Fly Like an Eagle (album)
Fly Like an Eagle | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 20, 1976 | |||
Recorded | 1975–1976 | |||
Studio | CBS Studios, San Francisco, California | |||
Genre | Rock, psychedelic rock, space rock, blues | |||
Length | 38:07 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Steve Miller | |||
Steve Miller Band chronology | ||||
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Singles from Fly Like an Eagle | ||||
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Fly Like an Eagle is the ninth studio album by American rock group Steve Miller Band. The album was released in May 1976 (see 1976 in music) by Capitol Records in the United States, Canada and Japan and Mercury Records in Europe.
The album was a success, spawning three singles: the title track, "Take the Money and Run" and "Rock'n Me", and eventually receiving quadruple platinum certification from the RIAA.
It was voted number 400 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).[1] In 2012, the album was ranked number 445 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[2]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[4] |
Rolling Stone | (favorable)[5] |
The Village Voice | B−[6] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [7] |
Stephen Thomas Erlewine in a retrospective review for AllMusic felt that "the focus brings about his strongest set of songs (both originals and covers), plus a detailed atmospheric production where everything fits." However, he said that "it still can sound fairly dated", but concluded the review by saying that "its best moments [...] are classics of the idiom." Rolling Stone voted it 1976's Best Album. Jay Cridlin of the Tampa Bay Times described "Dance, Dance, Dance" as "the best John Denver song John Denver never recorded".[8]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Space Intro" | Steve Miller | 1:15 |
2. | "Fly Like An Eagle" | Miller | 4:42 |
3. | "Wild Mountain Honey" | Steve McCarty | 4:51 |
4. | "Serenade" | Miller, Chris McCarty | 3:13 |
5. | "Dance Dance Dance" | Miller, Joseph Cooper, Brenda Cooper | 2:18 |
6. | "Mercury Blues" | K.C. Douglas, Bob Geddins | 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | "Take the Money and Run" | Miller | 2:50 |
8. | "Rock'n Me" | Miller | 3:05 |
9. | "You Send Me" (*) | Sam Cooke | 2:42 |
10. | "Blue Odyssey" | Miller | 1:00 |
11. | "Sweet Maree" | Miller | 4:16 |
12. | "The Window" | Miller, Joseph Cooper | 4:19 |
* Contains a brief sample from Cheech & Chong's comedy routine "Championship Wrestling" (from Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album, 1974), inserted after the first verse. The sample includes the words "...c'mon, don't be nervous!"
Personnel
- Steve Miller – vocals, guitar, keyboards, sitar, ARP Odyssey (1, 2), producer
- Lonnie Turner – bass guitar (all but 12)
- Gary Mallaber – drums (all but 12), percussion
Additional personnel
- James Cotton – harmonica (11)
- Curley Cooke – guitar (12)
- Les Dudek – guitar (12)
- Charles Calamise – bass guitar (12)
- Kenny Johnson – drums (12)
- John McFee – dobro (5)
- Joachim Young – B3 organ (2, 12)
- Technical
- John Palladino – executive producer
- Mike Fusaro – recording engineer
- Jim Gains – mastering
- Susan McCardle – photography
- David Stahl – photography
Quadraphonic and original editions
A Quadraphonic mix of the album was available on the Quadraphonic 8-Track cartridge format (in which Track 1 - "Space Intro" is edited into "Fly Like an Eagle" as one track, and Track 6 - "Take the Money and Run" intro repeats twice).
On the U.K. original vinyl release "Space Intro" does not appear on track listing. A 40-second track called "Space Odyssey" segues into "Wild Mountain Honey".
30th Anniversary Edition
In 2006 the album was re-released to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. The CD is digitally remastered and includes three bonus tracks and a bonus DVD features a concert performance at Mountain View, California's Shoreline Amphitheater in 2005 with over two hours of music in 5.1 Surround Sound (Note this surround mix is not based on the QUAD mix as track 1 and 6 are not different from the standard releases). Guest musicians include George Thorogood and Joe Satriani. The DVD also features a lengthy interview with Steve Miller, archive footage, never-before-seen photographs, and early demo recordings.
Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 17, 2005
- Swingtown
- True Fine Love
- Abracadabra
- Dance Dance Dance
- Wild Mountain Honey
- Nature Boy
- Mercury Blues
- The Stake
- Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma
- I Love the Life I Live, I Live the Life I Love (featuring George Thorogood)
- Got Love If You Want It (featuring George Thorogood)
- Gangster of Love (featuring George Thorogood)
- All Your Love (I Miss Loving) (featuring Joe Satriani)
- I'm Tore Down (featuring Joe Satriani)
- Slow Blues (featuring Joe Satriani)
- Crossroads (featuring Joe Satriani)
- Fly Like an Eagle (featuring Joe Satriani)
- Take the Money and Run
- Rock'n Me
- Jungle Love
- The Joker
- Encore: Serenade (featuring Joe Satriani)
Charts
Chart (1976) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Top Albums[9] | 4 |
Netherlands Top 100 Albums[10] | 7 |
UK Albums Chart[11] | 11 |
US Billboard 200[12] | 3 |
Chart (1977) | Peak position |
---|---|
New Zealand Top 40 Albums[13] | 16 |
US R&B Albums[12] | 19 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[14] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[16] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Colin Larkin (2006). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 150. ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ [1][dead link ]
- ^ Christgau, Robert (December 1976). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.
- ^ "Review: Steve Miller Band plows through Hall of Fame hits at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater". Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "Top Albums". RPM. Vol. 23, no. 5. October 30, 1976. p. 29. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original (PHP) on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ "Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle (Album)" (ASP). Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 19th NJune 1976". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "Steve Miller: Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ "Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle". Music Canada.
- ^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
- ^ "American album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle". Recording Industry Association of America.