I've heard, like, four Steve Miller songs in my life. The ones from that Greatest Hits album that got the most radio play, and "Abracadabra," which I used to like when it was on American Top 40.
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Thursday, 14 April 2016 18:18 (eight years ago) link
OK, looking at the track listing for the Greatest Hits album, I've actually heard seven Steve Miller songs including "Abracadabra."
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Thursday, 14 April 2016 18:20 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, me too, which is amazing, given I have never listened to him on purpose. Though "Fly Like an Eagle" is all time. Who is the drummer on that one?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 14 April 2016 18:26 (eight years ago) link
Ah, Gary Mallaber! Session-rific.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 14 April 2016 18:28 (eight years ago) link
eh, fuck Gary Mallaber he can pony up $10,000 to see the show like the rest of us
― sheesh, Thursday, 14 April 2016 19:59 (eight years ago) link
"Fly Like an Eagle" was really cool I remember discovering that song right when the Deion Sanders song came out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMdBCMpAlSM
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 14 April 2016 21:47 (eight years ago) link
i've probably heard as many Black Keys songs as Steve Miller songs and none of the former has ever made an impression on me.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 14 April 2016 21:49 (eight years ago) link
whether or not steve miller is rich or not is beside the point, the industry was (and is) crooked as hell, for every million he made the labels made 10, that's just facts
― rockpalast '82 (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 14 April 2016 21:56 (eight years ago) link
"I'm going to wrap you up" = tot fuckin great
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Friday, 15 April 2016 20:38 (eight years ago) link
the industry was (and is) crooked as hell,
remember when the internet was gonna fix this? good times.
― Οὖτις, Friday, 15 April 2016 20:53 (eight years ago) link
lol no i don't. did anyone ever make that claim?
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 15 April 2016 21:20 (eight years ago) link
Prince did, iirc.
― Now I Know How Joan of Arcadia Felt (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 15 April 2016 21:24 (eight years ago) link
abracadabra is a truly creepy song
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Saturday, 22 July 2017 00:18 (six years ago) link
Midnight tokers ugh: https://wp.me/pzXeC-7Hg
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 5 May 2018 05:50 (six years ago) link
lol christ the black keys are such enormous fucking dorks.
― constitutional crises they fly at u face (will), Saturday, 5 May 2018 16:00 (six years ago) link
I want to say "do you even know what makes a song good?" but it's you. So I guess idgi. This song is a ton of fun even while it grossly offends any reasonable person's sensibilities
― I am Larry Bird I always make the trey (rip van wanko), Saturday, 5 May 2018 16:22 (six years ago) link
challops: somehow i've got a copy of the "Best of 1968–1973" and i think i like it more than the "1974–78" comp
but tbh prob bc of the latter's irritating ubiquity
― constitutional crises they fly at u face (will), Saturday, 5 May 2018 16:23 (six years ago) link
STEVE MILLER: The Black Keys have two members, and they're both women!
DON: Well, yeah.
― Making Plans For Sturgill (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 5 May 2018 16:49 (six years ago) link
I want to say "do you even know what makes a song good?" but it's you. So I guess idgi.
- I am Larry Bird I always make the trey (rip van wanko)
I don't. Does anyone? Miller's other hits are more tolerable.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 5 May 2018 16:58 (six years ago) link
Well that's subjective and I don't personally agree. Big Ol Jet Airliner or whatever it's called is my kryptonite. Same hokey lyrical sensibility and never gets it's hooks in me
― I am Larry Bird I always make the trey (rip van wanko), Saturday, 5 May 2018 17:10 (six years ago) link
Steve Miller and I were kicked out of the same high school! #funfact
― I am Larry Bird I always make the trey (rip van wanko), Saturday, 5 May 2018 17:14 (six years ago) link
Alfred, I just don't know how you give a pass to "Take the Money and Run" — a song that rhymes taxes with Texas — over the American "Rock On".
― pplains, Saturday, 5 May 2018 18:19 (six years ago) link
'taxes' and 'facts is' as well.
I like how vague a story song "TTMAR" is--he sets the scene, introduces the main characters and their antagonist whom they never encounter, throw in a quickly resolved twist, and it's over.
― Making Plans For Sturgill (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 5 May 2018 18:25 (six years ago) link
he sets the scene, introduces the main characters and their antagonist whom they never encounter, throw in a quickly resolved twist, and it's over.
Oh right, "Pine Barrens."
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 5 May 2018 18:53 (six years ago) link
a song that rhymes taxes with Texas
but the two go together!
