5 Fly Like an Eagle (06:01) 6 Jungle Love (03:10) 7 The Joker (04:25) 8 I Wanna Be Loved (02:24) 9 Sweet Maree (03:22) 10 Slinky (02:38) |
 | Album: 24 of 34 Title: Box Set Released: 1994-07-26 Tracks: 64 Duration: 3:37:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Childs Medley (02:40) 2 Conversation Between Les Paul and Steve (Age 5) (feat. Les Paul) (01:06) 3 Conversation with T-Bone Walker (Steves house 1952) (02:46) 4 Candy Cain (1958) (01:05) 5 Met a Little Girl on Her Way to School (02:28) 6 Children of the Future (The Beauty of Time...) (00:58) 7 Livin in the U.S.A. (04:03) 8 Space Cowboy (03:26) 9 Going to Mexico (02:11) 10 My Dark Hour (03:08) 11 Steppin Stone (02:07) 12 Fanny Mae (02:49) 13 Going to the Country (03:13) 14 Little Girl (03:22) 15 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (05:41) 16 Jackson-Kent Blues (01:52) 17 Your Saving Grace (04:47) 18 Kow Kow (04:27) 19 Seasons (03:50) 20 Babys House (02:20) 21 Journey From Eden (03:44) 22 Babys Callin Me Home (03:17) 23 LTs Midnight Dream (02:29) 24 Quicksilver Girl (02:43) 25 Song for Our Ancestors (02:13) 1 Harmony of the Spheres 2 (00:56) 2 Space Intro (01:14) 3 Fly Like an Eagle (04:45) 4 Wild Mountain Honey (04:51) 5 Serenade (03:12) 6 Dance, Dance, Dance (02:19) 7 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 8 Rock’n Me (03:07) 9 Jungle Love (03:08) 10 Swingtown (03:56) 11 Threshold (01:06) 12 Jet Airliner (04:26) 13 The Joker (04:25) 14 Who do You Love (02:55) 15 Abracadabra (05:08) 16 Give It Up (03:39) 17 The Stake (03:58) 18 Out of the Night (03:46) 19 One in a Million (03:41) 20 True Fine Love (02:39) 21 Winter Time (03:12) 22 Rock It (03:59) 1 Come On Into My Kitchen (04:02) 2 Evil (04:35) 3 Mercury Blues (03:43) 4 Lovin’ Cup (02:11) 5 Behind the Barn (03:39) 6 I Want to Make the World Turn Around (04:24) 7 Sacrifice (03:00) 8 Slinky (02:40) 9 Nobody but You (04:02) 10 I Wanna Be Loved (02:24) 11 Caress Me Baby (03:18) 12 Sweet Maree (03:32) 13 Born to Be Blue (05:23) 14 God Bless the Child (04:58) 15 When Sunny Gets Blue (04:34) 16 C.C. Rider / All Blues (10:44) 17 Malestrom (04:04) |
 | Album: 25 of 34 Title: Living in the U.S.A. Released: 1995-05-16 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Living in the U.S.A. (04:05) 2 Space Cowboy (04:57) 3 Dont Let Nobody Turn You Around (02:29) 4 The Joker (04:25) 5 Gangster of Love (01:22) 6 Lovin’ Cup (02:11) 7 Quicksilver Girl (02:43) 8 Your Saving Grace (04:49) 9 Motherless Children (04:22) 10 Mary Lou (02:24) |
 | Album: 26 of 34 Title: The Steve Miller Band Released: 1999 Tracks: 12 Duration: 42:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Living in the U.S.A. (04:05) 2 The Joker (04:25) 3 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 4 Going to the Country (03:14) 5 Fly Like an Eagle (03:03) 6 Rock’n Me (03:07) 7 Going to Mexico (02:27) 8 Jungle Love (03:08) 9 Jet Airliner (03:35) 10 Wild Mountain Honey (04:53) 11 Swingtown (03:28) 12 The Stake (03:58) |
 | Album: 27 of 34 Title: King Biscuit Flower Hour: The Steve Miller Band Released: 2002 Tracks: 25 Duration: 2:02:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Space Cowboy (04:25) 2 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (06:18) 3 Mary Lou (04:41) 4 Your Cash Aint Nothin but Trash (04:21) 5 Gangster of Love (05:47) 6 Jackson-Kent Blues (04:56) 7 Living in the USA (08:45) 8 Fly Like an Eagle (11:26) 9 My Dark Hour (02:53) 10 Evil (05:28) 11 Blues With a Feelin (05:54) 12 Lovin Cup (02:49) 13 So Long Blues (02:27) 1 The Joker (05:21) 2 Babys Callin Me Home (04:05) 3 Going to Mexico (03:37) 4 Nothing Lasts (03:21) 5 Mercury Blues (05:36) 6 Going to the Country (02:58) 7 Kitchen Blues (Come on in My Kitchen) (02:59) 8 The Window (06:08) 9 Fly Like an Eagle (04:36) 10 Wild Mountain Honey (04:02) 11 Song for Our Ancestors (05:13) 12 Seasons (04:02) |
