Guitarist and songwriter Steve Miller moved to San Francisco zround 1966-67 where the psychedelic scene was flourishing. He formed the Steve Miller Blues Band which and they contracted with Capitol Records in 1967.
The original band consisted of Miller, guitarist James Cooke, bassist Lonnie Turner, and drummer Tim Davis. In May 1968 while in England, they recorded their debut album Children Of The Future. The album was no commercial success, but was received well by the music-press.
The second album Sailor appeared in October, and climbed the Billboard chart to #24. Successes included the singles "Livin' In The USA", "Lucky Man", and Boz Scaggs "Overdrive" and "Dime-A-Dance Romance".
Success albums "Brave New World", "Your Saving Grace" and "Number 5" followed during 1968-70.
His big worldwide breakthrough came in 1973 with the single and album "The Joker".
There has been a continuing change in line-up throughout the years.
Selected significant band members:
Steve Miller: Born Oct. 5, 1943 Vocals, guitar and songwriter
Boz Scaggs: Born June 8, 1944, Guitar. 1967-69
Lonnie Turner: Bass. 1967-70. Rejoined in 1973.
Jim Peterman: Keyboards. 1967-69
Tim Davis: Born November 29, 1943, Drums, vocals and songwriter. 1967-71
Ben Sidran: Born August 14, 1943. Keyboards and vocals. 1969-72. Again 1988-94
Bobby Winkelman: Bass guitar, vocals. 1970
John King: Drums. 1971-70
Discography:
1. Children of the Future - Capitol 1968 Tracks:
1. Children of the Future / 2. Pushed Me to It / 3. You've Got the Power 4. In My First Mind / 5. The / 8. Roll with It / 9. Junior Saw It Happen / 10. Fanny Mae / 11. Key to the Highway
Rating : 4
2. Sailor - Capitol 1968
Tracks:
1. Song for Our Ancestors / 2. Dear Mary / 3. My Friend / 4. Living in the U.S.A. / 5. Quicksilver Gir / 6. Lucky Man / 7. Gangster of Love / 8. You're So Fine / 9. Overdrive / 10. Dime-a-Dance Romance
Rating : 6
3. Brave New World - Capitol 1969
Tracks:
1. Brave New World / 2. Celebration Song / 3. Can't You Hear Your Daddy's Heartbeat / 4. Got Love 'Cause You Need It / 5. Kow Kow / 6. Seasons / . 7. Space Cowboy / 8. LT's Midnight Dream / 9. My Dark Hour
Rating : 8
4. Your Saving Grace - Capitol 1969
Tracks:
1. Little Girl / 2. Just a Passin' Fancy in a Midnite Dream / 3. Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around / 4. Baby's House / 5. Motherless Children / 6. The Last Wombat in Mecca / 7. Feel So Glad / 8. Your Saving Grace
Rating :
5. Number 5 - Capitol 1970
Tracks:
1. Good Morning / 2. I Love You / 3. Going to the Country / 4. Hot Chili / 5. Tokin's / 6. Going to Mexico / 7. Steve Miller's Midnight Tango / 8. Industrial Military Complex Hex / 9. Jackson-Kent Blues / 10. Never Kill Another Man
Rating : 8
6. Rock Love - Capitol 1971
Tracks:
1. The Gangster Is Back / 2. Blues Without Blame / 3. Love Shock / 4. Let Me Serve You / 5. Rock Love / 6. Harbor Lights / 7. Deliverance
Rating :
7. Recall the Beginning Journey From Eden - Capitol 1972
Tracks:
1. Welcome / 2. Enter Maurice / 3. High on You Mama / 4. Heal Your Heart / 5. The Sun Is Going Down / 6. Somebody Somewhere Help Me / 7. Love's Riddle / 8. Fandango / 9. Nothing Lasts / 10. Journey from Eden
Rating :
8. The Joker - Capitol 1973
Tracks:
1. Sugar Babe" / 2. Mary Lou / 3. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma / 4. Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash / 5. The Joker / 6. Lovin' Cup / 7. Come on in My Kitchen" / 8. Evil" / 9. Something to Believe In
Rating : 6
9. Fly Like an Eagle - Capitol 1976
Tracks:
1. Space Intro / 2. Fly Like an Eagle / 3. Wild Mountain Honey / 4. Serenade / 5. Dance, Dance, Dance / 6. Mercury Blues / 7. Take the Money and Run / 8. Rock'n Me / 9. You Send Me / 10. Blue Odyssey / 11. Sweet Maree / 12. The Window
Rating : 7
10. Book of Dreams - Capitol 1977
Tracks:
1. Threshold / 2. Jet Airliner / 3. Winter Time / 4. Swingtown / 5. True Fine Love" / 6. Wish Upon a Star / 7. Jungle Love / 8. Electro Lux Imbroglio / 9. Sacrifice / 10. The Stake / 11. My Own Space / 12. Babes in the Wood
Rating : 7
