Milwaukee-born rock star STEVE MILLER hit the top spot of the US charts
with his single THE JOKER (almost 600 million streams on Spotify) in 1974.
On 15 September 1990, today 30 years ago it was at #1 in the UK, 16 years after
its original release. The song found a new generation of fans after appearing in a Levi’s TV ad, and earned the record for the longest gap between transatlantic chart
toppers.
“Cause I’m a picker / I’m a grinner / I’m a lover / And I’m a sinner /
I play my music in the sun / I’m a joker / I’m a smoker / I’m a midnight toker /
I sure don’t want to hurt no one”
Released: 14 May 1969
Today, 56 years ago.
#31 in the UK, #32 in Canada.
Rolling Stone said: “Perpetually mournful, without being maudlin or pathetic. It hints at a world in which sorrow underlies everything because that world is recognizable to most of us, Young’s singing is often strangely moving.”
SINGLE
ALBUM
. All NY Albums
——————————————————————————————————————————-
Released: 14 May 1982
Today, 43 years ago.
#2 in the UK, #7 in the US.
Alternative Press: “The penultimate Clash album employing lessons learned in the previous three years. Their most commercially rewarded release containing their most poignant song ‘Straight to Hell’.”
Milwaukee-born singer/songwriter STEVE MILLER hit the top spot of the US singles
chart 50 years ago today, on 12 January 1974 with THE JOKER. The title track of his
eighth, eponymous album.
“Cause I’m a picker / I’m a grinner / I’m a lover / And I’m a sinner /
I play my music in the sun / I’m a joker / I’m a smoker / I’m a midnight toker /
I sure don’t want to hurt no one”
Californian rock legend Steven Haworth Miller was
born on 5 October 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Happy 80.
He started his fantastic career way back in 1967. With his band
he fabricated 19 studio LPs with Let Your Hair Down as the most
recent one (2011).
His most famous and masterly longplayer is, unquestionably, Fly Like An Eagle. It was the band’s 9th LP, released in 1976.
A critical and commercial success. #3 in the US, #11 in the UK
and #4 in Canada.
And it’s key single Rock ‘N’ Me is
a timeless classic played here live
in Chicago in 2009. Bang-on.
I went from Phoenix, Arizona
All the way to Tacoma
Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A.
Northern California
Where the girls are warm
So I could hear my sweet baby say
Album: WHAT’S GOING ON – his 19th LP Released: 21 May 1971 – 50 years ago today Score: Platinum in the UK / Gold in the US
Rolling Stone (Vince Aletti): “Ambitious, personal albums may be
a glut on the market elsewhere, but at Motown they’re something new.
The album as a whole takes precedence, absorbing its own flaws. There
are very few performers who could carry a project like this off. I’ve always
admired Marvin Gaye, but I didn’t expect that he would be one of them.
Guess I seriously underestimated him. It won’t happen again.” Score: 5/5.
Singles: What’s Going On / Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Album: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE – 9th LP Released: 20 May 1976 – 45 years ago Score: #11 in the UK / #3 in the US
All Music (Stephen Thomas Erlewine) Steve Miller had started to
essay his classic sound with The Joker, but 1976’s ‘Fly Like an Eagle’
is where he took flight, creating his definitive slice of space blues.
The key is focus, even on an album as stylishly, self-consciously trippy
as this, since the focus brings about his strongest set of songs (both
originals and covers), plus a detailed atmospheric production where
everything fits. Score: 4/5.
Singles: Rock ‘N Me / Take The Money And Run
– ROCK ‘N ME –
(Striking live rendition)
– TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN –
(From the same concert)
STEVE MILLER and his BAND released masterpiece album FLY LIKE AN EAGLE back in 1976. The second single from the LP is to me and millions the track to go completely nuts to. ROCK ‘N ME is no less than a classic diamond that puts a giant smile on my face every, countless, time I hear it while yelling the lyrics out loud, word by word. Here’s what author Steve Miller revealed about what inspired him to write his top-notch rocker, back then: “elements of “Rock’n Me”, particularly the intro, was a tip of the hat to British group Free’s “All Right Now”. Yeah, it’s a tack on the wall for Paul (Kossoff). I did one concert in the 2 years that I was off the road. I went to London and played with Pink Floyd… it was a big, huge outdoor show so we needed a big rock and roll number that was really going to excite everybody. I just put it together and didn’t think much about it.” The banger hit the top spot of the US singles chart on 6 November 1976. Forty years ago today!…
Here’s a stunning and euphoric live rendition that gets the audience
and definitely, you too on your feet while going totally bonkers…
Well I’ve been lookin’ real hard and I’m tryin’ to find a job
But it just keeps gettin’ tougher every day
But I got to do my part ’cause I know in my heart
I got to please my sweet baby, yeah
Well, I ain’t superstitious, and I don’t get suspicious
But my woman is a friend of mine
And I know that it’s true that all the things that I do
Will come back to me in my sweet time
So keep on rock’n me baby
Keep on a rock’n me baby (x3)
I went from Phoenix, Arizona all the way to Tacoma
Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A.
Northern California where the girls are warm
So I could be with my sweet baby, yeah
Keep on a rock’n me baby ( x5)
Don’t get suspicious, now don’t be suspicious
Babe, you know you are a friend of mine
And you know that it’s true that all the things that I do
Are gonna come back to you in your sweet time
I went from Phoenix, Arizona all the way to Tacoma
Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A.
Northern California where the girls are warm
So I could hear my sweet baby say