 | Album: 28 of 34 Title: Young Hearts: Complete Greatest Hits Released: 2003-09-16 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:18:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 2 Abracadabra (03:39) 3 Rock’n Me (03:07) 4 Swingtown (03:39) 5 The Joker (04:29) 6 Livin in the U.S.A. (03:47) 7 Space Intro (01:14) 8 Fly Like an Eagle (04:06) 9 Threshold (01:06) 10 Jet Airliner (04:26) 11 Space Cowboy (04:59) 12 Jungle Love (03:10) 13 Serenade (03:12) 14 Cry Cry Cry (04:09) 15 Shubada Du Ma Ma (05:44) 16 Wide River (04:00) 17 Wild Mountain Honey (04:51) 18 The Stake (03:34) 19 My Dark Hour (02:39) 20 Who Do You Love (02:50) 21 I Want to Make the World Turn Around (04:31) 22 Dance, Dance, Dance (02:19) |
| Young Hearts: Complete Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : At his best, Steve Miller offered great rock & roll thrills -- sleek, insidiously catchy, relentlessly propulsive, effervescent pop gems, songs that were possessed with their own cheerful momentum that proved irresistible and surprisingly enduring. At his best, he made rock & roll that evoked its time but transcended it since its song and studiocraft were precisely executed, and never running longer than needed; like all perfect pop or rock singles, they sound too short since youd want them to last forever. Unfortunately, Miller at his very best is ten, maybe 12 (and if youre kind, maybe 14) songs, much shorter than the generous Complete Greatest Hits, which clocks in at 22 tracks. Strangely enough, that title is a bit disingenuous, since this does not contain all of Millers charting singles, which, strangely enough, clock in at 20 tracks, if all the Billboard charts are used as a guideline. Of those 20 singles, a whole bunch are missing: "Your Cash Aint Nothin but Trash," "Going to the Country," "Heart Like a Wheel," "Circle of Love," "Give It Up," "Shangri-La," "Bongo Bongo," "Nobody but You Baby," and "Cool Magic." Thats nine songs, nearly half of his charting singles. Then again, charting singles dont really tell the story of Miller and his band, since they were more popular on album-oriented radio than they were on the charts, which is why songs like "Space Cowboy," "Wild Mountain Honey," and "Dance Dance Dance" are better known than "Bongo Bongo." Nevertheless, if the compilers of this compilation were going to take its title seriously, these songs would be present (even if Miller seems to have disowned 1981s Circle of Love, since its out of print and none of its singles are here), along with the cuts that remain staples of AOR to this day. Instead, its a bit of a hodgepodge, containing all but three tracks from the classic Greatest Hits 1974-1978, plus the three other songs every listener wants: "Abracadabra," "Livin in the U.S.A.," and "Space Cowboy." If those three tracks were substituted for those missing from Greatest Hits 1974-1978, this wouldnt be just the great Miller album; it would be one of the great rock guilty pleasures, the kind of records everybody would own but all serious rock geeks would be ashamed to have, even if they play it far more than Trout Mask Replica. But this collection meanders, adding a bunch of latter-day songs that are largely unknown. Some of them are good -- 1993s "Wide River," if given a better production, could be mistaken for the Steve Miller Band at its peak -- but by and large, they slow this record down more than necessary. What makes this recommended -- and, make no mistake, it is -- is that it contains that core 12 to 14 songs that would make for one of the great rock albums. What keeps it from essential is the eight to ten songs that surround them, particularly since this starts off so strong, and then peters out, saving "Dance Dance Dance" for a last hurrah. Even so, this is the only place to go for all of Millers hits (not counting the 1999 Australia collection, which has a similar feel but a slightly sharper track selection and a little leaner 20-track running time). But keep this in mind: if you want a party, you want Greatest Hits 1974-1978, since the feel and the groove is the same, and it clocks in at 14 tracks and 47 minutes -- perfect length for repeated plays. At the end of the exhaustive Complete Greatest Hits youre pretty much exhausted -- glad you have the key songs in your collection, wishing that the disc itself was as sleek and irresistible as the best tunes here. