Fly Like An Eagle [CD+DVD, Special Edition]

In 2006, Capitol Records USA released a '30th Anniversary' edition of Steve Miller's 9th studio album "Fly Like An Eagle" as a 2-disc set (CD + DVD).
Edsel EDSX 3010 is a UK mid-priced reissue of that American version (released October 2010) and breaks down as follows:

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Fly Like An Eagle" released May 1976 in the USA on Capitol Records ST-11497 and in the UK on Mercury 9286 177 (it peaked at number 3 on the US charts and at number 11 in the UK).
Tracks 13, 14 and 15 are Previously Unreleased 'Bonus' Tracks - "Fly Like An Eagle '73 [Demo]", "Take The Joker And Run [Acoustic Demo Version]" and "Rockin' Me '76 Slow [Demo]"

Seven of the album's twelve-tracks were issued across 4 x 7" singles in both the USA and the UK - this CD (51:18 minutes) will allow you to sequence them all as follows:

1. "Take The Money And Run" b/w "Sweet Maree"
May 1976 USA 7" on Capitol 4260 - May 1976 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 800

2. "Rock 'n Me" b/w "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma" and "Living In The U.S.A."
August 1976 USA 7" on Capitol 4323 - October 1976 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 804
[Note: the 1st US B-side was "Shu Ba Da Du..." an old track from 1973's "The Joker"; it was then reissued with "Living In The U.S.A." as it's B-side, a track from 1969's "Sailor". The British B-side is "The Window" - a track off the "Fly Like An Eagle" album]

3. "Fly Like An Eagle" b/w "Mercury Blues"
December 1976 USA 7" on Capitol 4372 - August 1976 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 802
[Note: the US B-side is a track off the "Fly Like An Eagle" album, but the British B-side is an old track called "Lovin' Cup" from 1973's "The Joker"]

4. "Serenade" b/w "Dance, Dance, Dance"
January 1977 UK 7" single on Mercury 6078 808 [No US 7" equivalent]

The original US and UK vinyl album cover was a very plain affair (no insert or inner sleeve) and had barely readable credits on the rear - so it's nice to finally see the artwork given a long overdue upgrade. This new UK reissue comes in a very fetching 3-way foldout card digipak featuring expanded artwork on both the front and rear - all of it in the same colour scheme as the original vinyl album. Inside the tri-gatefold - the three-piece band is pictured - Steve Miller on Vocals, Guitar, Sitar and Roland Keyboards, Lonnie Turner on Bass with Gary Mallaber on Drums And Percussion. The audio CD, DVD and areas beneath the see-through plastic trays all feature live photos of Miller from the 2005 concert while the new 20-page booklet has comprehensive liner notes by JOEL SELVIN of the San Francisco Chronicle. They've reproduced the Capitol Records 3-page Promo Blurb of May 1976 with the Lyrics provided for the first time too. The packaging is very tasty indeed. But the real fireworks lie in the sound...and the huge amount of goodies on the DVD.

Like "Book Of Dreams", I've had the 1998 Eagle reissue for years just to have the album on CD - but this new 2011 sonic upgrade is truly superlative. Remastered by BARRY GRINT at Alchemy in London, the sound quality is massively improved on every track - and not just trebled up to the nines for effect. This is not a 'loud' CD for 'loudness' sake - it has power and muscle and great 'presence'.

Right from the swirling synths of the album's instrumental opener "Space Intro" through to the opening guitar and bass of "Flying Like An Eagle" (lyrics above) - the remaster is light, clear and beautifully produced. There isn't hiss - nor is there a feeling of over-compression - the instruments have air around them and sound 'live'. Chris McCarty's "Wild Mountain Honey" sounds so sweet now and the drums of "Serenade" whack out of your speakers with an impressive tightness. The slinky "Mercury Blues" (written by Karl Douglass and Robert Geddins) has great guitar-work - so clear and full while the James Cotton harmonica on "Sweet Maree" is fantastic - warbling mean and moody in your living room. I've never really like "Dance, Dance, Dance" or the oddly-out-of-place cover of Sam Cooke's "You Send Me", but Steve Miller/Jason Cooper original "The Window" is a great way to finish the record - and it sounds fab too.

