Fly Like an Eagle (album)

Fly Like an Eagle
Studio album by Steve Miller Band
Released May 1976 (1976-05)
Recorded 1975-1976 at CBS Studios in San Francisco, California
Genre Rock, space rock, delta blues
Length 38:07
Label Capitol
Producer Steve Miller
Steve Miller Band chronology
The Joker
(1973)		 Fly Like an Eagle
(1976)		 Book of Dreams
(1977)
Singles from Fly Like an Eagle
  1. "Take the Money and Run"
    Released: April 1976
  2. "Rock'n Me"
    Released: May 1976
  3. "Fly Like an Eagle"
    Released: December 1976

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 North America and Mercury Records in Europe. 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".

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.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 450 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. On an updated list in 2012, the magazine listed the album at number 445.

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.

Reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated Fly Like an Eagle four-and-a-half stars. He stated 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.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [1]
Rolling Stone(favorable) [2]
The Village VoiceB+[3]

Jay Cridlin of the Tampa Bay Times described "Dance, Dance, Dance" as "the best John Denver song John Denver never recorded". [4]

Track listing

Side one
  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) – 3:30
Side two
  1. "Take the Money and Run" (Miller) – 2:50
  2. "Rock'n Me" (Miller) – 3:05
  3. "You Send Me" *(Sam Cooke) – 2:42
  4. "Blue Odyssey" (Miller) – 1:00
  5. "Sweet Maree" (Miller) – 4:16
  6. "The Window" (Miller, Jason 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

Additional personnel

30th Anniversary Edition

A remastered 30th Anniversary Edition version of Fly Like an Eagle was released in 2006 that included 3 previously unreleased demo tracks: "Fly Like an Eagle '73", "Take the Joker and Run", and "Rock'n Me '76 Slow". A bonus DVD included the documentary "30 Years Rock'n", a live performance recorded in 2005, and the Fly Like an Eagle album mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound.

Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 17, 2005
  1. Swingtown
  2. Fine True Love
  3. Abracadabra
  4. Dance Dance Dance
  5. Wild Mountain Honey
  6. Nature Boy
  7. Mercury Blues
  8. The Stake
  9. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma
  10. I Love the Life I Live, I Live the Life I Love (featuring George Thorogood)
  11. Got Love If You Want It (featuring George Thorogood)
  12. Gangster of Love (featuring George Thorogood)
  13. All Your Love (I Miss Loving) (featuring Joe Satriani)
  14. I'm Tore Down (featuring Joe Satriani)
  15. Slow Blues (featuring Joe Satriani)
  16. Crossroads (featuring Joe Satriani)
  17. Fly Like an Eagle (featuring Joe Satriani)
  18. Take the Money and Run
  19. Rock'n Me
  20. Jungle Love
  21. The Joker
  22. Encore: Serenade (featuring Joe Satriani)

Charts

Chart (1976) Peak
position
Canadian Top Albums[5] 4
Netherlands Top 100 Albums[6] 7
UK Albums Chart[7] 11
US Billboard 200[8] 3
Chart (1977) Peak
position
New Zealand Top 40 Albums[9] 16
US R&B Albums[8] 19

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Canada (CRIA)[10] 2× Platinum 80,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Gold 100,000
RIAA)[12] 4× Platinum 4,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Thomas, Stephen. "AllMusic review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Robert Christgau review
  4. ↑ "Review: Steve Miller Band plows through Hall of Fame hits at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater".
  5. ↑ "Top Albums" (PHP). RPM. Vol. 23 no. 5. October 30, 1976. p. 29. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle (Album)" (ASP). Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 19th NJune 1976". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Steve Miller: Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ "19 Records Hit Gold, Platinum During October". Billboard. Vol. 89 no. 47. November 26, 1977. p. 87. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (ASPX) on September 24, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database" (PHP). Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 30, 2012. Search for "Heartbreakers" to see results.
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