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 34 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2006 Tracks: 36 Duration: 2:11:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Living in the USA (03:48) 2 Space Cowboy (04:59) 3 My Dark Hour (02:38) 4 Going to the Country (03:11) 5 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (05:44) 6 Your Saving Grace (04:48) 7 Fly Like an Eagle (04:05) 8 Wild Mountain Honey (04:53) 9 Serenade (03:14) 10 Dance Dance Dance (02:22) 11 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 12 Rock’n Me (03:07) 1 Jungle Love (03:08) 2 Swingtown (03:39) 3 Threshold (01:06) 4 Jet Airliner (04:26) 5 The Joker (04:25) 6 Abracadabra (03:39) 7 Give It Up (03:39) 8 The Stake (03:32) 9 True Fine Love (02:40) 10 Wintertime (03:13) 11 Rock It (04:00) 12 Come in to My Kitchen (live) (04:02) 1 Wide River (04:00) 2 Evil (live) (04:36) 3 The Window (04:17) 4 Gangster of Love (01:23) 5 Heart Like a Wheel (04:00) 6 Roll With It (02:31) 7 One in a Million (03:42) 8 I Want to Make the World Turn Around (04:27) 9 Nobody but You Baby (04:02) 10 Sugar Babe (04:03) 11 Cry, Cry, Cry (04:08) 12 Who Do You Love (02:47) |
 | Album: 30 of 34 Title: Live From Chicago Released: 2007 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:03:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Rockn Me (05:07) 2 The Joker (04:30) 3 The Stake (05:30) 4 Jungle Love (03:40) 5 Serenade (04:07) 6 Take the Money and Run (03:39) 7 Jet Airliner (05:35) 8 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (04:14) 9 Fly Like an Eagle (14:41) 10 Abracadabra (03:11) 11 Winter Time (05:21) 12 Wild Mountain Honey (03:42) |
 | Album: 31 of 34 Title: Bingo! Released: 2010-06-15 Tracks: 14 Duration: 43:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hey Yeah (03:16) 2 Whos Been Talkin (03:03) 3 Don’t Cha Know (03:12) 4 Rock Me Baby (03:47) 5 Tramp (03:26) 6 Sweet Soul Vibe (03:38) 7 Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) (02:38) 8 All Your Love (I Miss Loving) (03:11) 9 You Got Me Dizzy (02:22) 10 Ooh Poo Pah Doo (03:31) 11 Aint That Lovin You Baby (02:22) 12 Further on Up the Road (02:34) 13 Look on Yonder Wall (03:08) 14 Drivin Wheel (03:38) |
| Bingo! : Allmusic album Review : Bingo! is the Steve Miller Bands first studio record in 17 years. Thematically, its a look back at the the electric blues and R&B that influenced him as a young man. Issued on his own Space Cowboy imprint, is also the final recorded appearance of blues harmonica great Norton Buffalo who passed away in 2009. Blues classics by B.B. King, Lowell Fulsom, Otis Rush, Howlin Wolf, Earl King, Jimmy Reed, and Jessie Hill are here, along with three selections by contemporary bluesman Jimmie Vaughan. What all of these tracks all have in common is Millers signature approach: he is a stellar guitarist who has no need to show off, a tight arranger, and an intuitive modern producer (with help from Andy Johns).These 14 tunes (all under four minutes) actually extend the electric blues tradition. While paying tribute to his heroes and contemporaries, there are also nods to his own history as a recording artist. Check Vaughans "Hey Yeah," with wah-wah guitars and killer solo breaks in the intro and verses. Millers and Buffalos harmonies are tight, and evoke the early fusion of blues with psychedelic rock (à la the earliest Steve Miller Band). One can also hear traces of Jimi Hendrixs production style in the tune as well as in his stellar version of Rushs "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)," that adds some gorgeous Latin percussion -- courtesy of Michael Carabello and Adrian Areas --to the silvery, reverb-laden guitar work. Fulsoms "Tramp" has that trademark opening chord, but the rest is pure Miller. He plays sparely, but with swagger aplenty, the funky shuffle at its heart played by rhythm guitar ace Kenny Lee is deep in the pocket; the vocal trade-off between Sonny Charles and Miller is priceless. The lone ballad on the set is the Vaughan/Nile Rodgers tune "Sweet Soul Vibe." With Joe Satriani guesting (he appears on "Rock Me Baby" as well) it touches on gospel, soul, and modern R&B. Millers and Satrianis alternate leads are deceptively sweet, but they feel more like knives being sharpened and carried confidently in sheaths. Earl Kings "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)" is a burning solo workout and takes the party jam into an entirely new musical dimension. Vocally, Miller touches on his 70s persona, but its only a glance; the rest is burning blues. There are also four bonus tracks, the most notable are readings of Elmore James "Look on Yonder Wall" -- with a killer vocal from Charles -- and the closer, Roosevelt Sykes "Drivin Wheel," with Millers filthiest guitar work of the set. This is a welcome return for Miller, and a must for modern electric blues fans. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 34 Title: Let Your Hair Down Released: 2011-04-11 Tracks: 10 Duration: 30:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Snatch It Back & Hold It (03:58) 2 I Got Love If You Want It (02:30) 3 Just A Little Bit (02:55) 4 Close Together (02:53) 5 No More Doggin (02:51) 6 Pretty Thing (02:56) 7 Cant Be Satisfied (03:40) 8 Sweet Home Chicago (02:41) 9 Love The Life I Live (03:21) 10 The Walk (02:58) |
| Let Your Hair Down : Allmusic album Review : Let Your Hair Down is a follow-up to Steve Millers Bingo! from 2010, and the tracks for this new release were recorded at the same sessions at George Lucas Skywalker Ranch studio with Andy Johns engineering and co-producing, and like Bingo!, Let Your Hair Down finds Miller re-exploring his Chicago blues roots. Miller and his band have always included a few old blues numbers in their concerts, so these are road-tested gems that are obviously close to Millers heart and soul, and they include the last recordings of Millers longtime collaborator (and harmonica whiz) Norton Buffalo, who died of lung cancer in 2009 shortly after these sessions. Miller has always had the ability to adapt blues forms into his pop work, but this outing, like Bingo!, is a full-fledged blues record, not a pop one, and fans of his classic rock should be aware that Miller, although his lead guitar work is everywhere here, doesn’t do all of the singing, with Sonny Charles and others handling lead vocals on some of the cuts. That said, Let Your Hair Down feels like a more realized snapshot of Millers blues adaptations than even the highly admired Bingo! was, and although it’s difficult to imagine the blues being exactly joyous, there is a passionate joy in these time-tested grooves, and it’s obvious both of these albums have been a labor of love for Miller and his band. Miller doesn’t pop-style these cuts up, either -- this is the blues as he sees it, and thankfully he’s as sly and charming as ever here. Highlights include a delightfully tense version of Muddy Waters “Can’t Be Satisfied,” a grooved-out take on Rosco Gordons “Just a Little Bit,” a Jimmy Reed cover, “Close Together,” fine takes on Willie Dixons “Pretty Thing” and “Love the Life I Live,” and a visit to Robert Johnson territory with “Sweet Home Chicago.” The next obvious step would be for someone to package Let Your Hair Down and Bingo! together in a single package, because both albums work as complementary bookends. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 34 Title: The Joker Live in Concert Released: 2015-09-04 Tracks: 9 Duration: 36:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Come on in My Kitchen (live) (03:30) 2 The Lovin Cup (live) (03:06) 3 Something to Believe In (live) (04:34) 4 Evil (live) (04:38) 5 Mary Lou (live) (03:56) 6 Shu Ba da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (live) (03:56) 7 Your Cash Aint Nothin but Trash (live) (03:34) 8 Sugar Babe (live) (04:07) 9 The Joker (live) (05:10) |
 | Album: 34 of 34 Title: Ultimate Hits Released: 2017-09-15 Tracks: 40 Duration: 2:26:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Steve Miller age 5 talking to his Godfather Les Paul (00:49) 2 Gangster of Love (live) (04:55) 3 The Joker (04:25) 4 Baby’s Callin’ Me Home (03:59) 5 My Dark Hour (02:38) 6 Little Girl (03:22) 7 Living in the U.S.A. (live) (04:49) 8 Space Cowboy (live) (03:51) 9 Seasons (03:03) 10 Journey From Eden (03:44) 11 Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (05:41) 12 Going to Mexico (02:27) 13 Kow Kow Calculator (live) (06:03) 14 Come On in My Kitchen (live) (03:14) 15 Sugar Babe (live) (04:08) 16 The Lovin’ Cup (live) (03:07) 17 Dance, Dance, Dance (02:19) 18 Take the Money and Run (02:51) 19 Rock’n Me (03:07) 20 Space Intro (01:14) 21 Fly Like an Eagle (04:45) 1 Wild Mountain Honey (04:51) 2 The Window (04:17) 3 Take the Money and Run (demo) (03:42) 4 In the Midnight Hour (03:15) 5 Jungle Love (03:08) 6 Threshold (01:06) 7 Jet Airliner (04:22) 8 The Stake (03:58) 9 Swingtown (03:28) 10 Serenade From the Stars (03:12) 11 True Fine Love (02:39) 12 Heart Like a Wheel (04:00) 13 Abracadabra (05:08) 14 I Want to Make the World Turn Around (04:24) 15 Italian X Rays (04:37) 16 Don’t Cha Know (03:12) 17 Cry Cry Cry (04:19) 18 Stranger Blues (04:30) 19 Behind the Barn (03:39) |
| Ultimate Hits : Allmusic album Review : Ultimate Hits may be something of a misnomer for the title of this 2017 compilation. In either its single CD or double-disc incarnation, Ultimate Hits contains the biggest songs from the Steve Miller Band, but theyre surrounded by cuts that cant be classified as hits or even singles. This is especially true of the flagship double-disc, which opens up with an old recording of Steve Miller meeting Les Paul as a child -- a snippet that first surfaced on 1994s triple-disc box set Steve Miller Band -- followed by a live cut where Miller recounts the story for the crowd. Such sequencing suggests that Miller is more concerned with telling a narrative than presenting the nonstop party that the title Ultimate Hits suggests, and the first disc proves that to be true, offering an early airing of "The Joker" as a concession before unleashing a lot of latter-day live performances, including the only airing of the classic "Living in the U.S.A." Hits start to roll out toward the end of the first disc and carry through until halfway through the second, when the record shifts into second gear to close out the set. Several singles are absent -- "Your Cash Aint Nothin But Trash," "Macho City," "Wide River," "Ya Ya," "Circle of Love," "Cool Magic" among them -- which underscores that this Ultimate Hits is more of a career overview than a clearinghouse of familiar tunes. Listeners looking for just the hits should turn to 2003s Young Hearts: Complete Greatest Hits -- and, if theyre all right with missing "Abracadabra," the 1978 LP Greatest Hits 1974-78 is the perfect distillation of Millers prime -- because even in its single-disc incarnation, Ultimate Hits is too idiosyncratic for a casual fan. Instead, its for the listener who is a serious Steve Miller Band fan but doesnt want to dig into the albums. | ||