Then comes something genuinely shocking - the 1973 demo of "Fly Like An Eagle" which is superbly produced and an entirely different take on the finished version we're so used to. It's just brilliant - taking the song in a more funky-rock direction. It has far more emphasis on the socially conscious lyrics - and it fades out with a long echoed-guitar finish that had me grinning from ear-to-ear. The "Acoustic" Demo of "Take The Money And Run" has an almost Doobie Brothers circa Tom Johnston feel - it's excellent. As is the acoustically slowed down folky demo of "Rockin' Me" - with it's spoken lyrics and in-studio giggling towards the end - it's clearly a work in progress and yet it still feels fully formed.

The DVD features 3 items - a 2-hour 22-track live concert filmed 17 September 2005 at The Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View in California, a 2006 documentary called "Thirty Years Rock'n" conducted by Joel Selvin about the making of the album which includes an interview with Steve Miller - and finally a 5.1 Surround Sound Mix of the "Fly Like An Eagle" album. It has to be said that the definition of the picture wavers from clear to blurry on almost all the numbers (I don't know why given it's a modern-day shoot), but the band are super-tight and incredibly well rehearsed - so the songs are superbly delivered (enjoying themselves too) and the sound is great. Some have experienced problems with synching, but I found it ok. "I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love", "Got Love If You Want It" and "Gangster Of Love" are considerably enhanced by the Blues Boogie presence of George Thorogood on Guitar and Vocals (great stuff), while "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" introduces the incredible versatility of Joe Satriani on Lead Guitar (he and Miller play off each other so well on a few Blues standards). It's a shame the picture quality isn't better, but the music is superb.

So there you have it - a great Seventies Radio-friendly Rock album given a properly cool makeover (with genuine bonus tracks), massively improved packaging, top sound quality, a bonus DVD jam-packed with good stuff (albeit a little creaky in places) - and all of it at less than seven quid!

A bit of a bargain frankly - and like a girl who wants to keep on rock 'n me - it's big time recommended.

PS: Edsel of the UK have also issued single-CD card digipak remasters of the following albums (February 2011) which match the look of the above issue - they are "Book Of Dreams" (see separate review), "Abracadabra", "Circle Of Love", "Live", "Italian X-Rays" and "Wide River"

The c.d. for this reissue is excellent - however, I can't say the same about the DVD in this package. While the content can not be faulted, full live show and interview with S.M. about the making of the album and archive footage is wonderful to see,am I the only person who can see a fault on the mastering of the concert segment of this release?
The pixels on the concert footage are 'blockie' and on the faster movement the picture appears to drag in places. I have played this disc on three diferent stand alone mid price DVD Recorders and it's the same on all of them, so I have ruled out a problem on the machines that I am using. I also, reported this to Edsel, the lable who released this who did not recognize a problem, and in fairness to them sent me another DVD disc as a relacement, which once again had the faults mentioned above.
Has anybody else come across this problem, on a otherwise excellent release?

The Steve Miller Band hit a creative and commercial zenith with the recordings that made up this album `Fly like an Eagle' This anniversary issue of Steve Miller's 1976 album is well worth getting, even if you have the original. The first cd comes with three bonus tracks.
The accompanying DVD includes:
A 5:1 surround mix of the album in Dolby Digital, a good mix fully discrete (a minor quibble being it should have been a Full DVDA or at least 96/24 MLP 5.1 like the recent King Crimson releases available on Amazon).
A 2 Hour Concert featuring many if not all of the Steve Miller Bands Hits and near Misses. Filling many areas of the musical spectrum, rock, jazz, and blues, and a stunning extended version of "Fly like an eagle".
A short documentary with interviews with Steve about the album.

Overall, a terrific album. If you're a fan, you need this and Kudos to Edsel for making this available at such a reasonable price.