11. Circle of Love - Capitol 1981
Tracks:
1. Heart Like a Wheel / 2. Get On Home / 3. Baby Wanna Dance / 4. Circle of Love / 5. Macho City
Rating :
12. Abracadabra - Capitol 1982
Tracks:
1. Keeps Me Wondering Why / Abracadabra / 3. "Something Special / 4. Give It Up / 5. Never Say No / 6. Things I Told You / 7. Young Girl's Heart / 8. Goodbye Love / 9. Cool Magic / 10. While I'm Waiting"
Rating :
13. Italian X Rays - Capitol 1984
Tracks:
1. Radio 1 / 2. Italian X Rays / 3. Daybreak / 4. Shangri-La / 5. Who Do You Love? / 6. Harmony of the Spheres 1 / 7. Radio 2 / 8. Bongo Bongo / 9. Out of the Night / 10. Golden Opportunity / 11. The Hollywood Dream / 12. One in a Million / 13. Harmony of the Spheres 2
Rating :
14. Living in the 20th Century - Capitol 1986
Tracks:
1. Nobody but You Baby" / 2. I Want to Make the World Turn Around / 3. Slinky / 4. Living in the 20th Century / 5. Maelstrom / 6. I Wanna Be Loved / 7. My Babe / 8. Big Boss Man / 9. Caress Me Baby / 10. Ain't That Lovin' You Baby / 11. Behind the Barn
Rating :
15. Wide River - Polygram 1993
Tracks:
1. Keeps Me Wondering Why / Abracadabra / 3. "Something Special / 4. Give It Up / 5. Never Say No / 6. Things I Told You / 7. Young Girl's Heart / 8. Goodbye Love / 9. Cool Magic / 10. While I'm Waiting"
Rating :
16. Bingo - Sailor 2010
Tracks:
1. Hey Yeah / 2. Who's Been Talkin'?" / 3. Don't Cha Know / 4. Rock Me Baby / 5. Tramp / 6. Sweet Soul Vibe / 7. Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) / 8. All Your Love / 9. You Got Me Dizzy / 10. Ooh Poo Pah Doo / 11. Ain't That Lovin' You Baby / 12. Further on Up the Road / 13. Look on Yonder Wall / 14. Drivin' Wheel
Rating :
17. Let Your Hair Down - Sailor 2011
Tracks:
1. Snatch It Back and Hold It / 2. I Got Love If You Want It / 3. Just a Little Bit / 4. Close Together / 5. No More Doggin' / 6. Pretty Thing / 7. Can't Be Satisfied / 8. Sweet Home Chicago / 9. Love the Life I Live / 10. The Walk / 11. When Things Go Wrong / 12. Ain't Got You / 13. Tell Me What's the Reason / 14. Driftin's Blues
Rating :
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - July 30 14 - 2011
78 Fly Like an Eagle - 1976
129 Book of Dreams - 1977
202 Sailor - 1968
307 Children of the Future - 1968
371 Brave New World - 1969
489 Number 5 - 1970
509 Recall the Beginning ... A Journey From Eden - 1972
535 Your Saving Grace - 1969
642 The Joker - 1973
919 Living in the 20th Century - 1986
951 Abracadabra - 1982
975 Circle of Love - 1981
Check and Rate Here!
January 14 - 2010 - "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 2 CDs 160 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation
( More tracks will be added ):
1. The Joker ( Miller/Ertegun/Curtis ) The Joker
2. Kow Kow Calqulator (Miller ) Brave New World
3. Good Morning (Winkelman) Number 5
4. Going to the Country (Miler/Scaggs ) Number 5
5. Seasons (Miller/Sidran ) Brave New World
6. Mercury Blues ( Douglas) Fly Like an Eagle
7. Take the Money and Run ( Miller ) Fly Like an Eagle
8. Rockin' Me ( Miller ) Fly Like an Eagle
9. Space Cowboy (Miller/Sidran ) Brave New World
10. I Love You (Miller) Number 5
11. Tokin's (Davis) Number 5
12. Rock Love ( Miller ) Rock Love
13. Welcome ( Miller ) Recall the Beginning
14. Journey From Eden ( Miller ) Recall the Beginning
15. Come on in My Kitchen ( Payne ) The Joker
16. Serenade ( Miller/McCarthy ) Fly Like an Eagle
17. Dance Dance Dance ( Miller/Cooper ) Fly Like an Eagle
18. You Send Me ( Cooke ) Fly Like an Eagle
19. Children of the Future ( Miller/Peterman ) Children of the Future
20. Living in the USA ( Miller ) Sailor
22. Steppin Stone ( Scaggs ) Children of the Future
21. Your Saving Grace ( Davis ) Your Saving Grace
22. Hot Chilli (Davis) Number 5
23. Jet Airliner ( Pena ) Book of Dreams
24. True Fine Love ( Miller ) Book of Dreams
25. Swingtown ( Miller/McCarthy ) Book of Dreams
26. Winter Time ( Miller ) Book of Dreams
27. Sacrifice ( Cooke/Dudek ) Book of Dreams
28. My Own Stake ( Cooper/Winkleman ) Book of Dreams
LINKS:
The Official Site
Fan Page