Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle

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. It still can sound fairly dated -- those whooshing keyboards and cavernous echoes are certainly of their time -- but its essence hasn't aged, as "Fly Like an Eagle" drifts like a cool breeze, while "Take the Money and Run" and "Rock 'n Me" are fiendishly hooky, friendly rockers. The rest of the album may not be quite up to those standards, but there aren't any duds, either, as "Wild Mountain Honey" and "Mercury Blues" give this a comfortable backdrop, thanks to Miller's offhand, lazy charm. Though it may not quite transcend its time, it certainly is an album rock landmark of the mid-'70s and its best moments (namely, the aforementioned singles) are classics of the idiom. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bob Norberg Remastering Brad S. Miller Executive Producer Casarini Art Direction, Artwork Charles Calmese Bass Dave Stahl Back Cover, Photography Gary Mallaber Percussion, Drums James "Curly" Cooke Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm) James Cotton Harmonica Jim Gaines Mastering, Mixing Joachim Jymm Young Organ, Organ (Hammond), Keyboards John McFee Guitar, Dobro John Paladino Executive Producer John Palladino Executive Producer John Van Hamersveld Artwork Ken Johnson Drums Kenny Johnson Drums Kevin Reeves Digital Transfers Les Dudek Dobro, Guitar, Slide Guitar Lonnie Turner Guitar, Bass Mike Fusaro Track Engineer, Engineer Peter Mew Balance Engineer, Preparation, Mastering Steve Miller Producer, Sitar, Synthesizer, Vocals, Roland Synthesizer, Guitar, Keyboards Steve Miller Band Performer, ? Susan McCardle Photography Win Kutz Mixing Assistant, Assistant