Steve Miller Band's Best Song On Each Studio Album

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One can easily argue that most Steve Miller Band fans first discovered the group in the 1970s, when the song “The Joker” became a huge radio hit. However, it wasn’t until a couple of years later that the band became a household name with the release of Fly Like an Eagle. Do you remember how big that album was? The follow-up album, Book of Dreams, was just as big. Of course, many fans dug deeper into the catalog and discovered how different the band sounded in the late sixties and early seventies. With many different lineup changes over the years, the one constant, of course, has always been Steve Miller. There is no Steve Miller Band without Steve Miller. This fun article takes a ride throughout the band’s entire career, picking our favorite song from each Steve Miller Band album.

STEVE MILLER BAND STUDIO ALBUMS

Children of the Future (1968) – “In My First Mind”

We open up our Steve Miller Band songs list with their debut album. This is a very different-sounding Steve Miller Band from the one most people first discovered in the 1970s. The choice here is the extended, very psychedelic progressive rock piece “In My First Mind.”

Sailor (1968) – “Living in the U.S.A.”

I just had to go with the classic Steve Miller Band track “Living in the U.S.A.” for the top choice from this album. That introduction is just spectacular.

Brave New World (1969) – “Space Cowboy”

The band’s third album featured a guest appearance on “My Dark Hour” by Paul Ramon (Paul McCartney), who was still a member of the Beatles at the time. So that was a pretty big deal. “Space Cowboy” was the easy pick here.

Your Saving Grace (1969) – “Baby’s House”

The very cool tune “Baby’s House,” written by Steve Miller and the legendary Nicky Hopkins, is our favorite track from the band’s fourth album. This is such a soulful slow blues tune that sounds a little bit like the Rolling Stones. You can thank Nicky for that.

Number 5 (1970) – “Going to Mexico”

The Number 5 album has always been a fan favorite. The pick here was side two’s opening track “Going to Mexico.” Steve Miller and Boz Scaggs composed the song.

Rock Love (1971) – “Let Me Serve You”

This was an interesting release. Side one was live, and side two was filled with heavy-duty blues cuts. It’s not their best album by far, but as a Steve Miller Band fan, I always liked the album. The choice is side two’s opening cut “Let Me Serve You.”

Recall the Beginning…A Journey from Eden (1972) – “Journey from Eden”

This was another one of those lost Steve Miller Band albums. I don’t remember seeing this one on CD back then. It has since been reissued on CD. “Journey from Eden” was the album’s closing track. This is a very cool piece that most fans probably have never heard of. Great bass lines.

The Joker (1973) – “The Joker”

We really can’t pick any other track on this album but the legendary cut “The Joker.”

Fly Like an Eagle (1976) – “Take the Money and Run”

Now, this is where it gets interesting. So many great songs to choose from on this fantastic album. Everyone I knew in the 1970s had this album. I am going to have to go with the classic. You may have heard this one too many times, but do you remember the first time you heard it? That’s what I’m talking about. That opening drum solo by Gary Mallaber is so legendary.

Book of Dreams (1977) – “Jungle Love”

This was another tough one to pick. “Jet Airliner” was stunning, with that great guitar strumming at the song’s start. Nonetheless, “Jungle Love” was just too much fun.

Circle of Love (1981) – “Heart Like a Wheel”

After Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams, Steve Miller faced a daunting task following up those two mega-million-selling albums. Circle of Love, which contained only five songs, one of which filled an entire album side, did not produce any big hits. We went with the Buddy Holly-sounding song “Heart Like a Wheel” for this one.

Abracadabra (1982) – “Keeps Me Wondering Why”

I was never really a big fan of the Abracadabra album. Most of the songs were not written by Steve Miller. The album’s opening track “Keeps Me Wondering Why” wins this one by default.

Italian X Rays (1984) – “Shangri-La”

This album was released in 1984. I had never heard of it until the mid-1990s when I was trying to complete my Steve Miller Band CD collection. This one didn’t get too many spins in the car CD player. The pick here is “Shangri-La.”

Living in the 20th Century (1986) – “I Want to Make the World Turn Around”

After a series of albums that, let’s say, may not have been his best work, Steve Miller came roaring back in 1986 with a great one. This is a very cool tune.

Born 2 B Blue (1988) – “Ya Ya”

Born 2 B Blue was considered a Steve Miller solo album and the only non-Steve Miller Band album in his catalog. It’s a record full of mostly jazz covers done with a Steve Miller twist. That twist is most apparent and works the best on the track “Ya Ya.”

Wide River (1993) – “Wide River”

Wide River was the Steve Miller Band’s best album since Book of Dreams. Released in 1993, it seemed to come out of nowhere. Unfortunately, it sort of got lost in the grunge era, as 1993 was one of grunge music’s most popular years. Despite this, Wide River remains a standout album in their discography. The title track is phenomenal.

Bingo! (2010) – “Hey Yeah!”

Bingo! and the follow-up album Let Your Hair Down were both recorded during the same sessions. Both albums are filled with covers with no new Steve Miller songs. The Jimmie Vaughan and Paul Henry Ray song “Hey Yeah!” was a perfect fit for the Steve Miller Band.

Let Your Hair Down (2011) – “I Got Love If You Want It”

This is an album filled with fun covers. Nothing really sticks out above anything else, but we had to pick one, and so “I Got Love If You Want It” gets the pick.