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 5 May 2018 18:58 (six years ago) link
*clap clap clap clap clap clap*
― pplains, Saturday, 5 May 2018 19:05 (six years ago) link
What's your opinion of this zygote?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu7FBcyyUqw
― pplains, Saturday, 5 May 2018 19:06 (six years ago) link
Still think this song secretly invented the Stone Roseshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELcTJZLxhFU
― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, 5 May 2018 19:50 (six years ago) link
dude likes to shout out his previously recorded tunes
― constitutional crises they fly at u face (will), Saturday, 5 May 2018 20:56 (six years ago) link
/when you unthinkingly reflexively bookmark a thread, just out of habit
― DACA Flocka Flame (Hadrian VIII), Sunday, 6 May 2018 16:48 (six years ago) link
Don’t know if this has been posted already on another thread: https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/young-musician-growing-up-with-steve-miller/
― And Nobody POLLS Like Me (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 9 June 2018 01:47 (five years ago) link
The hand claps can’t come fast enough in Take the Money
― calstars, Sunday, 20 December 2020 05:33 (three years ago) link
such a weird song.
The lyrics don't rhyme. The handclaps don't happen on specific bars, just when he ever makes a Texas reference. Just a mess, but worth it just for that opening drum roll.
― pplains, Sunday, 20 December 2020 05:49 (three years ago) link
The handclaps don't happen on specific bars, just when he ever makes a Texas reference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ5Di_7ZpW0
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Sunday, 20 December 2020 05:54 (three years ago) link
Still think this song secretly invented the Stone Roses
― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, May 5, 2018 3:50 PM (two years ago) bookmarkflaglink
Nah, it probably invented Smash Mouth tho
― Adoration of the Mogwai (Deflatormouse), Sunday, 20 December 2020 07:43 (three years ago) link
That opening bass line and tone does have that thing Smash Mouth kinda captured in their big hit. Could be a bit of both bands though as Steve Miller band was a SF psych blues/pop band, first gen.
― earlnash, Sunday, 20 December 2020 15:23 (three years ago) link
I know fuck all about Steve Miller beyond what I know from classic rock radio, and that my first exposure to him was the song "Abracadabra," which sucks, but he's Monday's guest on WTF so I'm brushing up on the real early stuff and...it's good?? Okay then.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 10 May 2021 03:18 (three years ago) link
Yeah! First five albums are all sick!
― brimstead, Monday, 10 May 2021 04:57 (three years ago) link
I'm not the biggest Steve Miller fan, but those first two albums are excellent, the only two I listen to from start-to-finish. Beyond that, Anthology (covering the early stuff except, strangely enough, the debut, possibly because it's tough to break up into individual tracks) and the mega-selling Greatest Hits 1974-1978 are all the Steve Miller I'd ever need and then some.
― birdistheword, Monday, 10 May 2021 13:40 (three years ago) link
Recently came across his Wikipedia page...had no idea about any of this:
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller received his first exposure to music from his mother, Bertha, whom he described as a remarkable jazz-influenced singer, and his physician father, George, known as "Sonny" who, in addition to his profession as a pathologist, was a jazz enthusiast and an accomplished amateur recording engineer. Guitar virtuoso Les Paul and his musical partner Mary Ford were regular visitors at the Miller house. The Millers were best man and matron of honor at the December 1949 Paul/Ford wedding. Paul became Steve's godfather.[4] Les Paul heard Steve, who was six, on a wire recording made by Dr. Miller, "banging away" on a guitar given to him by his uncle, Dr. K. Dale Atterbury.[5] Paul encouraged Miller to continue with his interest in the guitar... and "perhaps he will be something one day."In 1950, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas. Many distinguished musicians came to the house to record, and Steve absorbed much from "greats" such as T-Bone Walker, Charles Mingus, and Tal Farlow. ...Upon his return to the United States, Miller moved to Chicago where he immersed himself in the city's blues scene. During his time there, he worked with harmonica player Paul Butterfield and jammed with blues greats Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy, all of whom encouraged the young guitarist to pursue music.
In 1950, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas. Many distinguished musicians came to the house to record, and Steve absorbed much from "greats" such as T-Bone Walker, Charles Mingus, and Tal Farlow.
...
Upon his return to the United States, Miller moved to Chicago where he immersed himself in the city's blues scene. During his time there, he worked with harmonica player Paul Butterfield and jammed with blues greats Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy, all of whom encouraged the young guitarist to pursue music.
― Indexed, Monday, 10 May 2021 18:32 (three years ago) link
Oh yeah, they ended up talking about a lot of that on WTF today.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 10 May 2021 18:38 (three years ago) link
The production really is outstanding on all his stuff.
― Tracer Hand, Monday, 10 May 2021 20:06 (three years ago) link
― Elvis Telecom,
well.
i think this brilliant 10+ minute edit by soundhog totally underlines this theory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSo0BMLLpI
― mark e, Saturday, 15 May 2021 19:47 (three years ago) link