The Steve Miller Band released an album that is full of singles which I am sure most of us can hum without a second thought.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Steve Miller Band
ALBUM: Book Of Dreams
LABEL: Capitol
SERIAL: SO 11630
YEAR: 1977
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Steve Miller – vocals, guitar * Norton Buffalo – harmonica, vocals * James Curley Cooke, David Denny, Greg Douglas – guitars * Les Dudek – dobro, guitar * Joachim Jymm Young – piano, keyboards * Bob Globb, Lonnie Turner, Charles Calmese – bass * Kenny Johnson, Gary Mallaber – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Threshold * 02 Jet Airliner * 03 Winter Time * 04 Swingtown * 05 True Fine Love * 06 Wish Upon A Star * 07 Jungle Love * 08 Electro Lux Imbroglio * 09 Sacrifice * 10 The Stake * 11 My Own Space * 12 Babes In The Wood
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
‘Book Of Dreams’ is one of those 70’s blockbuster albums like The Eagles ‘Hotel California’ and Fleetwood Mac‘s ‘Rumours’ that was difficult to escape if you were within earshot of radio back in the day.
Steve Miller was already something of a household name by the time this album hit the charts with a string of smash singles including ‘The Joker’, ‘Rock N’ Me’ and ‘Fly Like An Eagle’, but his musical history started in the late 60’s, so it wasn’t exactly an overnight success.
His early albums dabbled in blues rock and later, vintage psychedelic as on his classic 1968 ‘Sailor’ album. Yes, Miller had been around the block more than once, but it’s ‘Book Of Dreams’ that catapulted him straight to the top and the pinnacle of rock superstardom.
The Songs
Miller’s previous album ‘Fly Like An Eagle’, in particular the title track flirted with progressive rock styles, but on ‘Book Of Dreams’ he took the prog-rock ball and ran with it. Especially on songs like ‘Wish Upon A Star’ and ‘Babes In The Wood’, the former taking a page out of the Gary Wright songbook, while the latter tune grabbed an entire volume of rustic progressive sounds from Jethro Tull.
This album is full of singles which I am sure most of us can hum without a second thought. ‘Jet Airliner’ with all that ‘funky shit goin’ down in the city’, ‘Jungle Love’ and ‘Swingtown’ are still getting major airplay on classic rock radio in the early days of the twenty-first century. But as a whole, the album works extremely well and is by far Steve Miller’s most accomplished work with not a duff track to be found anywhere.
In Summary
The Steve Miller Band would sell out arenas and stadiums across North America in support of this record, but perhaps it was too much for Miller himself who wouldn’t release another album until 1981’s disappointing ‘Circle Of Love’. ‘Book Of Dreams’ was a tough act to follow I am sure, but four years? Oh well, the obnoxious ‘Abracadabra’ would be his last hit single and if that was any indication of his future direction, I am glad he spared us any further releases in the pop field.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
