Fly Like An Eagle was a classic album in its time – as central to the mid-70’s as 10cc’s The Original Soundtrack or Frampton Comes Alive. And it’s no wonder, as Steve Miller made a record of bluesy, polished space-rock, adored for its subtle use of synthesiser.
It’s the sort of album that could only be made by a pop star who’s suddenly become very rich. Miller cancelled all arrangements when his royalty cheque for 1973’s The Joker came through, and took a leisurely two years to release this follow-up. It’s full of great AOR such as Take The Money & Run, The Window and the All Right Now-lite majesty of Rock’n’Me (written for his performance at Knebworth in 1975), while Wild Mountain Honey is a beautiful, floaty, stoned piece of rock. The highs are high enough to forgive the moments when the album sinks like a dodo on the down-home flim-flam of Dance Dance Dance and the pointless cover of Sam Cooke’s You Send Me.
This deluxe edition is packed with copious sleevenotes, the original 1976 press release, and a pretty entertaining concert on DVD from 2005, which revisits most of the album. Of most interest are the three bonus tracks: an early, pre-synth version of Fly Like An Eagle done as much earthier Hammond-driven blues; a fascinating take of Take The Money & Run set to the music of The Joker; and a ballad version of Rock’n’Me.
- Steve Miller needs very little introduction. A recording artist since 1968, Steve made eight albums for Capitol, culminating with “The Joker”, before recording the multi-million selling “Fly Like An Eagle” in 1976. A hit all around the world, the album features the hits “Rock ‘n Me” and “Take The Money And Run”.
- Miller followed this up with the albums “Book Of Dreams”, featuring “Jet Airliner”, and “Circle Of Love”, featuring “Heart Like A Wheel” and the cult post disco classic, the 18 minute “Macho City”. Next up was “Abracadabra” and its # 1 title track, followed by the “Italian X-Rays” album.
- Edsel is proud to announce the re-issue of these legendary albums. The first release is this Special Edition of “Fly Like An Eagle” will feature three bonus demo tracks as well as a DVD. This contains a 2 hour concert from 2005 featuring all Steve’s best-known songs, with accompaniment from harmonica legend Norton Buffalo and guests, guitar legends George Thorogood and Joe Satriani. Also included is “Thirty Years Rock’n”, a fascinating documentary about the making of the album, with an in-depth interview with Steve Miller himself. The bonus feature is the 5.1 audio mix of the original album.
- Steve Miller will be playing his first concerts in the UK and Europe for 25 years in the autumn, commencing with London’s Royal Albert Hall on 7th October. This is followed by dates in Manchester, Antwerp, Paris, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Amsterdam.
